Film Reviews

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

• Rating:
• Director: Mike Newell.
• Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes.
• Details: UK, 157 mins, PG.

Even though he is too young too compete, Harry (Radcliffe) finds that he has been entered into the dangerous Tri-Wizard championship by an unseen force and rumours spread that there is an evil presence inside the walls of Hogwarts. Forced to take on the deadly tasks facing him, Harry is given a helping hand by new teacher Mad-Eye Moody (Gleeson) while Lord Voldemort (Fiennes) waits patiently in the wings for his moment to strike. The Goblet of Fire is part four in the continuing series but feels like an omnibus of half-hour episodes itself. The film continually has a quick set-up followed by a climax and onto the next set-up. The ballroom sequence, although containing most of the humour, sits uncomfortably in the middle of the wizard championship and feels like it has been resurrected from a deleted scenes option on the future DVD release. This is a major faux pas on behalf on the director, Mike Newell, as all the tension and excitement he built up dissipated with the overlong dance sequence. The film does tread new ground as both the characters and the actors are now older and growing pains have kicked in, crushes and the early stages of love begin to grow, but all this feels like a diversion from the main plot rather than a sub-plot in itself. Basically, The Goblet of Fire is a two-and-a-half hour reason to get Lord Voldemort back in action for the next instalment.

Review by Gavin Burke