By Alex Harries & Will Goodchild
After a stunning realization of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by director Alfonso Cuaron it seemed that the Harry Potter films couldn't possibly get any better. Well, the folks at Warner Bros. have done it again: bigger and badder than ever, Harry Potter is back.
This time, at the helm is director Mike Newell who is incidentally the first Brit to direct a Potter. Newell has directed films as diverse as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Donnie Brasco. He brings a maturity to the film that is so key to this story of adolescents not so much growing up but having the burden of adulthood thrust upon their shoulders.
Early on we take an awe-inspiring trip to the Quidditch World Cup. The scale of this set piece is jaw-dropping and, in terms of sheer scale, gives any of Mr Lucas' recent output a serious run for its money. But all is not well. Plagued by nightmares, and with his scar burning, Harry can only conclude that dark happenings are afoot. Dark indeed they are as the Quidditch camp is set ablaze heralding the return of Voldemort, and our heroes flee to the safety of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore announces the Triwizard Tournament, one of the most exciting and dangerous competitions within the wizarding community. One wizard from Dumbledore is to enter but the other two will be picked from the elegant girls of Beauxbaton Academy and from the brooding boys of Durmstrang Institute. The arrival of these other schools is a breath of fresh air to the Potter saga, allowing us a wider view of this wonderful world of magic J K Rowling has created. It's a real joy to be introduced to a different student of wizardry that exists outside Hogwarts' walls, not to mention seeing how these alien groups interact. The inter-school mingling doesn't stop with the students as we see a different side of Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) getting cosy with Madame Maxim, giant headmistress of Beauxbaton's, played by the superb Frances De La Tour.
Alongside De La Tour, we are introduced to a number of new characters played by, as we've become accustomed to in the series, some serious heavyweight acting muscle. Miranda Richardson plays the deliciously nasty Daily Prophet reporter, Rita Skeeter. Dublin-born actor, Brendan Gleeson plays Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, a battle-hardened wizard training the students in defence against the Dark Arts. His controversial teaching methods are tough: the philosophy being this prepares the young wizards for the dangers they will inevitably encounter. Something that makes the Harry Potter saga so thrilling is that evil is always a clear and present danger. Poor Harry has never yet experienced the luxury of feeling completely safe.
Harry is inexplicably entered into the competition by no less than the actual Goblet of Fire. He is suspected of being a cheat and a glory hunter and is alienated by his peers, Ron included. Tensions between Harry and Ron ensue, testing their friendship with tragi-comic effect.
The Triwizard Tournament involves a battle with a fire-breathing dragon, once again upping the stakes on the action factor. A (quite literally) breath taking, underwater set-piece in The Black Lake sees Harry encounter a terrifying shoal of Merpeople. As great as Quidditch is (which we don't actually see a great deal of in Goblet of Fire), there's nothing quite like a good fight! And along with his transition to manhood, Harry is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with.
On the subject of growing up, there's an unavoidable awareness of hormones at Hogwarts this year. Harry has discovered that there's more to girls than well... girls. He takes a shine to the lovely Cho Chang (newcomer Katie Leung). For Harry, dealing with dragons and merpeople is nothing compared to asking Cho Chang to the Yule ball. While Harry struggles with the concept of romance, Hermione and Ron still can't quite open up to their feelings for one another. The chemistry grows ever stronger between the two of them. In one tear-jerking scene Hermione enters the ball: looking all grown up in her ball gown but she just doesn't have the right date for the evening. At the ball, we are treated to an appearance by lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker who's fronting the band. While in another film this could have been a flashy showcase, eccentric Englishman Cocker melds into the tableau with as much ease as Alan Rickman.
The final trial of the Triwizard takes place in a creepy maze with echoes of The Shining. But instead of Jack with an axe, it's the actual maze that's out to get them, and the effect is chilling. Not only does our protagonist have to deal with the maze, but also the oft-talked-about Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) makes his big entrance.
This fourth film in the series deals with the trials and tribulations of growing up in a very tender, and often funny, way. For example, the previously-non-existent tensions between good friends Harry and Ron will strike a chord with those of us that have been there, and will most definitely ring true for viewers that are experiencing similar hassles. But while capturing the complexities of adolescence, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire delivers a genuine thriller. Steven Kloves' crackling script captures J K Rowling's story pitch perfect. It neither condescends nor adds a sugar coating to the drama, and while taking us on a flight of fantasy, we are taught that life is not easy. This world of magic is never pink and fluffy. But isn't that more exciting? Well, of course it is.
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