Satisfying fourth film of the series

Rating: 7/10 (22 April 2006)

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" may be the fourth film of this series, but it is not like most other series' that have gone on for this long. Think "Planet of the Apes", "Police Academy, "Jaws", "Batman" "Rocky" and "Superman". Each of these series had grown tired and boring. "Goblet of Fire" is a refreshing, dark film that moves the series and the characters forward in a natural way.
It is nice to see the progression of the characters, not just in their studies, but in how they deal with problems that happen to all teenagers. While struggling to become wizards, they are also struggling with everyday issues. Love, jealousy,and loyalty are dealt with in a realistic way.
At almost 2 1/2 hours, this is a long film, especially for kids. I know that the book was monstrously long, and many of the subplots were removed from the film. In doing so, the film is not altogether cohesive. Because of this, the film feels even longer.