Film Review – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire depicts Harry’s coming-of-age as he descends into a twilight world of debauchery. The goblet of fire is a flaming drambuie that Harry attempts to quaff while still lit, scarring himself in the process.

Previously in this series attention has focused on Harry’s magical abilities as he overcomes foes, often in the form of demons. Cleverly, the demons that Harry must vanquish in this instalment are the demons of his own mind. It becomes clear that after a young life of extraordinary responsibility, Harry’s desires err towards liberation from his life as a wizard.

Instead of conjuring and chanting, Harry wants to drink and dance. Freed from the shackles of education, the young wizard goes wild. As his fellow wizards egg each other on, things spiral out of control. Spells are cast to remove garments from young women they encounter; fights are picked and won through the use of magic.

Will Harry learn to drink responsibly? Will he acknowledge the responsibility vested in his magical gift and cease to use it for womanising? Will he be in a fit state to defend the world come the next fantastical attack?