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As Harry’s followers reach their adolescent years, Harry Potter films transition from light-hearted wand-weaving to dreadful fatal curses. In each installation, Harry matures (as does actor Daniel Radcliffe) along with the treatment of the film based on JK Rowling’s wildly successful books.

“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire shakes off the kiddie funfare of Harry Potter 1 and 2 and takes off from the adolescent tension that was briefly hinted at in “Prisoner of Azkaban”. This time, Harry falls in love and gets his heart broken for the first time; Hermione receives flattering attention from a star athlete–something which drives Ron jealous even when he allows himself to be enchanted by a veelah’s kiss. “Goblet” effectively introduces the audience to the darker nature of the saga head-on: Harry gets face-to-face with his arch-nemesis Voldemort, someone is murdered right at the story’s beginning, two more die towards the end (though, one of them is only stunned in the book), a servant cuts his hand off, Ku Klux Klan-like Death Eaters raid the international Quidditch cup, and graveyard scenes, among many things. In fact, these scenes were the key considerations for the film to receive film grades 13 and 15 in the UK and Australia, which are probably equivalent to PG-13 in local movie classification.

This is the HP movie with the tightest story-telling so far, featuring a balanced interspersion of funny, serious and thrilling scenes that climax at the Riddle graveyard. In this respect, writer Steve Kloves and director Mike Newell (of “Four Weddings and a Funeral” fame) made a good job of putting together all the significant parts of a 700-page book into a two-and-a-half-hour movie. For some who have complained that Goblet’s pacing was too fast, it might be wise to wait until the DVD comes out which will surely include scenes that did not make it to the theatre release.

Still, what works for the popularity of the film may also be its weakest point: one should have read the book to fully appreciate the story, as exemplified by the appearance of Cedric Diggory, the Riddle’s caretaker and Harry’s parents while he was dueling with Voldemort. Dumbledore called it “Priori incantatum” without explaining the very phenomenon that saved Harry’s life for the second time, nearly mirroring what had occured fourteen years ago when Voldemort used the same deadly spell on him. Those who have read the book of course know what it is.

Radcliffe’s portrayal of Harry Potter just gets better with each film, and his performance in film four proves no exception. He managed to writhe convincingly painfully while Voldemort was telling the world about how great he was; he made the audience laugh whenever he was around Cho Chang. The bathroom scene with the cheeky Moaning Myrtle was a classic, not only because Harry took his shirt off– a sight which surely sent tons of pre-pubescent girls giggling with delight.

Emma Watson and Rupert Grint did well as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively. My only problem with the two actors is that their chemistry seems weak, being a possible couple in the next installations of the film. Watson has better chemistry with Stanislav Ianevski who played Bulgarian seeker Viktor Krum, more so with Harry himself who in turn will be Ginny Weasley’s third (or is that fourth?) boyfriend by book 6.

The characters played by Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), Robbie Coltrate (Rubeus Hagrid) were significantly reduced, while the two other tri-wizard champions Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski) and the veelah from Beauxbaton (Clemence Poesy) said only three lines each. Cedric Diggory must have suffered the same fate if his character were not that of Cho Chang’s boyfriend and Harry’s co-champion in the cup. And what of Harry’s bullying enemy Draco Malfoy? I almost forgot that he was even in the movie; the ferret received more attention than the wizard character.

Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody swept all the scenes he appeared in. He was simply able to create that over-powering presence that it’s hard to ignore him in a scene even when all he was doing was sulk at a dark corner. On the other hand, I am glad that the director gave Dumbledore a warmer characterization in this film. He doesn’t seem too far-off, so to speak, and that is only what’s required of a character that practically stands as Harry’s mentor and guardian.

Muggles and wizards alike may question Voldemort’s power, but no one can contest the fact that Ralph Fiennes is an acting genius. He is simply effective as the vilest, darkest, most fearsome wizard, You-Know-Who.

And the Hungarian Horntail? Merlin’s beard, it could act too! Don’t miss this very warm creature. Go you filthy mud-blood Muggle and see Harry Potter in the moviehouse.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 29th, 2005 at 8:01 pm and is filed under Movies & Theaters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.