Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

• Title:  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Director:  Mike Newell
• Date:  2005
• Studio:  Warner Brothers
• Genre:  Fantasy
• Cast:  Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Robert Hardy, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Tennant
• Format:  Color, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  R1, NTSC

"Dark and difficult times lay ahead, soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.  But remember this -- you have friends here, you're not alone."  -- Professor Dumbledore

With Goblet of Fire, the Harry Potter series take a turn for the darker, and the new director, Mike Newell, doesn't shoot the film and its environment the way his predecessors did.  Rather than giving us lovely, beautiful shots and placing the characters in them perfectly -- Newell concentrates on showing us close-ups of the characters' faces.  Not as interesting an approach to watch, but, on the other hand, it does add to the emotional feel of  the film.

This is the first Harry Potter film to have a very episodic feel to it.  We see a brief, almost prologue, at the Quiddich World Cup, which is broken up by a show of force by the Death Eaters, the first and second Tri-Wizarding Tournament tasks, the Yule Ball, and the final task and Harry's confrontation with Voldemort.  Each episode is well realized and told, but of course details from the book are lost, as they have been for all the Harry Potter films.

Still, it is a very good movie, and a good adaptation of  the novel.  The Wizarding World is again expanded and Harry goes with Ron and his family to the Quiddich World Cup; then at Hogwarts, exchange students from Drumstrang and Madam Beaux Batons Academy come to Hogwarts for the Tri-Wizarding Tournament.  It's interesting to note that apparently Drumstrang is a boys school and Beaux Batons a girls school.  Only Hogwarts appears to be co-ed of  the three Wizarding Schools.  A champion is to be chosen from each school, but he or she must be seventeen or older.  Yet, not only is Hogwarts represented by Cedric Diggory, but also by Harry.  This causes Harry some problems, as even Ron is jealous and angry.  However, Ron and Harry work out their differences after Ron sees the danger Harry is in during the first task of challenging a dragon.  During the second task, Harry comes in last as he's determined to rescue all the kidnapped people (Ron, Hermione, Cho, and Fleur's younger sister).  Cedric and Krum save their "treasures" and Harry rescues Ron and Fleur's sister.  His bravery and determination, however, earn him extra points for moral fibre, and he ends up in second place behind Cedric.

The third task is a maze, with the Tri-Wizarding Cup hidden somewhere inside.  After spooky challenges, Harry and Cedric take the Cup at the same time.  But it's a portkey, transporting them to the graveyard where Tom Riddle's parents are buried.  Cedric is killed.  Wormtail performs an incantation which brings back Voldemort.  Harry and Voldemort duel, but their wanes become locked.  Harry escapes, bringing Cedric back and sobbing.

In a sober end-of-year lecture, Dumbledore informs all the Hogwarts students that Cedric was killed by Voldemort, who's back.

Recommendation:  See It

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Next Film:  Henry V