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Review by: Jack Foley | Rating:
Two
HARRY Potter finally comes of age in the fourth film in the series,
a dark and consistently exciting adventure notable for being the
first to carry a 12A certificate as well as the murder of one
key character.
The Goblet of Fire also finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) taking
his first tentative steps towards romance, as well as the usual
bickering between his friends, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron
(Rupert Grint).
Yet it works best when delving into the dark side of the story,
functioning first and foremost as a thriller as Harry is forced
to enter the dangerous Triwizard Tournament despite being too
young to take part.
His participation at least enables him to take his mind off the
terrible nightmares he has been having, featuring the return of
the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
But it provides cause for concern to Hogwarts School Professor
Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), who suspects Harry has been deliberately
put into harm's way and appoints eccentric new Defence Against
the Dark Arts professor Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody (Brendan Gleeson)
to investigate further.
Fans of the book may be alarmed to discover that a great deal
has been left out but given that The Goblet of Fire still clocks
in at two and a half hours, it's little wonder that something
had to go.
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Mike Newell, accepting the wizard's
hat passed on by Chris Columbus and Alfonso Cuarón, has
cast his own magical spell over proceedings to deliver a taut,
suspenseful thriller that furthers the story in satisfying and
often spectacular fashion.
The Triwizard games themselves are expertly staged and genuinely
exciting, especially when Harry takes on a fire-breathing dragon,
while a climactic face-off between the young wizard and his nemesis,
Lord Voldemort, is both creepy and exhilarating in equal measure.
The movie does tend to drag a little during the lulls in the
action, with the romantic asides merely serving to expose the
acting shortcomings of the younger members of the cast.
But the likes of Gambon, Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman continue
to shine in limited doses, while newcomers Gleeson and Fiennes
both stand out whenever they are on the screen.
There's even a cameo from Pulp singer, Jarvis Cocker, to look
out for during the Yule ball.
Taken as a whole, The Goblet of Fire looks guaranteed to delight
the Potter enthusiasts even if it might scare some of its younger
followers.
It builds on the good work achieved by Cuarón's Prisoner
of Azkaban to deliver a first-class movie in its own right, as
well as a mouth-watering appetiser for The Order of the Phoenix.
The responsibility now lies with Sex Traffic director, David
Yates, to ensure that the magic continues when filming begins
on the fifth installment next year.
Related stories: Read
our review
Daniel Radcliffe
interview
Emma Watson and
Rupert Grint interviews
Mike Newell interview
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