Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - a Frank Review

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the forth installment in the popular fantasy action cinematic series based on J.K. Rowlings's best selling series of novels. This installment is directed by Mike Newell. It is recognized currently as the eleventh highest grossing film of all time. Goblet of Fire was nominated for an Academy Award for best art direction but lost out to the technically beautiful film Memoirs of a Geisha. This is the first move in the series to have a pg-13 rating attached to it for fantasy violence and unsettling graphics. Mike Newell was concerned about reducing such a large book to a movie under 2 hours but in my opinion he did an excellent job while doing so.

The now familiar trio consisting of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are ready for their forth year at the school of magic named Hogwarts. The film opens up looking into a dark scary graveyard next to a old country house. A man awakes in his quarters to see a light on in the house. As he is the caretaker for the property he goes to investigate who might be trespassing and finds the dread Lord Voldemort who kills him. Then the movie jumps track to the Quidditch World Cup championship where chaos erupts when dark forces attack suddenly and viciously. Harry, Hermione, and Ron teleport back to Hogwarts where they learn about the Goblet of Fire and the Triwizard Tournament. This Triwizard Tournament is between one student from each school who participate in a dangerous series of events. Never having done so in the past, the Goblet of Fire which choose the participants chooses four participants this year with Harry Potter being the forth. Each of the tasks in the event is more dangerous than the last and there is a real chance that one or all of the participants could get seriously hurt or even killed during the event.

Over all I give this movie a rating of 10 out of 10. I think the actors have become very comfortable in their roles and talent grows with ever film under their belt. I think this is a great young adult movie that most parents will have no problems allowing older children to watch. It teaches good moral values, the value of friendship, and the value of loyalty and the important of family. However it is a quite a bit deeper and darker than the first movie and just intensifies what the third movie continued. If you choose you allow younger children to watch this you will want to watch it with them to ally any fears or answer any questions they may have. I will hold off on telling you any more about the plot to allow you the chance to enjoy the movie for yourself. It is an older movie and probably available in the bargain bins of video stores if you have never seen it, spend the $5-$10 and pick up a copy. It is well worth the money spent and your family will likely watch it over and over again.