HARRY POTTER PUTS away childish things in Goblet of Fire. The latest chapter in the HP saga takes a dark turn into the black arts, while the three protagonists must wrestle with the thorny issues of adolescence, in particular the first inkling of sexual yearning. Raging hormones bring strife to Harry, Ron and Emma, threatening to dissolve their friendship.
Veteran British director Mike Newell is the steady hand guiding the franchise this go-round. Much like Alfonso Cuaron's Prisoner of Azkaban, the funny bits are less prominent as Harry's rite of passage into adult wizardry dominates the storyline.
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), now 14, is plagued by nightmares that leave him in a pool of sweat, frightened and uneasy. As always, Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is behind his latest challenge. While attending the Quidditch World Cup with Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), the event is interrupted by Voldemort's henchmen, the Death Eaters.
Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school year is dominated by Hogwarts hosting the Triwizard Tournament, a dangerous competition to earn the title of Top Teen Wizard and hoist the Triwizard Cup. As the first British director in the series, Newell seems particularly suited to capturing the spirit of competing for one's school colors.
Harry is too young to compete, but his name mysteriously emerges from the titled Goblet of Fire. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is concerned about how this happened, but the rules cannot be broken and Harry must join Quidditch superstar Victor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski), Fleur Delacour (Clemence Posey) and Hogwarts' Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) in the dangerous competition.
Fire-breathing dragons must be outwitted, Harry must dive into the Black Lake to
effect a rescue, and he must navigate a shape-shifting garden maze to reach his
final objective.
Ron thinks Harry did put his name in the cup for the glory of victory, which causes them to have a blowout fight. The dragon battle is easy for Harry compared to asking a girl out to the Yule Ball, while Ron and Emma must fumble about with romantic feelings bubbling below the surface of their friendship.
Eventually Harry must face Voldemort in the flesh, an epic battle that will continue in the next chapter.
The returning cast does its usual excellent job, but it's a new teacher who impresses the most. Brendan Gleeson is wickedly enchanting as “Mad-Eye” Moody, the eccentric - even by wizards' standards - Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
This venture into the PG-13 realm has added depth and shading to the legend of the Harry Potter series.