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 is entered into a dangerous wizard’s tournament that has him battling dragons, saving loved ones from lakes and running through shrub mazes. The action sequences are top notch, but the drama about Harry coming of age is amateur night. Director Mike Newell has managed to make a rather dull film 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 creepier and more sinister. By the time Ralph Fiennes makes an appearance as a dark lord, the movie has lost its focus, and my thoughts wandered off to part five and hoping that it will be better than this one.