Unnamed forces have convened in magical world of Harry Potter and decided that it’d been one year too long since they’d last held the legendary TriWizard Tournament, a competition between three rival schools of magic that involves three demanding tasks. Surprise of all surprises, Potter is selected as a Hogwarts champion, but under very mysterious circumstances. In order to uncover the meaning behind it all, he is allowed to compete in the tournament, even as dreams of an old nemesis continue to plague him.

The problem with a flick like Goblet of Fire is that even at a far-too-long running time of 157 minutes, many scenes feel awkwardly jumbled together. While a longer movie might seems like the easy answer, it’s far from desirable.

Instead, first-time Potter director Mike Newell would have done well to reevaluate much of the superfluous scenery that drags the pace of his film. At least one character (a reporter, no less) could have been cut entirely out of the film at no expense to the narrative, leaving room for better exposition of the rest.

On the whole, however, Newell’s scenery is handled well. This is a darker, more realistic Potter. He has all the angst a teenager should, and a (seemingly) unrequited crush to top it all off. To this end, Goblet of Fire is the first film to successfully marry the darker sides of Potter’s life with the lighter.

That is to say, all of the films thus far have followed a simple formula (hint of trouble, lighthearted antics, final battle), but this is the first to get it right where the others have just made it feel awkward. For this, Newell can thank his now-veteran cast and a more stable plotline.

Despite its short production schedule, Goblet of Fire’s effects are also the best to date – very few have the cheese factor so easily detected in previous installments. Scenes involving a fire-breathing dragon are the most impressive, featuring superb modeling if not-quite-perfect integration.

In the end, however, the story remains the most impressive aspect of the film. No jokes fall flat, and the Potter trio of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson (Potter, Ron, and Hermione, respectively) has finally found the ability to convey real emotion, with Watson outshining her costars throughout much of the film. This is what the Potter films should have been from the get-go, which will leave audiences filled with anticipation for the next chapter in a series that only gets better with age.