Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) must contend with being mysteriously selected to compete in the prestigious Triwizard Tournament, a thrilling international competition that pits him against older and more experienced students from Hogwarts and two rival European wizarding schools. Meanwhile, supporters of Harry's nemesis, the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), send a shockwave of fear throughout the wizard community when their Dark Mark scorches the sky at the Quidditch World Cup, signaling Voldemort's return to power. But for Harry, this is not the only harrowing news causing him anxiety…he still has yet to find a date for Hogwarts' Yule Ball dance.

I understand artistic licensing as well as the next avid moviegoer but sometimes it’s taken too far. Its not that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire wasn’t fantastic because it was, it was that the movie wasn’t complete. I worry for those who have not read the books to fill in the enormous gaps the movie leaves and for all the explanations it leaves out. The decision to not make a two part movie and rather just cut out all the unnecessary pieces wasn’t a bad idea it was just an idea that they didn’t pull of very well at times. I’ll give an example, at the beginning of the movie all the characters go to the Quidditch World Cup and the movie spends several moments on the introductions but then shows none of the game instead clipping to them celebrating after the game. This is in no way smooth, it is very abrupt and jerky, it would have only taken them a minute or two to show some of the game and then smoothly move into the celebration scene. Much of the first twenty odd minutes of the film is like this, hurried and very jerky. But once the movie gets past all the sudden stops and starts it turns into a fantastic movie. The movie is easily the most gripping and powerful Harry Potter movie to date it simply just isn’t complete. Here is to hoping for an extended edition much like the Lord of the Rings movies.

We are finally starting to see if the young trio of actors can finally act and the answer for the most part is yes. I am not sure how any of them would do outside a Potter movie but they have all slipped into their roles in the world that is Harry Potter, it is hard to imagine anyone besides Daniel Radcliffe as Harry and he does a fine job in the movies. But it is, Emma Watson that steals the show once more, as she is clearly the best actor of the trio. She adds a lot of the drama, the heart and the comedy that is the movies and without her the movies would not be nearly as good, Rupert Grint once more is the weak link in the chain as he still has that awkward feel and he can be a little bit of downer when he is on the screen. Daniel and Emma work together perfectly and Rupert is clearly the third wheel. He is improved over Prisoner of Azkaban but that’s not saying much. The star of the film at times those is Brendan Gleeson who plays Mad Eye Moony as he latterly steals the show at times. For the most part the movie is amazing; it is much darker and more sinister and more gripping and dramatic than all of its predecessors. The movie does not fail to entertain and for the most part it gets the spirit of the books. Most fans will heap praise on the movie and some non fans may find themselves a little lost but the movie delivers even if it doesn’t feel entirely complete.

I love the religious fanatics that take aim at the Harry Potter series for promoting witchcraft and magic because they entirely miss the point of the movies and the books. The movie and books are about friendship and growing through adversity which are things to be praised and not frowned down upon. The books teach that life is not always fair but the choices we make are what shape us and what make us ultimately good or evil. These are lessons all children should learn and if a series of books that use witchcraft as their backdrop to teach these lessons get more children to read and think then anyone opposed to them is simply ignorant and very foolish.
4.5 stars out of 5