Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

By: debbie lynn elias

Possibly even more anticipated than the release of each book by J.K. Rowling (as if that’s even possible), “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” opens worldwide on November 18. With a $140,000,000.00 budget at his disposal, British director Mike Newell (who only walked away with a mere $1,000,000.00) vetoed Warner Bros. idea of dividing the 700+ page book into two films (we all remember how well that worked with “Hannibal”, don’t we?), and at the prodding of “Prisoner of Azkaban” director Alfonso Cuaron, took on the daunting task of helming this 4th installment in the Harry Potter franchise.

I’ll forego the back story this go round because quite frankly, anyone who doesn’t know the story of Harry Potter by now has either been living under a rock or with my mother for the past 5 or so years.

Our young wizard Harry, together with his best friends, Hermione and Ron, is now in his fourth year at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With the passage of time, not only have Harry’s magical skills improved under the tutelage of Headmaster Albus Dumbledor, Professor McGonagall, Potionology Professor Snape and Hagrid Keeper of the Keys (who himself became a teacher during Harry’s third year at Hogwart’s), but his innate powers have gotten stronger with age. Clearly on the path to fulfilling his destiny as becoming one of the most powerful wizards ever, Harry’s precognitive talents have become a powerful, if not disturbing, part of his life.

Plagued by nightmares involving two men plotting murders, Harry knows that dark and difficult times lie ahead – and not just for him. It seems that the malevolent Lord Voldemort, a sorcerer of immense power who went over to the dark side and killed Harry’s parents, has his own evil insurgency called the Death Eaters, on the rise. Gaining strength at every turn, the Dark Mark – a sign that Voldemort has returned to power – is burned into the sky at the Quidditch World Cup, breading fear throughout the world of wizardy. (Do I detect a nod to Frank L. Baum and the Wicked Witch of the West here?) As if this isn’t enough, Harry is mysteriously selected to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, a competition pitting Hogwarts against its fiercest rivals – Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institute. Vying against older and more skilled wizards than himself, Harry faces one of the biggest wand-waving challenges of his life. Paralleling life itself, during the tournament one must collect a golden egg from a dragon’s nest (an extremely difficult task) which then leads one to the next clues and tasks, ultimately taking our competitors through hell, high water and a mystical maze until someone claims the winning Goblet of Fire for his own. Kind of like growing up. And adding fuel to the fire, Harry must also find a date for the annual Yule Ball.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are back again as everyone’s favorite wizards. Having spent virtually every day of the past 5 or 6 years together, these three are the embodiment of their characters, with friendship and love resonating with every word and movement. Moving more to the forefront of the film with their more senior co-stars taking a step back, these three prove they have the mettle to carry the films themselves from hereon out. Also returning are the incomparable Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall, Alan Rickman as Potionology Professor Snape and the huggably lovable Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid, keeper of the keys and gates and who is now also a teacher. New to the professorial staff is Defense-Against-the-Dark Arts Professor Alastor Mad-Eye Moody played by Brendan Gleeson. Best known for his smaller supporting roles (and often wry witted performances) in films such as “Lake Placid” and more recently “Kingdom of Heaven” and the AFI Festival premier of “”Breakfast on Pluto”, Gleeson has perhaps the most difficult role of all in “Goblet of Fire.” Playing the role to the hilt, he eventually learns that the “dark arts” against which his students must really learn to defend themselves is not evil, but rather raging hormones and unrequited love. He is a delight! Once again, Michael Gambone steps in as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and while I am ashamed to say it, even in this his second Potter film, the presence of the late Richard Harris who created the role, is sorely missed. Gary Oldman pops in as a fiery incarnation of Sirius Black and a joyful site for all is Shirley Henderson as Moaning Myrtle who once more provides touches of comic relief, and often bits of wizardry wisdom, at the most opportune moments. But the real scene stealer here is Ralph Fiennes as the evil Lord Voldemort. Adding slitheristic characteristics to the already slimy Voldemort, Fiennes’ performance alone is enough of a reason to see this film! Every time he is on screen, I guarantee you’ll feel shivers and shudders up and down your spine.

Darker and with more mature themes than its predecessors (thus the PG-13 rating), “Goblet of Fire” takes on a life of its own addressing not only the powers of darkness, the competitive spirit and distinctions of the haves and have-nots, but the powers of puberty as well. Director Mike Newell, however, while adding his own distinctive touches to the film, stays true to the fantastical world of Hogwarts but provides even more breathless excitement than in the prior three films. With the story centering around the Quidditch World Cup competition and the Triwizard Tournament, Newell has a field day with eye-popping non-stop CGI action and effects. The Quidditch final, but for a few shots that take away from the characters and event as a whole to concentrate only on Harry’s face, is one of the highlights of the film, but I personally found myself enthralled and bewitched by a dragon fight. ( And FYI, they actually built at least one life-sized dragon that could breathe fire just for this film!) Exceptional with character development, Newell is at his best as he takes our young heroes from childhood into young adulthood complete with all the trials and tribulations that come with the territory – even if they weren’t wizards! The one downfall – possibly too much, too fast, to the point that you feel as if gasping for air much like our screen hero during the Triwizard Tournament. The senses simply don’t get a chance to rest!

A technical masterpiece bar none, cinematographer Roger Pratt is back and amazingly, provides us with a richer and more full textured palette of visual wonders than he did with “Chamber of Secrets.” Editor Mick Audsley, whose work you may recognize from “Twelve Monkeys” takes on his most ambitious project to date, the results of which can only be described as understated excellence. And what would a Harry Potter film be without Stuart Craig’s production design and the art direction of Alan Gilmore, Mark Bartholomew and the rest of the team. As for the CGI, enough can’t be said. The combination of Newell’s direction and talents of the various CGI visual effects teams, again make for a flawless fluidity that creates seamless believability in keeping with the Potter perfection we have come to know and expect.

Screenwriter Steven Kloves sets the bar still higher with another incredible adaptation from the Rowling book. As I have said before, “he delivers a meticulous work ripe with nuanced subtleties that are guaranteed to result in multiple viewings just to make sure you don’t miss a thing.” More difficult this time, however, was the need to either eliminate elements of the book or cram them into what ultimately became a 157 minute screen time. Kloves, a master at adaptation, while eliminating select portions of the book, maintained the integrity of the story and still allowed director Newell to go hog wild with his visual interpretation. Besides J.K. Rowling, no one knows the characters or the wondrous world of Hogwart’s wizardry and Harry better than Steven Kloves.

More precious than a Golden Snitch in a game of Quidditch, this is ONE OF THE MUST SEE FILMS OF THE YEAR. And for all you die hard Potter fans like myself, set to start lensing in early 2006 for a June 2007 release is “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” under the guise of tv veteran director David Yates with screenplay by Michael Goldenberg. Will all this new blood put a new twist on our beloved characters? Only time will tell, but for now, Hogwart’s is back in session. Everyone to the head of the class!

Harry Potter: Daniel Radcliffe Hermione Granger: Emma Watson Ron Weasley: Rupert Grint Maggie Smith: Professor McGonagll Alan Rickman: Professor Snape Robbie Coltrane: Hagrid Ralph Fiennes: Lord Voldemort

Directed by Mike Newell. Written by Steven Kloves based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Rated PG-13. (157 min)