Potterheads

By this point you're either with Harry Potter or you're against him (dirty muggles!), so whether or not you see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (or even read the rest of this post) should be an easy call.

There's nothing in director Mike Newell's film version of the fourth Potter tale to convert new fans but nothing to turn off old ones either. It's a solid 2 1/2 hour action epic that hits all the major points of a long and complex book, includes a staggering amount of characters, brings a magical world to dazzling life with astonishing special effects and top notch craft contributions and will likely be near-incomprehensible for anyone not well schooled in the world of Hogwarts, Voldemort and Quidditch.

The movie doesn't match the artistic heights of Alfonso Cuaron's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but it has enough energy and imagination (and makes enough alterations to the source material) that it won't draw the ire of those upset with Chris Columbus' slavishly faithful first two films in the series.

The cast is as solid as ever with reliable supporting players like Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman in typically fine form and perfectly cast newcomers Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes adding to the fun. Unfortunately Miranda Richardson, another newbie, doesn't make much of an impact as ethics-challenged journalist Rita Skeeter, but her role has been drastically cut down from the novel and rendered nearly superfluous.

The kids are still the kids. After four movies they pretty much are the characters and they do what's required, though I think it will take other roles in other films to accurately judge their skills. In this movie they have the most fun with the story's enjoyable excursion into romance courtesy of a holiday dance that stirs up awkwardness, confusion, jealousy and everything else that goes with young love.

I was impressed with how much of the book's plot made it to the screen and can't find much fault in any of the significant changes. Even the long-winded ending survives (and packs a strong emotional punch). In one of the film's best ideas there's an increased role for a minor young character which allows the movie to completely jettison the book's house elves subplot without missing a narrative step.

The Potter movies may not be for everyone, but I can't think of any other Hollywood franchise that has remained this vibrant and interesting for four films (the continually evolving Bond series doesn't really count). Bring on number five!