Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Review

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Director: Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time)
Screenplay: Steve Kloves (All the Harry Potter movies except Order of the Phoenix)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List, Red Dragon), Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm, Gangs of New York),  and the notorious Robert Pattison (Twilight)
Gross Revenue: $895, 921,036 worldwide
Rotten Tomatoes TomatorMeter: 88%
IMDB Rating: 7.6
Awards: Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction
   The fourth part in the epic saga of Harry Potter, and the first one to be rated PG-13, it is obvious to tell that both the source material and the filmmakers are maturing.  The storyline is darker, the acting has improved, the visual effects are more extravagant.  Once again replacing directors, this time British director Mike Newell, brings a different directing style to the franchise, one that is more kinetic then the slow and thoughtful style of the first two, and the calm fluid style of number three.  Goblet of Fire ups the ante on all levels, and as a result if the first Potter "action film".

    As Harry Potter enters his fourth year as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it is an exciting time at the school.  Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament, an epic and dangerous contest between three magic schools.  The winner receives eternal fame and glory as well as the Triwizard Cup.  Though students under the age of 17 are barred from entering the competition, Harry's name is mysteriously and controversially drawn from the Triwizard cup, forcing him to enter the competition despite the protests of students, teachers, and Harry himself.  As Harry literally fights for his life in the tournament, he must also battle  his teenage hormones, as well as his dark dreams, which may not be just dreams as he wishes to believe.

     This film is the first to not feature the Dursleys, and instead begins with the Quidditch World Cup, which is a refreshing change of pace.  As there is far more action in this film, far more visual effects are required, and this movie delivers.  All the action sequences are exciting and believable, and make for the most fun Harry Potter film yet.  All the young actors are maturing into their roles, especially miss Emma Watson, who has blossomed from a homely little girl into a beautiful young woman.  She brings a sense of femininity to Hermione that we have no seen before.  All the young characters are put in uncomfortable situations as their hormones develop, and the actors deliver with charm and poise.  One must mention a certain Robert Pattison as Cedric Diggory in this "rival" franchise of Twilight.  He does an acceptable job, and shows his credentials as an actor, unlike Twilight, but that's a blog for another day.
     I think this would be a good time for me to talk about Dumbledore.  The late Richard Harris portrayed Dumbledore in the first two films, and Michael Gambon plays Dumbledore in every preceding installment.  Right now, I am not sure which one I like the most.  While I love the kindness and gentleness that Richard Harris brings to the role, I also the fierceness and excitement that Gambon brings.  I think both are accurate representations of Dumbledore's character, although I have been told that Richard Harris' is closer to the books, I think Gambon has a slight edge just because I think he is able to more effectively display Dumbledore as the greatest wizard who ever lived.  Harris plays him like an old grandfatherly figure, while Gambon plays him like an old war hero.  Just my opinion.
     Goblet of Fire is easily the most exciting Harry Potter film yet.  The scenes of the Triwizard tournament are both visually stunning and viscerally thrilling.  The effects are light years ahead of the first film, and the action sequences are exciting and well-paced.  This is the first movie (kind of) to feature a real duel between two wizards, and I had goosebumps the entire time I was watching it.  Even though the movie jumps around in time, creating a "rushed" feeling to the movie, fans of the book will have no trouble following along, and people who haven't read the book should be able to follow if they pay attention.
   These movies keep getting darker with each installment, and the trend does not stop here.  This is the first Harry Potter film to be rated PG-13, and is rated accordingly.  The film features more violence, more blood, more terror, and more mature themes then any of the previous installments.  As actual villains begin to arise, the central theme of Harry Potter begins to reveal itself, and hopefully future installments will reflect this.

     This might be one of the most flawed of the Harry Potter films.  Goblet of Fire is one of the largest books of the series, and Warner Bros. once considered splitting the film into two parts, as they did later with Deathly Hallows.  In order to create a film that wasn't over 4 hours long, the filmmakers had to cut out everything that wasn't directly related to Harry's emotional journey, a smart move as far as I am concerned.  However, the movie does gloss over several plot points, and Goblet of Fire is a much more complex film then Prisoner of Azkaban.  There are many intertwining plot points.  So the film is not as balanced or focused as Prisoner of Azkaban, but it is far more exciting and action-packed.

    Goblet of Fire is a wonderful film.  Although far from perfect, it features some of the most stunning sequences in the Potter films thus far, and really shows just how exciting, action-packed, and "cool" Harry Potter can be.  Despite its flaws, it is truly an exciting and rousing film, and one that is a worthy member of the Harry Potter franchise.  Though not as good as its immediate predecessor, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the most action-packed installment yet, and features stunning action sequences as well as greater emotional maturity among the story and the film's cast.  4/5.
1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 4/5
2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 4/5
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 4/5
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 3.5/5