Are the HARRY POTTER films really getting better? This one doesn’t have the whimsy of the first two films, but as we grow up with Harry, Ron and Hermione we do expect them to tackle issues more sinister and dangerous like dating. Because of the huge length of the fourth book a lot has been cut from the movie, but none of it is missed.
The fourth film does not start at Harry’s aunt and uncle’s house but jumps right into the Quiddich World Cup where Lord Voldemort’s Death Eaters make their first appearance, including a mysterious Voldemort servant (David Tennant, BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS) who appears in Harry’s dreams. This year at Hogwort’s the school will play host to the Tri-Wizard Tournament, where one wizard over 17 from three schools will compete for the coveted title. Hogwort’s champion is the nice jock Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson, VANITY FAIR). From the French school, there’s Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy) and, from the Eastern European school, there’s professional Quiddich champion Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski). But what’s this? The Goblet of Fire, which picks the names of the contestants, has spit out a fourth — Harry Potter!
This causes unthinkable headaches for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) who gains a lot of unwanted fame for it, especially from the conniving reporter Rita Skeeter (Miranda Richardson, SPIDER). Harry’s friendship with best mate Ron (Rupert Grint) is even strained. Hermione (Emma Watson) has to serve as an intermediate between the two. As each challenge gets more difficult, the more worried everyone gets about why and how Harry was entered in the tournament. Helping Harry along the way is his new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody, who is played to perfection by Brendan Gleeson (DARK BLUE). It makes me happy that the filmmakers nailed the character so well, but it makes me even sadder that they missed the mark a little with Mr. Lupin (my favorite Hogwort’s teacher) in the third film. But I digress.
Director Mike Newell (FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL) handles the epic material well keeping the pace just right. Better than all the other films, he injects a lot of great character moments into the film and understands the importance of the smaller supporting players in creating the overall richness of the world. Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), George and Fred Weasley (Oliver and James Phelps) and Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) all get their just due. One of the biggest events in the film is the big ball, Harry has a crush on Cho Chang (Katie Leung) and it seems harder for him to ask her on a date then to face dragons. Ralph Fiennes (THE CONSTANT GARDENER) is great as Lord Voldemort.
The visual effects in the film are again stellar. The dragon sequence is thrilling and the underwater event is haunting. The film is justly the darkest of the POTTER films so far and hopefully the series keeps up its high standards in moving forward. When all seven films are done, this series will stand as an unrivaled series of films that will be hard to match. No other film series is this consistently good. It’s the standard for which all others should be judged.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
