CinemaDave - 2005 "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

" - in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are
only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are
divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord
and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by
showing an equally strong bond of friendship and
trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing
at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are
open."
Professor Albus Dumbledore


"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" was
J.K.Rowling's first 700 plus page novel. When the Warners
Brothers committed to produce the Harry Potter movie
franchise, it was first thought that "the Goblet of
Fire" would have to be released in two parts. As the
producers learned with the last movie, "Harry Potter
and the Prisoner of Azkaban," the screenwriters could
shave off the many subplots and back stories while
remaining true to J.K. Rowling's core assertion.

As Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley
(Rubert Gint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson)
prepare to return to their 4th year at Hogwarts School
of Witchcraft and Wizardry, evil is afoot. Lord
Voldermort (Ralph Fiennes) is slowly regaining his
strength and seeks his revenge upon Harry Potter. When
he was a baby, Harry earned the scar on his forehead
when he overpowered Lord Voldermort by defending
himself with special magic. Suspense builds because
the students at Hogwarts are unaware of their
impending danger.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville Longbottom (Matthew
Lewis) are more concerned with getting dates for the
Yule Ball. These 14-year-old wizardry students suffer
the pangs of asking the most beautiful person out,
then frequently settling for the second best date. Real
conflict develops between Harry, Hermione and Ron that
is actually more painful to watch than falling off a
flying broomstick. Complicating matters are that
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will be
hosting the Triwizard Tournament with other witchcraft
universities. Along with Cedric Diggory (Robert
Pattison), Harry Potter's name is chosen from the
Goblet of Fire as the Hogwarts Representative.

The Triwizard Tournament surpasses any of the
visualizations projected in the last “Star Wars”
movie. The Triwizard tasks encompass the elements of
fire, water and earth. While glorious in their detail,
these films may prove too intense for younger viewers.
One nightmarish imagery involves Harry and the
Triwizard contestants running through a encroaching
forrest of trees. This sequence will remind people
where they were during Hurricane Wilma's assault. It
should be noted that this is the first “Harry Potter”
movie to earn a PG-13 rating.

While most of the original Harry Potter ensemble
remains intact, the new cast members energize "Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire." As Cedric Diggory,
Robert Pattison made adolescent girls swoon. Brendan
Gleeson portrays Professor "Mad Eye" Moody, Hogwarts
latest Defense of the Dark Arts Professor, a faculty
position that keeps changing each school year for
mysterious reasons.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Gint and Emma Watson own this
motion picture. The companionship between these three
growing actors appears genuine and unforced. Miss
Watson shines during the Yule Ball in
which she is regal, charming and eventually
heartbroken. Gint gives of some marvelous one liners
and Radcliffe retains his four eyed heroism. The real
scene stealers in this movie are the Weasley Twins,
Fred and George (James and Oliver Phelps). These red
headed twins set the stage for a humorous set piece
for the next movie in 2007, "Harry Potter and the
Order of the Phoenix."

Unlike most of the movies released in 2005, "Harry
Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is a good, audience
pleasing motion picture that makes people laugh, cry
and cheer. Director Mike Newell has enhanced author
J.K. Rowling's vision. With the alchemy of the cast and
crew, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” is easily
one of the best motion pictures released in 2005.