Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Awesome
Adam Valen Levinson
Freelance Movie Critic
      With more poise and hair than ever before, the three British teenage wizards are back in the fourth installment of the Harry Potter series. As expected, The Goblet of Fireone-ups its prequel with more magic, more violence, and just a touch more romance. Scene after scene, we are bombarded with the terrifying and the spectacular in a movie that accentuates both triumph and tragedy. At a rate of approximately five pages per minute, the film flies by in a flash of epic, breath-taking flair.
      Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tells the story of Harry’s fourth year in school, where he once again battles bad dreams and daunting challenges on his way to the credits. This year, Hogwarts has been selected as the host for the Tri-Wizard Tournament, where a chosen student from schools in Bulgaria and France join the Hogwarts champion in three tests of courage, ingenuity and magical aptitude. Harry, while officially three years too young to enter, is chosen as Hogwarts’ second representative. After the French entrant surrenders (surprise, surprise), and the Bulgarian is cursed, Harry must compete against his friend and schoolmate for the glorious title, Tri-Wizard Champion. From a breathless aerial chase among the school’s spires to a breath-stopping underwater rescue, The Goblet of Fire leaves us panting. And with a good portion of the cast trying to kill him, Harry is tested more than ever before by the ensuing trials.
      Mona Lisa Smile director Mike Newell allows the series its first PG-13 rating, letting audiences know that the squeaky voices of the earlier films will be abandoned for a good two and a half hours of hearty supernatural chaos. Do not refrain from parting with your eight dollars, however, because of the bloodshed and frightening images that may have kept your children home with the sitter. While the love-struck teen on my right quivered at Harry’s every appearance, and cried at his every torment, the more aged audience members (say, above 17) could enjoy a less superficial, more meaningful film than the first three. The new Harry Potter lets us delve even deeper into labyrinthian intricacy, allowing the cleverly organized world of Hogwarts to create suspense and tension even for those who know the story.
      The Goblet of Fire shows us even more of our heroes’ romantic, emotional sides than the prequels. Friendships are strained and tested under the weight of new emotional challenges. Rowling’s characters deal with honesty and trust like any teenagers would, but in the end, the movie presents a clear lesson about moral fiber. As the ever-perfect protagonist, Harry lets us know where our priorities should lie on the shifting scale of fame and friendship. For this, Harry is rewarded for his outstanding demonstration of “moral fiber”. Mr. Newell’s fibers come in all colors, as he leaves no ethnic stone unturned in casting dates for the Hogwarts ball.
      In short, this is a great movie for those who have never seen a Harry Potter before. The book’s compacted story presents itself clearly and imaginatively, letting a movie-goer enjoy the film without having to do any “reading”. A breakthrough in the cinema of fantasy, The Goblet of Fire is nothing short of magical.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
157 Minutes
Release Date: November 18, 2005

Written November 19, 2005 for the Friends' Central Focus