A Magical Experience

Rating: 9/10 (7 December 2005)

Well, the film that has the potential to be the biggest blockbuster of the year has arrived. The fourth installment of the "Harry Potter" franchise has made it to the big screen. "The Goblet of Fire" opened across the United States on November 19 to very eager audiences. Making over 100 million dollars at the box office in just three days, it has easily claimed the fourth spot on the best opening weekend list.
"The Goblet of Fire" begins just as the book, in the Riddle house, where Voldemort and two of his more devout minions are plotting the untimely death of the one and only Harry Potter. The dark tone of this film is set right away, when Voldemort welcomes, the eavesdropping muggle caretaker, by way of an unforgivable curse. With a death in the first five minutes, it is clear that the films, like the books, are becoming more grim with each sequel.
Far away, Harry awakes in the comfort of the Weasley home, his scar in searing pain. Hermione has just arrived. After a very brief greeting, Harry and the gang depart for the Quidditch World Cup via portkey (an enchanted item, in this case a shoe, that transports those who come in physical contact with it to a predetermined location). For anybody who hasn't read the book, it would be wise to remember what a portkey is.
Unfortunately, the Quidditch World Cup is cut short due to a fierce attack by Voldemort's followers who are known as "Death Eaters" and before you can say "you know who" Harry, Ron and Hermione arrive at Hogwarts for their most eventful year yet! Almost immediately, the students are informed that this will not be an ordinary year (is it ever?) for Hogwarts will be host to the Triwizard Tournament (think olympics meets magic). The tournament consists of a series of three potentially fatal tasks, each designed to challenge the participants endurance and skill. Traditionally there are three champions, one from each of three magical schools, but in a mysterious twist Harry's name is spit out of the Goblet of Fire as the fourth contestant to compete for "eternal glory." After a heated debate, it is decided for Harry that he must compete. As the year progresses, the four contestants are pushed to their limits as they struggle to retrieve a golden egg from a fire breathing dragon, save their friends from a watery grave and navigate through a perplexing labyrinth.
As Harry fights for his life, he must also deal with his peers who have largely abandoned him in support of the other Hogwarts Champion, Cedric Diggory. Jealousy has even turned his best friend, Ron against him. Tension runs high as the story culminates to a climactic showdown with Voldemort, who is more than willing to finish what he started nearly fourteen years before. "After tonight no will ever again question my powers. After tonight they will only remember how you begged for death, and I, being a merciful lord, obliged."
As usual, the special effects are topnotch, but it is how they are put to use that makes them great. They never overpower the real story, which is that of Harry and his two closest friends. Daniel Radliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) have matured both as young adults and actors with each successive film. It is undoubtedly a great asset to the franchise that the studio has not recast the main roles as originally planned.
The Director, Mike Newell did a fair job in going from "Mona Lisa Smile" to this big budget blockbuster. This is also the man you can thank for convincing the studio not to release "Goblet of Fire" (a 734 page book) as two separate films as originally planned. His argument was that he could cut enough of the book's bulky subplots to make an effective film. I think two separate films would have been a complete travesty, but my biggest problem with this film is it's pacing. It is unbelievably rushed and the elimination of several subplots has a negative effect on the overall story. Film 4 is great if you have not read the book, but it's hard not to be a little disappointed if you have. Dobby, S.P.E.W., the giant spider in the maze, and the invisible stair are just a few things fans of the books may miss. Granted, the movie is 2 hours and 37 minutes, but SO much happens so quickly, that I can imagine those who haven't read the book getting lost easily. It strikes me as odd that the studio felt they had to rush the film as they did. I'm sick of guaranteed blockbusters like this and "Star Wars" playing it so safe. They need to pull all the stops, if it take three hours to tell the story the way it was meant to be told, than so be it. It's surprising how much studios will still fight to keep running time down even though giants like "Titanic" and "Return of the King" currently reside atop the all-time box office. There should be no time limit on a good story.
Despite the rapidity, several scenes (most of which I can't discuss) were executed flawlessly. One in particular was the ending which is the first of the Potter films to satisfy me (I hate the firebolt freeze frame of film 3 with a burning passion). This is by far the most exciting adventure Harry Potter has gone on yet and it earns it's PG-13 rating (at least by MPAA standards). I certainly hope this pleases most fans because it has to tide you over all the way until 2007 when "The Order of the Phoenix" is scheduled to be released with "The Half Blood Price" to follow a year later and the untitled film 7 expected to conclude the story in 2010. 8.8/10 (3 ½ /4) stars