Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Harry Potter gets into dangerous skies in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'. - CONTRIBUTED
LONG BEFORE Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire drags itself to its conclusion, it becomes quite clear that Potter has lost a touch of his magic. Much of it has been seeped out by a spell of misdirection which robs the tale of some momentum though, fortunately, it keeps its emotional value.
Harry Potter, created by J.K Rowling, seemed bent on world domination when it first created a wave of interest among adults and children alike who hungered for the tale of a lonely boy and his journey into the world of magic. So the lust for the Harry Potter series, first the books and later the films, spread like a lucrative capitalist wildfire.
Yet the real magic of Harry Potter did not reside solely in the magical world that was created; it was in the loveable nature of Harry himself. He makes the classic hero, a kind of 'Cinderboy', as he is at first an outcast, feeling unloved and unwanted, before moving toward finding new friendships that will help to take him through difficult tasks. The magic of the story is its sound and fury; the emotional input was the real substance.
EMOTIONAL INVESTMENTS
Even so, with the fourth film in the series, Harry's meteoric rise sputtered. His broomstick ran out of either gas or magic - or maybe both. The Goblet of Fire finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) in their fourth year at Hogwart's College and, in keeping with tradition, the movie begins just before the start of the school year and ends with its closing. However, this time Harry can only get some emotional support from his friends and he has to battle a dragon and mer-people by himself.
Yet the film is strengthened by the emotional investments that fans have already ploughed into it. The three kids are definitely growing up and the story introduces more adult elements, as for the first time they have to face the trials of puberty and dealing with the opposite sex. This quite remains true to form, as none of the young heroes have ever had to face mere monsters and magic. As with each story, they spend equal amounts of energy battling their human side, their natural inadequacies. Additionally, the film gets even more serious than the last, losing much of the lightness of the first film.
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire is directed by Mike Newell, with a screenplay by Steve Kloves. Kloves also wrote the screenplays for all three previous Harry Potter films. Yet, unlike the last three films, Goblet of Fire feels like the middle of a story. It can stand on its own, but the end does not feel as though the story could stop there, as it is far too unresolved. The climax is disappointing, yet there can be anticipation as to what will come next, as there is enough to stir interest in the continuation.
The film remains visually stimulating and this too helps to strengthen it. But, the magic is less potent than in previous films. It does not feel as refreshing. Yet, it is quite unlikely that Potterheads, whether of the film or novel versions, are likely to be disappointed in The Goblet of Fire. However, wand for wand, hocus-pocus for hocus-pocus, Goblet of Fire does not flare as brightly as the other films in the series so far.
