Cady's Take:

Allow me to first preface by saying I love Harry Potter. I am one of those people who will wait in line until midnight to buy the latest book. Up until this point I have only been mildly satisfied with the movie adaptations of JK Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter novels. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire however, does not disappoint.

The movie begins with the three main characters Harry (Daniel Radcliff) Ron Weasly (Rupert Grint ) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), attending the Quidditch World Cup. All the fun of the event is spoiled when the dark mark of the evil Lord Voldemort appears.

It’s then back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the three friends' 4th year of study. This year at Hogwarts several things will be different, a new defense against the Dark Arts Teacher Mad Eye Moony (Brendan Gleason) and an international wizarding tournament comes to Hogwarts bringing a host of additional young wizards and witches from around the globe to the school.

Many of the Potter regulars return to the screen including Professor Dumbledore (Michel Gambon), Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and the always bewildering Professor Snape (Alan Rickman ). Many new characters also join the cast, most notably the first appearance of the Dark Lord Voldemort in human form, played by the always creepy Ralph Fiennes. And perhaps the only character in the Potter novels whom I detest more then Voldemort himself, the snoopy reporter Rita Skeeter (Miranda Richardson -) if she was not a witch she would surely write for the National Inquirer or US Magazine.

Directed by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brassco), the film does a fantastic job of portraying the wide range of events that Harry experiences in his fourth year. From his first dance to his 5th near death experience, the film goes between begin a dark and bloodcurdling special effects driven movie, to a sweet and touching coming of age film seamlessly. This film by all accounts is truly a tale of Harry Potter’s struggle to come to grips with who he is as a person, and as the most famous wizard in the world. Of course at over 1000 pages it is impossible for the movie to capture all of the characters and story lines that the novel unfolds, but the film version of “Goblet” is sure to leave fans of special effects laden action films happy and fans of The Harry Potter Books, satisfied.

Ah Harry, what is it about you that I love so much? Your funky lightning bolt scar? Your round glasses? Your floppy hair? I really couldn't say what it is exactly but I do love you and your friends, and the adventures (and misadventures) you encounter each year at Hogwarts.

"Goblet of Fire" is the fourth in a series of what I consider to be excellent novel-to-film adaptations. Of course, as Harry and friends get older and their lives more complex we invariably lose more and more details when the conversion to the big screen is made, but it simply cannot be helped. While this column is called "What to Rent" a Harry Potter premier simply cannot go unnoticed by the reviewers here at Fingerlakes1.com. It is a monumental event.

I was disappointed that when the Quidditch Cup Tournament was onscreen we never actually got to see any play - I love to watch the Quidditch sequences in the other movies. But in "Goblet of Fire" we do get to see the Tri-Wizard Tournament, in which Harry competes against the handsome and honorable Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts, and students from two other wizarding schools.

Mike Newell directed one of my other favorites, "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and he does a nice job of portraying the young wizards as young people as well - as they dive into the middle of their adolescence Harry, Hermione, and Ron are guided well by Newell's eye for character. Blossoming romances are handled very very well and the film remains kid-friendly regardless of the PG-13 rating.

Hit the movies guys!