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Harry Potter is back on the big screen—and already the fourth-best opening film of all time, at $102.3 million. And right along with it, the ongoing debate among Christians—including film critics—about the merits of J. K. Rowling's increasingly popular literary and cinematic phenomenon has begun again

How does Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire measure up to the other films in the series? Most critics say it's either the best or second-best, praising director Mike Newell for adding richness and depth to such mainstream entertainment. But they also agree that, as Harry grows up, the films are dealing with problems that require more mature sensibilities. Thus, Goblet of Fire earns its PG-13 rating, with some truly frightening sequences.

Peter T. Chattaway (Christianity Today Movies) focuses on how the series and its central figures are changing. "As our characters have grown up, so has their sense of humor, which relies less on gross-out gags and more on gags that aim below the belt. … But there are also moments of quiet, tender sorrow and joy … However … the film completely fumbles the ball at the most crucial moment." He goes on to criticize the climactic sequence of the film.

Chattaway also criticizes Harry's status as a hero. "The film unfolds so quickly, you almost don't have time to notice how passive Harry is—he is constantly reacting to things or letting events drive him, rather than acting and driving them himself—or how his friends continue to break the rules whenever it suits their purpose. What you do notice are the fantastic visuals … and the amusing characters. Alas, in its climactic moments, Goblet of Fire fails to lay the groundwork that the next films so badly need."

But what about the magic, that ever controversial element of Rowling's narrative?

Yes, the series continues to involve characters with magical powers who must learn to use their powers responsibly and cleverly. In the grand and age-old tradition of fairy tales, Rowling's stories employ the idea of magic in a whimsical, inventive way. They use magic as a metaphor for the ways people exercise power over one another in a dangerous world. But magic in this series is also a way of talking about talent, identity, ingenuity, artistry, technology, and virtue. While real-world witchcraft is certainly a dangerous and deceptive practice, more and more Christians are coming to appreciate the way the Potter stories use make-believe magic to illustrate the spiritual conflict in the real world.

Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films) addresses this issue in his review: "In spite of the rising darkness, concerns relating to Harry's study of magic and the lure of the occult are, arguably, increasingly remote. There's plenty of fantasy or fairy-tale magic in Goblet of Fire … Yet, interestingly, the only elements that in any way resemble real-world occult practices are unambiguously evil, from the Unforgivable Curses to the quasi-sacrificial ritual used to restore Voldemort. … Lawful magic in Goblet of Fire bears no resemblance to so-called 'white' magic as practiced by occultists; there is no divination, no invocation of spirits, no summoning of the dead, no reliance on amulets or charms."

Greydanus concludes that these filmmakers "have done the best job so far trimming the fat from the story. … The Goblet of Fire offers some of the series' most magical imagery."

David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) calls it "entertaining, intelligent and visually delicious, but despite considerable plot-pruning … this Goblet runneth over a bit long." He also notes that it's "the darkest thus far. … From its spooky opening image, the film is probably too scary for young children."

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November (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49