Harry Potter's magic continues – has there ever been a film series that so lives up to the promise of its premise?

“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” fourth in the string, has a heated darkness. It's a tougher, more Gothic film. Harry is pulled by the creepy powers of his nemesis, Lord Voldemort, as an unexpected fourth contestant in the Triwizard Tournament, facing big perils along with a Bulgarian hunk, a handsome Hogwarts schoolmate and a sylphic French lass.

You don't have to be an insider to know that Harry will surmount the most astonishing challenges, in a dragon pit, a lake of toothy mer-monsters and a windy, foggy maze that makes the one in “The Shining” seem like a garden accessory. Mike Newell directed with effusive textures and assured force, following the brilliant template of Chris Columbus's first two films, extended by Alfonso Cuaron in the third.

Much of the renewed charm is in simply returning to the big family of characters we love: Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron (Rupert Grint), Severus (Alan Rickman), Minerva (Maggie Smith), Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). Michael Gambon may never have the imperial warmth of Richard Harris as Dumbledore, but in this second try he fills in the headmaster his way.

Brendan Gleeson is a terrific kiosk of ham as the new teacher of dark arts, Moody, with a telescopic eyeball that swivels in its own orbit. And Ralph Fiennes has a serious horror appearance, his voice a dagger straight from darkness, his nose a candle-drip with wee slits for nostrils.

As always there are plums: a 16th-century galleon rising from within a loch; a weeping stained-glass window; the way Rickman's undertaker voice spins the crepe of “Let them unfold”; a smoky black owl with scarlet eyes; Indian sisters strafing Harry with girlish giggles; Sirius (Gary Oldman), his face a blaze of embers in a fire grate; Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) wand-cast into a white ferret.

As lavish relief from the trials and frights there is a school ball, fairly thick with cliches, though Hermione enters into young womanhood beautifully dressed. These are not small cuties anymore. Ron now rises over Harry, who now has a build, though still the lovable features of a logo boy on an English cookie tin.

This serial feast, piled high (and long) this time, is very satisfying. People who've missed the films or not read the books might have rushes of bewilderment.

So what if only millions are pleased? However you care about the final fate of Voldemart, perhaps to be revealed as Darth Vader or Donald Trump, it is fun being committed to Harry for the whole haul. What a great club to be in.

A Warner Bros. release. Director: Mike Newell. Writer: Steve Kloves. Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and Brendan Gleeson. Running time 2 hr., 37 min. Rated PG-13.