Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

UK Release Date. 18 November 2005
Certification. 12A
Running Time. 2 hours 37 mins
Director. Mike Newell
Cast. Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Rupert Grint, Robert Pattinson, Daniel Radcliffe, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Tennant, Emma Watson.
Rating. 65%

Review.

With our main protagonists supposedly reaching that testing age of 14 and building on the burgeoning adolescence witnessed in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire takes the first stuttering step towards adulthood. Typified through the ever-evolving relationship between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) and, in particular, the characters' awkward feelings regarding the opposite sex.

Director Mike Newell replaced Alfonso Cuarón and gleefully tackled the challenge of expanding the wizarding world beyond the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now into his fourth year, Harry and the rest of the students return to find the school transformed as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry welcomes the Tri-Wizard Tournament, with students of Durmstrang Institute from the far north of Europe and the enchanting elegance of the young ladies from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Haunted by a recurring nightmare, Harry ominously finds himself forced to compete in this deadly tournament.

The scope of Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is imbalanced and unwieldy. Some would say that Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is the strongest book in the series, and those familiar with the book are able to flesh out the parts of the film where the pacing is uneven. In essence, the film is split into two distinct sections. The opening section with the Tri-Wizard Tournament is light, and in the same vein as the first two films directed by Chris Columbus. But the emotionally charged concluding section with the first major on-screen appearance of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) heralds a darker, more mature tone. All of this leads to a climactic showdown where truths are revealed and everything is left wide open for the inevitable conflict ahead.

After three films, the veteran composer John Williams stood down and was replaced by Patrick Doyle. Doyle delivers a more sombre soundtrack, reinforcing the much darker theme, but one that still stays true to the original material.

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire is undoubtedly not as impressively executed as Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. The film's high points are largely a result of the endearing relationship between the three main characters as their friendship is soundly tested by jealousy, infatuation and teenage angst.