Yule Ball's, Horn Tail's & the Flesh of Another

At 7:00pm Friday night of November 18th, 2005 the Dark Mark was cast into the sky high above the Quidditch World Cup on the screen of theater #17 at Chattanooga's "The Rave". An $8.00 ticket purchased 6 days in advance to see the magical tale of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire finally unveiled on the big screen was well worth it. Waiting in line with thousands of Harry Potter fans in the freezing cold night air waiting for the doors to open as pricesless. All completely unaware of the temperature, there foggy breath or numb faces. All chatting about the J.K. Rowling series that is Harry Potter, where it's been and where it's going. Who's died and who's yet to meet there fate. Who will win or lose in the final chapters of book seven. The burning question of "Is Dumbledore really dead?" the topic of every conversation.

At last at 6:30 pm the doors of #17 open wide and muggles scatter to find a seat. With nearly 500 devoted Potter souls seated in the same room, eagerly waiting to see what most believe to be the best year at Hogwarts yet flash onto the big screen on opening night. The excitement as thick as mud filled the room and every person busting to see the lights go dim. Many fans proudly displaying Potter swag or costumes, swapping stories of past Harry Potter movie premiers. The excitement of the new cast members and director of GOF could be heard in nearly any nearby conversation. It seemed as though one thousand eyes glanced at there watches every few seconds, wearing the pain of waiting on there sleeves. At 6:58 pm the crowd of eager fans began to chant "Harry, Harry, Harry" with a loud passion no mere muggle could understand and as 6:59:50 graced it's place in time 500 voices rang out "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." The room went as dark as night as the crowd erupted with a roar matched by no Nascar audience and everyone hit there feet cheering with arms raised.

The digital effects played the biggest role of all so far in the series and did not disappoint. At first sight of the Quidditch World Cup stadium the room voiced a well deserved "WOW" followed by "Ooo's & Awww's" along with approving whistles of the sight of Ceddric Diggory. Plunging at full force into the Tri-Wizard Tournament and it's challenges the movie kept an exciting light hearted pace throughout the movie, such as the book does. As the scene was changed by magic of a port-a-key into the graveyard of Riddle, the film, such as the book, dives into a long rush of terror as He Who Must Not Be Named rose from his unhuman state of being and went head to head with Harry Potter.

Throughout the entire movie you feel as though you've been transformed from your seat into the world of Harry Potter, which is what the first movie did so well. Goblet of Fire proved to be the best yet in the series of films, just as it is in the books. The director did a brilliant job to include as much as possible without completely changing the film. There were, of course, a few things I would've like to have seen, such as the humor behind the S.P.E.W. movement and what really happened the night the Dark Mark as cast into the sky at the World Cup. Those, I suppose, I can live without and I look forward to seeing it a few more dozen times in the next week or two! :o)

A note: If you're strictly a Harry Potter movie fan and have never read the books, you're missing out on a whole other world in regards to Goblet of Fire. Read it, you'll thank me!