Harry Potter is entered into the deadly games that comprise the Triwizard Tournament.
Things don’t start well for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). As a special summer treat they are attending the Quidditch World Cup. The post-match celebrations though are turned to terror as Death Eaters attack the camp site, leaving widespread destruction in their wake.
School at Hogwart’s is always exciting but this year even more so as they are hosting the Triwizard Tournement, against the other two great wizarding schools, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. The rules are simple but the games are dangerous so pupils under the age of 17 are prohibited from entering.
One pupil will be selected from each school.
Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) – Hogwart’s
Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski) – Durmstrang
Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy) – Beauxbatons
Dramatically though the cup selects an unprecedented fourth participant…
Harry Potter – Hogwart’s?
As the tutors from all the schools try to understand how this could happen – a magical barrier should have prevented Harry from entering the tournement and he insists he did not enter, Dumbledor (Michael Gambon) informs him that it is all moot because – want it or not – Harry is now a Triwizard Participant.
Now Harry has three deadly tasks to complete in the tournement.
All the time of course, school continues in an odd sort of way. The Hogwart’s pupils have peculiar new Defence Against the Dark Arts tutor ‘Mad Eye’ Moony (Brendon Gleeson). Moony seems intent to help Harry as much as possible, especially when asked to look after the lad by Dumbledor.
For a while the dark history of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and recent years seems far away, but for Harry Potter that cannot last and the deadfly tournement may be just the tool the forces of evil have been waiting for.
Dark, atmospheric movie with a distinct charm all of its own. Goblet of Fire only rerally covers two time periods, not an entire year at Hogwart’s. First the imprressively constructed Quidditch World Cup, which reminds us that there are more than just a few Death Eaters out to do harm. Having said that, the conversation at the end impies that the Tournement has lasted the entire year.
Then the Triwizard Tournement, which covers the rest of the movie, barring some short flashbacks.
Each puzzle or challenge is very well realised and the overall effect is a wonderful adventure. The introduction of Robert Pattinson into a pivotal but short role (Cedric Diggory) was inspired. Also played well is his father, Amos (Jeff Rawle).
The run away success of the movie though is the outlandish but bizarrely believable Prof. Moody. Glorious performance by Brendon Gleeson. Utterly bonkers.
There is only small room in this for character developement, especially for the minor characters. It is impressive then that charatcers like Neville (Matthew Lewis) and Ginny (Bonnie Wright) do grow here.
The main developments are left to the end of the movie and the last two acts. Before that though we do see Ron and Hermione’s budding, potential romance nearly get started but flounder once again. At least Hermione lets her heart show.
The special effects are picked up once again and dragons, gilly weed, merpeople, broomsticks, Quidditch and so forth are so much better produced here than previously.
Things to look out for: Quidditch World Cup, “Mum sent me a dress!“, school’s guests’ arrival, “I think I’d take the dragon now.“, dragons, merpeople, “I smell like my Great Aunt Tessie”, egg, gilly weed, portkeys, “Babbling, bumbling band of baboons.“, learning to dance, the unforgivable curses, “Stupid Ceiling!”, the introduction of Nigel (William Melling), the maze, the final acts, “Do you think we’ll ever just have a quiet year at Hogwart’s?“, the reveal, “Welcome, my friends…”
Released: 2005
Certificate: 12
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Brendon Gleeson, Maggie Smith, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Roger Llloyd Pack, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, Robert Pattinson, Jason Isaacs, David Tennant, Ralph Fiennes
Rating: dramatic adventure, dark omens in the ending, very highly recommended.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
Part of “Harry Potter, The Complete 8-Film Collection”
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