Not what they seem:

[susanbones2003]

Hi Film lovers, 

This post is an amalgam of things I saw in GOF, themes, motifs that 
sort of thing. Please bear with me. I want to get something we can 
discuss up on the list but I will need your participation! At 
whatever level you choose to contribute, I will appreciate it very 
much!

The most easily-discernable theme "things are not what they seem" 
goes along with the "thriller" thread the movie was built on. All 
through the film, it's evident people, things and situations are 
giving false or mistaken impressions that can not be trusted. 
Sometimes these things work in parallel with another very similar 
object or situation. The first thing that jumped out at me was the 
tent at the World Cup. It looked like a little pup tent and then, 
voila! A wonderful huge multi-room tent/vacation cabin. The parallel 
at the other end was the trunk that Real Moody was imprisoned in. 
It's a curious object but no one would suspect that it is the prison 
that holds the real Moody for nine months. But let's step back a 
little bit further. The World Cup starts out as a wonderful 
international athletic event. Before its end, it's the scene of 
mayhem, chaos and foreshadows impending evil. And that parallels the 
Tri Wizard Tournament, an exciting (if somewhat dangerous
) 
international event for school age wizards that's really the vehicle 
to deliver Harry Potter to the DL and thereby facilitate his 
rebirth. 

There are also things that are not what they seem and run in 
parallel The most obvious example is the famous "manky old boot" and 
it's twin port key, the Tri Wizard Cup. Each in its own way plays an 
important role in advancing the plot  (the manky old boot plants for 
us the clue that any object can be made into a portkey) and again, 
the bookend effect is attractive. Fred and George's aging potion is 
also an example of a thing that does not behave as expected, but 
given that Fred and George brewed it up, it's remarkable. The 
Marauder's Map is a fine example, on the face of it, a bit of old 
parchment, but in reality a powerful weapon that didn't get much 
play this time. I am sure there are other fine examples but my brain 
is closing down on me and I'd love for others of you to pitch in 
with your examples. 

No one is what they seem either! Obviously, FakeMoody is the star 
among the pretenders but there are others. Dumbledore is not what he 
seems. We are accustomed to seeing him as all knowing, in control, 
the wise protector of Hogwarts (and the Wizarding World, not 
doubt!), but in GOF, he's off his game, not sure what's happening 
and has few answers. Snape, of course, has never been what ever he 
seems. He is the ultimate question but that's for another time, 
another film. Karkarov is the most thinly disguised but still he 
masquerades. Much more successful is Lucius Malfoy, playing the 
respectable member of society whilst carousing with his fellow Death 
Eaters under cover of darkness and masks. Cedric offers us a complex 
example of things not being what they seem. He is the Golden Boy, 
that's obvious, and with that comes the obvious enjoyment of his 
position. He seems only a little upset at the "Potter Stinks" 
buttons; at least enough to make the right noises to Harry. We are 
tempted to buy into BookHarry's estimation of him "useless pretty 
boy" until the maze and then we see what he's made of and it's 
good.  And I shouldn't forget Harry. His role is that of hapless 
underdog and while he feels that role to the bottom of his trainers, 
he miraculously comes out on top after two of the three tasks. There 
are other examples that get greater emphasis in the book; Barty 
Crouch Sr., Madame Maxime, Ludo Bagman, but they don't get screen 
time. And my very favorite example was Hermione. Now if we'd had 
BookHermy, it would have been spectacular, but given that Emma 
Watson doesn't have the bushy mane or over-large teeth, the 
transformation was beautiful but not the mind-boggling change it 
could have been. Still, it was lovely to see her stepping into young 
womanhood. With the exception of DD (who I think was played out of 
character, too jumpy, too clueless and anxious), I think the 
filmmaker and writers got characters(and their masks) right. I don't 
know if it completely redeems hurried plotting and failed plotting 
(the ending, oh that ending!!) but it sure goes a long way towards 
making the film satisfying in many ways. 

So please, if you want to pick this apart, add to it, call it into 
question, shout "huzzah" or throw rotten tomatoes, do so. I am sick 
unto death of other things we have been discussing, other non-film 
subjects and I want us to get back to FILM!!!!
Hearts and flowers,
Jen D.