HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

UK, 2005, 157 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Eric Sykes, Timothy Spall, David Tennant, Mark Williams, Jeff Rawle, Robert Pattinson, Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton, Stanislav Ianevski, Robert Hardy, Roger Lloyd Pack, Matthew Lewis, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, David Bradley, Warwick Davis, Frances de la Tour, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Brendan Gleeson, Miranda Richardson, Gary Oldman, Shirley Henderson.
Directed by Mike Newell.

Book and film the 4th. I like this one best. The first two saw Harry, Ron and Hermione as younger children and the films were geared to the younger audiences who identify with the characters and their adventures. The third was darker, with sinister happenings. Now they are fourteen, the stories not for the younger children but rather for their peers – and adult audiences will also enjoy this.

For a while, controversy surrounded Harry Potter and the issue of magic. This is not a world of witches and warlocks. Rather, it is a world of wizards. Computer language likes the name ‘wizard’ for some of the marvellous things computers can copy and fix. And, since 2001, wizards seem absolutely respectable because of Gandulf. No one imagines that Tolkein’s world actually exists and nobody is bothered by the mythologies he weaves nor with the magic and spells. They belong to a fantasy world, a world so different from our own. Harry Potter lives in a similar kind of imaginary world. If anyone mistook this world for a real world, that would be a worry – and some anxious campaigners spoke about the Potter world as if it were real and condemned it.

By now, we can all sit back and enjoy the wonderful adventures.

The other point to be made is that with the children now as young teenagers (and Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have themselves grown older as each new film has been made), they are at the age for what we call ‘rites of passage’. Adulthood and adult responsibilities are just around the corner.

This means that, although the trio are a bit gawky and not too versed in the ways of the (real) world as they excel at lessons and magic, they have to become aware of attractions towards the opposite sex, mood swings and suspicions and tensions for friendships, and learning to be more mature. This aspect is one of the best features of the film, raising all the questions well but quietly and subtly – and, for us, amusingly. Asking partners to go to the Yule ball, learning to dance and knowing the protocols of the ball make strong demands on them.

The rites of passage are also seen in the ‘quest’ theme of the film. Harry dreams of threats by Lord Valdemort and, ultimately, has to confront him. It is a clash between evil and good. On the way to this finale, Harry has to go through tests, an equivalent of initiation in other cultures. The Goblet of Fire is the instrument for naming the three entrants in the Triwizard competition. Age-wise, he is too young to enter but the Goblet reveals his name.

The three tests are symbolic (but made vividly actual with top special effects). The first is a confrontation with the wild side of nature, a battle with a dragon. The second is to plunge into the deep and rescue close friends despite the water perils and the attacking mermaids. The third is to find one’s way through a dangerous maze to the light. Psychologists are really going to like these symbols from J.K.Rowling’s imagination.

Not only does Harry come through (that does not, of course, spoil the ending), he shows himself courageous beyond his years, selfless in saving others even though he is momentarily tempted to self-promotion. He is a boy with a sense of responsibility and a generous spirit. It is a tribute to Daniel Radcliffe’s staying with the role and credibly showing Harry’s development as a boy.

The large British cast is excellent with the regulars like Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and Robbie Coltrane. Ralph Fiennes makes a very sinister Valdemort. Brendan Gleeson steals much of the show as a wild, one-eyed teacher as does Miranda Richardson as an obnoxiously intrusive reporter.

The numerous special effects and action sequences are better than ever.

1.The popularity of the series? Box office success? The place of this fourth episode? Audience knowledge of the previous films or not?

2.Audience familiarity with the characters, expectations? Situations, magic, Hogwarts? The battles between good and evil? Voldemort? The age of Harry and his friends, questions of adolescence?

3.The locations: Hogwarts School, the castle, the Scottish scenery and settings? The importance of the special effects, the stunts? The musical score?

4.The children being older, the transition from children to adolescents, the physical changes, psychological changes, emotional changes? The three as awkward, learning? A growing sense of responsibility?

5.The title, the focus on the quest, Harry as the chosen one, the rites of passage, Harry using his wits as well as his magic, ingenuity, choices, responsibility and selflessness?

