Goblet of Fire

One of the challenges to the Harry Potter films, is how much to keep and how much should go. Despite the success of the first two films, most critics believed Chris Columbus stuck too close to Rowling novels. With The Prisoner of Azkaban, the producers and new director, Alfonso Cuarón, excised some the more superfluous scenes in favor of a more leaner -and linear - story.

Goblet of Fire does the same here, opening the movie with Harry and friends visit to Quidditch World Cup -and the consequences of that coming together: Death Eaters and the Dark Mark. The plot quickly returns to Hogwarts where three different wizarding schools will compete in the Triwizard Tournament.

Things quickly get out of hand as Harry is somehow selected to compete in the game, even though he is too young, While petty jealousy will nearly destroy Harry, Hermione and Ron’s friendship, the evil that is Lord Voldemort will not be undone. And Harry will finally meet the one creature who will do anything to see him dead.

Like Azkaban, Goblet flows very smoothly and director Mike Newell and screenwriter Steve Kloves not only make an enjoyable fantasy film, they also make a first rate thriller. The three challenges that Harry and the other three Triwizard students go through are well constructed, with the dragon that Harry must avoid to get the golden egg, perhaps the best action piece of the first four films.

While reading Goblet a few years ago, I remember saying how dark the series was getting, but until I saw it on the screen this past Thanksgiving Day, I did not realize how dark it really was. Rowling has done wonders here, by giving her characters faults, and not making them perfect little heroes.

And with this film, the three main actors really come into their own more, thanks, to previous director Cuarón’s decision to make them act like kids, thus giving them a three dimensional personality. Under the helm of Newell, the increasingly handsome Daniel Radcliffe becomes a very accurate teenager, full doubts about his role in Hogwarts, his growing attraction to the opposite sex and how much he needs his friends.

Emma Watson shines as Hermione, as she becomes more beautiful and talented with each film. There were two scenes which stuck with me, first her attempts to keep Harry and Ron’s friendship from going south (“I am not and owl”) and at the Yule Dance where she reveals more than ever her attraction to Ron.

Rupert Grint -who Maggie Smith has called a “born comedian” - is once more the heart and soul of this troika. His timing and his ability to be an awkward teenager who won’t admit he likes Hermione (and seems even cruel to her, at times) will strike familiar with anyone who remembers when they young and noticed that girls where very different than boys.

The only complaint I might have, is the lack of screen time for the all three of the other wizards in the game. While Cedric (the charming Robert Pattison) had the most lines, Viktor Krum (the handsome Stansilav Ianevski) and Fluer Delacour (Clémence Poésy) are given little to do other than be eye candy. Also, I was sad to see Alan Rickman’s screen time cut, also. Severus Snape is one of my favorite (but I am also happy to know what a critical part he’ll play in the latter books, so it’s not that bad). Even Tom Felton’s (who is growing like a weed) Draco takes a backseat, but it was a delight to see-if only briefly - Jason Isaacs’ return as Draco’s father, Lucius.

But equally, it was nice see Matthew Lewis’s Neville Longbottom come forward, especially, as it seems, Rowling is making this shy boy become more important to the series as a whole.

Finally, as Hermione says, everything is changed as they head home after the fourth year comes to a tragic close. Death has claimed a hero and Lord Voldemort is back and Harry Potter’s future -and the ones tied to his destiny - now must look forward to a more darker path.

Where it will lead is unknown, but the once fact remains: Harry will need all his strength to survive. And this was the first of the film that I really felt that just before the end credits began, To Be Continued... should've appeared on the screen.