GOF is undoubtedly the best of the series to date

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2005)

"I love magic," says Harry at the Quidditch World Cup in the new film, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, and this superbly-crafted, thrilling and immensely satisfying film reminds us all how much we love magic, too. Easily the best movie in the series to date, GOBLET gives us a sweet and poignant coming-of-age story wrapped in a roller-coaster, big-budget, no-holds-barred FX spectacular.
With a fantastic and very human story by JK Rowling as the source material, our attention is drawn naturally to the acting presenting that story. Steve Kloves' adaptation of Rowling's funny and touching dialog and plot are spot on, giving the young cast and veteran actors alike some very tasty stuff to work with. Among the youngsters, the standouts are of course Dan Radclifffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Harry, Hermione and Ron respectively. They constitute the central core of the story and the actors' performances in this film are nothing short of remarkable. Special mention must be made of Rupert as he has at last shown us the real Ron Weasley that has been struggling to get out over the first three films. Emma is lovely, and yet shows enough bossiness that we know it's really Hermione. Dan Radcliffe has a very difficult role: reluctant hero, crush-ridden teen, friend and go-between. Nowhere does he falter, and his scene upon returning to the maze after Voldemort's rebirth is heart-wrenching.
Supporting these fine young actors are some of the finest actors in the UK, and the film finally gives some of them an opportunity to shine. Especially affecting are Maggie Smith as McGonagall, and new-comers to HP Brendan Gleeson as "Mad-Eye" Moody and Miranda Richardson in a scene-stealing role as gossip-mongering yellow-journalist Rita Skeeter. If Gleeson misses a nod for a best supporting actor Oscar, then there is no justice or heart in Hollywood! Ralph Fiennes brings his special brand of menace to the role of Lord Voldemort in a turn that will leave nightmares in its wake.
Among the rest of the large cast there are many nice moments, and delightful (and terrifying) surprises. Oliver and James Phelps as George and Fred Weasley are at last the merry mischief-makers we've missed heretofore, Robert Pattison as Cedric Diggory is your perfect Triwizard Champion, and Shirley Henderson brings a welcome return of a surprisingly naughty ghost, Moaning Myrtle. A surprise here is Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom, whose importance to the rest of the series is critical, but sorely minimized in the earlier films. Matthew is both vulnerable and winning, and his performance is outstanding.
Behind the story of the maturing of Harry and his friends, and the return of ultimate evil are the backdrops of the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament. Both settings give the effects designers an opportunity to shine, and they've never shown brighter! At the QWC Harry makes his "I love magic" remark upon entering a magic campground full of wizards, witches, and magical athletes. It seems so darn REALhow could we not love magic like this? This is also the audiences' first meeting with the Dark Lord's Deatheaters, which has an ominous effect of setting the malevolent tone for things to come.
The Triwizard Tournament consists of three magical tasks, each of which is completely convincingly realized by the designers and FX crew. No one could doubt the reality of the existence of dragons somewhere after watching Harry battle his own, the Hungarian Horntail. In the final credits it is noted "no dragons were harmed in the making of this film", a final bow to the true movie magic created here. The underwater task is also deftly executed, although everything appears a bit surrealjust like really being underwater! Krum's untransfiguration from shark to man, the mer-people, and the creepy octopus/rottweiler grindylows are all particularly noteworthy. The third task is a massive hedge-maze, in which "people change." As this is the set-up for the final scene, I will discuss it further below.
In the course of the tourney there is a "traditional Yule Ball"and thus a perfect opportunity for the costumers as well as the designers to show their hand. Everyone is beautiful hereboy and girl, giant and midget, good and bad alike. Even poor Ron, stuck with ancient and very out-of-fashion dress robes looks perfectperfectly dreadful that is, as he should. This naturally becomes the ideal setting for the coming-of-age conflicts which through the film serve as hilarious reminders of what the kids are going through and serve to keep the audience off-guard for the impending confrontation looming ahead.
Since the maze in the third task serves to unnerve and even bewitch the contestants, so too is the audienceare the hedges alive? Are they evil? For evil surely awaits in the graveyard beyond and this scene in particular is most like its literary counterpart. The rebirth of Lord Voldemort and the subsequent events are terrifying and Harry's escape back to Hogwarts remains the emotional crux of the story. Hermione says to Harry and Ron at the end "it's all going to change now, isn't it?" This is the movie that will change the series forever from light-hearted, oh-wow magic, to the realization that there is evil everywhere, and the best anyone can do is be prepared, and stand by each other in the face of adversity.