Goblet of Fire Media Reviews

The Desert Sun

Kids have to grow up, but it's up to the adults in their lives to help them find their way. In the case of young Harry Potter, not all the adults in his life have his best interests in mind. In this fourth installment in the life of J.K. Rowling's young wizard, director Mike Newell gives us a Harry who proves his mettle by cleverly learning to draw from the depths of his own resourcefulness and inner strength.

The first 10 minutes of the Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire deftly covers nearly four opening chapters of the book, drawing the viewer quickly into Harry's fourth year as a wizard in training. Are these first scenes Harry's nightmare or actual events? Or both? We'll have to wait through most of the film to figure that out.

We encounter Harry, Hermione and Ron at the Weasley's forest cottage on their way to the World Quidditch Cup. The cup match brings together one of the largest gatherings of witches and wizards in what's supposed be a rousing good time for all.

But after the incredible opening of the games, Lord Voldemort's minions, the Deatheaters, overrun the gathering, leaving the Dark Mark in the sky as a notice to all that the Dark Lord is on the rise - and his intention is to once again wreak havoc upon the wizarding world.

After that the return to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for Harry, Ron and Hermione seems to hold more than the usual excitement of the school year. The Hogwarts students are soon joined by the girls of Beauxbatons Academy and the boys of Durmstrang Institute, for the Triwizard Championships.

For this competition, there is no quitting for any of the chosen champions, and only one student of each school is to be chosen to represent his school by the Goblet of Fire. Just as in every other aspect of his life Harry, who is too young and has no intention of throwing his name into the fiery flacon, is chosen as co-champion, along with Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) to represent Hogwarts. And Harry meets each challenge with the ingenuity and aplomb we've come to expect of this older-than-his-years wizard.

Like the three previous Potter films, this script sticks pretty closely to the book. But as each book has more intricate in plot , each film has had to find clever ways to translate the text to the screen. Chapters are reduced to minutes on the screen, like the second challenge, which covers approximately 25 pages in the book, takes a mere five minutes on screen. Lost, though, are the exchanges between the secondary characters such as Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy) and the inter-school rivalry.

Newell retains the magic of the Potter films, but never overplays the revelations of the books; there is no overwrought fanfare and no excessive mood music to telegraph quintessential moments.

Instead Newell brings us along for each of Harry's discoveries, as each clue drops into his reach, like Cedric repaying a debt by giving Harry a clue to a clue or when Harry, Hermione and Ron discover Hagrid's (Robbie Coltrane) infatuation with Beauxbatons' headmistress, Madame Olympe Maxime (Frances de la Tour).

Things aren't all cozy for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) in this film; the inevitable irritations of friendship pop up, but we also see their bond growing.

Like the last film, this one is available in both regular widescreen and IMAX formats. The IMAX version is a crisp digital translation of the 35mm version of the film. There is great depth-of-field in the IMAX version, but because of the screen size, you get the best viewing if you can sit in the middle of the theater looking head on at the screen. There may be a slight loss around the edges of the screen, but the six-story screen and depth of field in the IMAX version, not to mention the incredible sound, makes it a grand way to jump headlong into this goblet of fire.

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