As I slowly but surely make my way through the Harry Potter films, I now arrive at the Goblet of Fire, the fourth installment in the series, and if one thing can be said about these movies is that they are magnificent looking wonders containing both state of the art special effects and wonderful cinematography. With Mike Newell taking the directorial reins, he brings us a brighter looking film than the previous installment, filled with beautiful shots of the mountainous countrysides. In addition to its wondrous look, the casting is also a boon to the film and I loved seeing the addition of Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes, along with the return of the veteran actors. As far as plot goes, Harry and the gang are in their fourth year at Hogwarts while Harry is having sinister nightmares of the evil Lord Voldemort and his presence is feeling ever the more palpable. It is also time for the Triwizard Tournament and Harry becomes involved due his name mysteriously appearing from the goblet of fire. I had my usual problems with the story in that the creators seem to think some elements are more creative then they actually are, but these quibbles are not that big of a deal and not likely to change so I may stopping griping about it. All and all, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is entertaining fare that offers enough to appeal to most moviegoers.
