The Dark Lord Shall Rise... Again!

Rating: Null/10 (21 July 2014)

An incredibly dark premise in comparison to its predecessors, the 4th chapter of Harry Potter film franchise wasn't just burdened with the daunting task of adapting the then-longest novel by J.K. Rowling into a single film but also had to live up to the benchmark set by the previous chapter. And even though it trims down or skips over far too many events of the book, what it eventually puts on the table is still a damn good movie, even if it's no match to Alfonso Cuarón's Prisoner of Azkaban.
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire covers Potter's 4th year at Hogwarts that's unlike any other year as this time the school of magic plays host to a legendary event, The Triwizard Tournament; in which a champion from each of the 3 schools is chosen to compete in a series of dangerous contests for eternal glory. However, when Harry is chosen by the Goblet of Fire to compete despite being an underage contestant, he is left with no choice but to go through with it while the devil patiently waits to make his return.
As Cuarón decided against returning for this sequel, the director's chair this time passes on to Mike Newell at which he does a wonderful job as this movie retains the dark atmosphere of the book and is smoothly narrated from start to finish. Screenplay is sure to divide fans of the book but considering the runtime restriction of a movie, it is deftly adapted. The camera-work is exquisitely handled, editing keeps the tension alive & the background score by Patrick Doyle is darkly fascinating.
Coming to the performances, the supporting cast gets even stronger as Brendan Gleeson comes aboard as Alastor "MadEye" Moody; Hogwarts' new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, while Ralph Fiennes takes the coveted role of The Dark Lord Voldemort. The 3 leads chip in with fine performances once again but it's Radcliffe who shows most improvement. VFX is excellently carried out & the stunning rendition of the Hungarian Horntail is its highpoint as the dragon is a sight to behold.
The one major disappointment I have with this film is that I really wanted the depiction of You- Know-Who as per the book but it sucks to find that wish unfulfilled. On an overall scale, Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire offers loads of entertainment, excitement & enjoyment from its opening moments and is a worthy addition to the franchise that manages to make most things work in its favour. Expertly crafted, swiftly paced, intensely fun & possessing a magical touch in its presentation, this dark chapter in the life of The Boy Who Lived is worth your time & money.