Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Based on the fourth book in the Harry Potter series, Goblet of Fire had a difficult task from the beginning. The book was huge—literally and figuratively. Goblet was, up to that point, by far the largest in terms of pages and scope. For the first time we are truly introduced to the larger wizarding world in which Harry lives, and the book juggles numerous plots: the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Hermione’s SPEW, boy/girl tangles, the increasing menace of the Malfoy family, the timidity of the Ministry of Magic, and most importantly, the impending return of He Who Must Not Be Named.

All in all, it’s a lot to digest. Originally I had hoped the producers would split this book into two movies, to better give room for all those storylines. But, after seeing the film for a second time over the weekend, I am extremely glad they did not. As a film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire rises to the challenge of condensing such a rich book (my favorite of the series, even after reading books 5 and 6) into a brisk movie where every scene has meaning.

The result is a movie that is bigger and better than the three that came before it. The emotional resonance is much stronger here, particularly in the final half-hour, where we deal with death, resurrection, hope and despair all rolled up into one key scene, which not coincidentally was my favorite in the book as well. The real reason this tops even Alfonso Cuaron’s excellent Prisoner of Azkaban though is the sense of new beginnings. If the Harry Potter saga were a Shakespearean play, this (along with part 5, The Order of the Phoenix) would be the second act. This is where things all start to go horribly wrong. If this were a Star Wars movie, this would be The Empire Strikes Back. It even ends the same way as Empire, with our main characters, backs to the camera, looking off into the distance, not knowing what further danger lies ahead.

With Brendan Gleeson stealing scenes as the off-kilter Mad-Eye Moody, the producers of the Harry Potter series have once again struck casting gold. Miranda Richardson is pitch-perfect (though underused) as the tabloid reporter Rita Skeeter, while the new kids, Cho Chang (Katie Leung), Fleur Delacour (Clemence Poesy) and Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) all add new flavor to the character pool. I look forward to seeing many of these actors reprising their roles in upcoming films.

The one failing of this movie, despite its best efforts, is the lack of tension leading up to the final conflict with Voldemort. There is definite action and a sense of fear within the three tasks of the Tri-Wizard tournament (all remarkable achievements in effects work), but none of it gives hint of the final conflict in the way the book does. And maybe that’s a good thing. For those who haven’t read the book (and I saw the movie with a couple of them), there is a slight sense of surprise at the ending, though surely not the same as the revelation in Azkaban of Sirius Black’s true identity.

What the movie does best is intertwining the difficulties of youth (dating, friendship, and “growing up”) with the challenges that Harry faces as mortal enemy of Voldemort (played with great fervor by Ralph Fiennes). It has a bit of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that way. Rowling, in her genius, takes these common themes and reintroduces them in a wonderfully derivative, yet wholly original form. When the movie ended, I sat there wishing the next one could start immediately. It won’t be out until 2007, but at least I now have 6 books and 4 movies to hold me over.

Grade: A