Harry Potter Series Continues To Improve

Rating: 10/10 (22 October 2012)

Directed by Mike Newell, the fourth installment to the Harry Potter series finds Harry wondering why his legendary scar which happens to be the famous result of a death curse gone wrong is aching in pain, and perhaps even causing mysterious visions. It is the fourth installment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively. The story follows Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwarts as he is chosen by the Goblet of Fire to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, a highly dangerous competition.
Before he can think too much about it, however, Harry boards the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he will attend his fourth year of magical education. Shortly after his reunion with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, Harry is introduced to yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: the grizzled Mad-Eye Moody, a former dark wizard catcher who agreed to take on the infamous "DADA" professorship as a personal favor to Headmaster Dumbledore. Of course, Harry's wishes for an uneventful school year are almost immediately shattered when he is unexpectedly chosen, along with fellow student Cedric Diggory, as Hogwarts' representative in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, which awards whoever completes three magical tasks the most skillfully with a thousand-galleon purse and the admiration of the international wizard community. As difficult as it is to deal with his schoolwork, friendships, and the tournament at the same time,Harry doesn't realize that the most feared wizard in the world, Lord Voldemort, is anticipating the tournament, as well.
The main characters are maturing, and the filmmakers are likewise improving on their craft; vibrant special effects and assured performances add up to what is the most complex yet of the Harry Potter films.Mike Newell handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors.Added to that,the special effects are first rate but I think it's always going to be about the characters. And there are a lot of great characters in this movie as it is a more mature story and its young stars prove they have the acting skills to grow with their characters.Like a fine wine, Harry Potter continues to improve with age as each succeeding film version of Rowling's books seemingly surpasses the last.