The Harry Potter phenomenon has become a global obsession the likes of which have not been seen around a series of children's books since the writings of J.R.R Tolkien first sprang to life. Millions upon millions of each and every one of J.K. Rowling's books have been sold. The Potter series' incredible popularity has risen with each new title, and each blockbuster movie version of their printed counterparts. Legions of fans wait like runners with their heels on the mark to rush bookstores around the world for the newest edition to the Harry Potter anthology. The same can easily be said for the release of each Hollywood Blockbuster Potter film. The latest book to point its magic wand towards the silver screen is the fourth in Rowling's epic Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". Directed by Mike Newell, and adapted from Rowling's book by Steven Kloves, "Goblet of Fire" is scheduled to greet popcorn munchers everywhere on November 18, 2005. This - the fourth Harry Potter book to go to film - will see Harry and his mates older than they have ever been before, with a stirring tagline preceding the film's release and incorporated into movie posters and trailers, "Difficult times lie ahead, Harry". "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" was originally released in book form in 2000, and the movie is likely to follow the book's plot closely, with minor changes made for the big screen, as has been the case with the three previous Potter films. At a sizeable 636 pages this was no small book to turn into a screenplay, especially one for a predominately younger audience. Especially considering that the book's plot was the darkest that readers of the series had thus far encountered. The story sees Harry entering his fourth year of witchcraft and wizardry at Hogwart's school. As school starts up again Potter is selected as the student representative of Hogwart's in a fierce competition between rival wizarding schools, called the "Triwizard Tournament", in which students compete in a series of progressively more difficult challenges. Meanwhile Harry has been having dreams that two men are scheming to commit murders. During the cup tournament bizarre things begin to occur in the stadium, including the appearance of the "Dark Mark". As well Harry must fight a dragon and do battle with horrible under seas monsters. Even when the competition ends, young Harry Potter is not free from danger as his archenemy Lord Voldemort appears, and death looms imminently close for one of Hogwart's students. This book and the soon to be released movie see Harry in an older and wiser role. Gone is his round baby face, instead you see Harry on the cusp of manhood where he begins to realize women in a new light, deal with the death of a close friend and take on battles the likes of which he has never encountered. When the story draws to an end, its battles and sagas won and lost, you can see that Harry is almost verging on adulthood. And one can't help but wonder if both Harry and his cult following of Potter fans will sense that being a child has a special kind of magic all to itself. |
