The fourth book in J.K. Rowling’s blockbuster series has given birth to yet another film in the Harry Potter series, saving Hollywood from a lackluster year-long slump. While even a child could have predicted box office gold, the more important question is: How good is the movie?
The answer: It’s good.
With a running time of two and a half hours, the film leaves a number of side plots behind and instead focuses primarily on the main issue. The focus stays more on Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and leaves Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) more as secondary characters than the previous three films.
The fourth book coincides with their fourth year at Hogwarts wizard academy. They are a little wiser, a little older and are finding that being an adolescent is harder than expected.
Thankfully, the film starts with Harry staying at Ron’s house and leaves out his horrible aunt and uncle. In the previous films the opening scenes were juvenile and rather annoying. Those scenes would also make you wonder why in the world would Harry keep going back to live with those horrible monsters every summer. Although the book does give an answer that the films do not.
The Weasley family is immediately woken up as they must rush out across the fields in order to find a port key that immediately whisks them away to another land where a huge stadium sits in front of them. The Quidditch cup is being played and all the wizards from across the globe are there to watch the final match.
During the game, the stadium comes under attack from dark forces that decimate the land and send thousands of wizards fleeing in terror. The only clue left behind is a black cloud in the shape of a skull and snake that has some connection with Harry’s dreams about the return of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
While this scene is interesting and adds to the tension of the film, it makes things even more confusing. If Voldemort and his evil men can take on thousands upon thousands of powerful wizards, then why can’t they take on one Harry Potter?
Once the confusion dies down, the three friends find themselves back at the wizard academy. Instead of wizard training and general romping about, something more important is at stake. The Triwizard tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. The tournament is a year-long event that takes place between three schools. Hogwarts is the host and will have one representative. Beauxbatons Academy, an all-girls academy from (France), will have a representative. And lastly the Durmstrang Institute, an all-male Bulgarian academy, will be the final entry.
In order to participate, those over 17 years of age must place their name on a piece of paper and throw it into the goblet of fire. The goblet is protected by heavy magic and will allow no one under age to enter.
Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) is drawn to represent Hogwarts. Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski) is chosen for Durmstrang, and finally Fleur Delacour (Clemence Poesy) is chosen for Beauxbatons.
Just as the final name has been plucked from the goblet, something miraculous happens. The goblet blazes to life and spews fourth a final name, that of Harry Potter. Not that it was really any surprise to the audience. After all, the movie isn’t called Some Unknown People and the Goblet of Fire.
With Harry’s past, you might expect everyone to be excited that their local hero has been chosen to compete. Instead of praise, his classmates and teachers turn against him. They think that somehow Harry cheated and got past the safeguards around the goblet in order to enter his own name. Even Ron turns on him appalled at how his best friend could lie to him.
From there the relationship of the two boys becomes strained as they bicker and argue. While the book does a good job at explaining their confrontations, the film is a little weak and not giving any real reason why Ron would suddenly not trust his best friend.
Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and the others realize that something is wrong, but the only way they can find out what the ultimate plan is, is to let Harry compete as the fourth contestant.
The tournament consists of three tasks. None of them are explained and left as a surprise to the participants. Fortunately with a little help from his friends, they find out that the first task will have something to do with dragons. This gives everyone some time to plan and invent a strategy.
When the day arrives, Harry draws the horn-tailed dragon, the fiercest and strongest of the group. In order to pass the test, they must wrestle away a golden egg from the dragon that they picked. The special effects are excellent and look quite realistic. Using his wits and his amazing Quidditch skills, Harry manages to come out victorious but singed.
He also comes out with the next clue for the event. The clue is in the golden egg, a loud shrieking noise that emanates from within when opened.
Knowing that there are three more novels yet to be turned into films in the Harry Potter series, you know that he will manage to come out unscathed no matter if his foes are dragons, merfolk, a living maze or a confrontation with Lord Voldemort himself.
While the story is interesting, there are a few parts that drag and an ending that begs for some closure. How exactly is Harry supposed to survive his summer vacation with Voldemort hunting him down and away from the protection of the school?
Even with the nagging questions, there are plenty of Harry Potter fanatics that will be salivating for the next film. As for the rest of us casual fans who are looking forward to the next installment, we just won’t be slobbering as much. |