6.The opening and Harry’s dreams, Voldemort and Wormtale, the sinister aspects? The young man and his being drawn into the plot? Harry overhearing but not seeing Voldemort? The recurring dream and its development? Harry finally immersed in the reality of the dream? The confrontation with Wormtale, the confrontation with Voldemort? The transition to the excursion, Harry and his friends, in the woods, Diggory and Cedric? The plan to go back to Hogwarts? The adventures in the woods?

7.Harry, Ron and Hermione, their friendship over the years, the bonds between them, the bonds being tested? Harry and a certain growing independence? His regard for Ron, attraction towards Hermione? Towards the Chinese girl? Ron and its his relationship with Hermione? Hermione and her being attracted towards Victor? Ron and his anger with Harry and his entry into the competition, the reconciliation and apology? The plans for the dance?

8.The opening game of Quidditch, the arena, the crowds, the international groups, the Bulgarians? The girls’ team? The action in the air? The arrival at Hogwarts, the reception of the new students? The impact of the Bulgarians? The girls and their mistress, their uniforms, walking, Ron and the attraction?

9.The presence of the staff, at the reception? The character of Dumbledor, being in charge, the events and his bewilderment, the memories of Voldemort, Harry’s name emerging from the goblet, his advice for him? Using Harry to bait Voldemort? Professor Mc Gonagall, Maggie Smith’s presence and style, very proper, dealing with the adolescents, her guidance, decisions? Severus Snape and his appearance, Alan Rickman’s style, seeming sinister yet caring for the students? His spells? His clip-over-the-ear sense of discipline? Mona and her appearance, her advice for Harry? Argus Filch and his continued presence, assistant to Dumbledor? Hagrid and his benign presence, his attraction towards Madame Maxine? At the dance? Audiences familiar with these members of the staff?

10.The range of students, Malfoy and his son, the sinister presence? Ron Weasley’s twin brothers and their sense of daring? Neville Longbottom and his lugubrious appearance, his sense of daring, friendship with Harry, the dance at the ball?

11.The importance of Alastor ‘Mad Eye’ Moody, his arrival, appearance, screen presence? His experience, the ministry? His classes and his full-on approach? His roving eye? His befriending Harry, coaching him? The various tests? The irony of the revelation that his place had been taken? His being imprisoned in the trunk? His release?

12.The test, the goblet of fire? The ritual, the age limits? Cedrid and his being chosen? The girl and her being chosen? The nominees – the twins and their trying to enter but being pushed out? The ritual and magic and Harry’s name coming out? His bewilderment, Ron’s reaction? The Bulgarian as a contender? Dumbledor and his accepting the fact that Harry should be a competitor? Barty Crouch and his managing of the contest, the irony of his son being an agent of Voldemort? The build-up to the preparation for the contest?

13.The tests, Ron and his giving Harry advice? The special effects and the fights with the dragons? Harry and his flight, fighting, the rescue? The test in the sea, Harry getting the potion, becoming webbed? The bottom of the sea, the vicious mermaids? The bodies to be rescued, Harry and the sense of time, his rescuing Ron and the girl just in time? Success? The good nature of Victor, Cedric and the girl?

14.The interlude of the ball, classes going on, discussions about partners and invitations, Harry and Ron and their awkwardness, Hermione going with Victor, Harry and his being turned down by the Chinese girl, her regrets? The practice of the dancing? The ball, the formalities, Hermione and Victor? The two eastern girls – and Ron and Harry not dancing with them? Disappointment?

15.The test of the maze, its appearance, the light at the end? Harry and the others and their being lost, Cedric and his being struck down, Harry and his seeing the light, hesitating but going back to save Cedric?

16.Harry and his final confrontation with Voldemort, Wormtale and getting Harry’s blood, reviving Voldemort? Voldemort’s appearance, manner of speaking, evil incarnate? Remembering the murder of Harry’s parents? The build-up to the confrontation, Harry tied up, being freed, his winning the contest against Voldemort – but Voldemort waiting for another day? Voldemort and his henchmen, especially Lucius Malfoy?

17.The end, the transition to the next adventure? The way that the three adolescents had grown? The bonds between them? Harry and his growing sense of responsibility as he becomes an adult?