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Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (2 Disc Edition) [2005]
from Warner Home Video
starring Daniel Radcliffe, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
directed by Mike Newell

Features:

• PAL
• Widescreen

Editorial Review:

The latest entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang, and has his first big fight with best bud Ron. Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Tri-Wizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation.--Ellen A. Kim, Amazon.com

• Exciting Additional Scenes available

• Conversations with the Cast – interviews with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

• Fun Interactive Challenges: - Triwizard Tournament: Dragon Challenge - Triwizard Tournament: Lake Challenge - Triwizard Tournament: Maze Challenge - To the Graveyard and Back Challenge

• Breathtaking Making-of Featurettes and Behind-the-Scenes Including: - Harry vs. the Horntail: The First Task - In Too Deep: The Second Task - The Maze: The Third Task - Meet the Champions - He Who Must Not Be Named - Preparing for the Yule Ball

• Exhilarating DVD-ROM Features Including: - EA Game Demo - Magical Trading Cards - Hogwarts Timeline - Web interactivity

Adults who may have been turned off by the more kid-friendly elements of the first two Potter films should sit up and cheer; this fourth installment of Harry's adventures at the magic school of Hogwarts is more mature and darker than its immediate predecessor. This year, Hogwarts is hosting the Tri Wizard festival, and there may be a plot afoot to off Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) during the proceedings. Hermione (Emma Watson) finds a man worthy of her in competing Russian Quidditch champion Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ivaneski), to the chagrin of Ron Weaselly (Rupert Grint) who, though growing into a fine, shaggy orange-haired figure of a lad, is still not quite mature enough to ask Hermione to the Yule ball. Krum's teacher may be involved in the dastardly get-Harry plot, which involves writhing snake tattoos, skull clouds, death-eaters, tournaments with live dragons, a submersible schooner, and a competing school of poised and beautiful girls run by Maxime (Frances De La Tour), who shares a romantic past with gamekeeper Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). All the other favourites of the series are back as well, including Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, and Gary Oldman, with Timothy Spall as the odious Wormtail, while a new addition to the A-list thespian roster is Ralph Fiennes. Director Mike Newell takes plenty of time to explore character development, but the story still gallops along at a breathless pace, with memorably intense moments involving fire-spewing dragons, dark magical rites, and near-drownings at the hands of slimy mer-people, all of which may prove too much for the youngest of viewers. Everyone else is advised to hold on tight.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Great film
  I love the Harry Potter books and enjoy all the films. The only problem is that as the books are getting longer more & more is getting cut out when they're made into films. I'd rather have this film longer & have all the story in. Still fantastic though!

• Enjoyable, but not quite magical enough
  After I saw the first Harry Potter film a few years ago I refused to ever watch any of them again, as I am such a loyalist to the books, and felt that the films could never live up to them. However, the trailer for the fourth film intrigued me so I gave in and went to see it with some friends, and actually quite enjoyed it. I have now given all the HP films the benefit of the doubt and seen them all up to date, and although they don't match up to the books they are pretty good films nonetheless, and that... more info

• I Liked it Again
  Before year four at Hogwarts starts, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) gets a real treat. He joins the Weasleys and Hermione (Emma Watson) at the Quidditch World Cup. But what should have been a fun trip turns serious when the campground is destroyed and a giant skull shows above the area. The skull is the sign of the evil Voldemort.
  All that gets forgotten when the trio return to school. Hogwarts is playing host to the Tri-Wizard tournament. One student each from three wizarding schools will be... more info

• The Best Potter Movie To Date!!
  I can't be bothered to read the JK Rowling books however I have watched all of the movies!
  I have found others to be flaky in parts and the acting a little wooden.
  This movie doesn't have any of the above! The film is quite dark and atmospheric, the story fast, flowing and even possibly too sinister for kids in places!
  Still - great to scare the hell out kids you might not like very much, but as an adult you'll love it too.
  

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