Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The fourth installment in the boy-wizard series marks a step backward from the masterpiece that was part three (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban). Harry finds himself entered into a dangerous wizard’s tournament that has him battling dragons, saving loved ones from lakes and running through shrub mazes reminiscent of The Shining. The action sequences are top-notch, but the drama stuff about Harry coming of age is amateur night. Director Mike Newell has managed to make a rather dull film here that is saved only by the magical action sequences and the fantastic work of Daniel Radcliffe as Harry. The movie is supposed to be dark, but elements of Azkaban were far more creepy and sinister. By the time Ralph Fiennes makes an appearance as a dark lord, the movie has lost its focus, and thoughts wander off to part five and hopes that it will be better.