The latest movie about the world's most famous wizard takes a step away from the childhood adventures that filled the last three episodes. Filled with teenage angst and identity crises, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has few lighthearted moments. It begins scarily with a man being assaulted by a giant snake and ends ominously with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) facing an uncertain future. In between, Harry takes part in the dangerous Triwizard Tournament, struggles to find a date for the Hogwarts Yule Ball, has a stand-off with the resurrected evil lord Voldemort and loses a good friend. These are difficult experiences for a teenager, and Harry - who is 14 in the movie but played by the 16-year-old Radcliffe - meets the challenges like any other confused youngster who has reached puberty. This human touch - a genuine reflection of the joys and pains of growing up - makes the otherwise mediocre movie magical and amazing. Two standout scenes from the movie revolve around the Yule Ball and show Hermonie - brilliantly played by Emma Watson - and Harry dealing with rejection and mocking. Both scenes capture a typical teenage experience and show that not everything in life will go your way - not even when you have a magic wand or a book of spells. As with the previous Potter movies, there are the usual visual tricks and thrills. In Goblet of Fire, Harry fights a fire-breathing dragon, dives into a lake filled with shark-like mermaids and navigates a haunted maze in the Triwizard Tournament. But most of the sequences seem like worn out gimmicks that are unable to surprise and delight young audiences. The film may mark the beginning of a new era for Harry Potter. More power implies more responsibility, and indicates that it's time for the boy wizard to face the challenge of adulthood: to choose between what is right and what is easy. VERDICT: GO TO THE MOVIES
