Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint. Rated PG-13

You gotta see this if: You know the difference between a Swedish Short-snout and a Hungarian Horntail.

final analysis: **** Usually sequels degrade with each installment. Fortunately, this isn’t true for Harry Potter. The first two movies were childish, lacking in subtlety and character development. Admittedly, I felt the first two books were weak as well. “The Prisoner of Azkaban” brought a new maturity into the books and the movie, which “The Goblet of Fire” continues to expand upon. There’s a lot at stake for the trio of heroes this time around with Voldemort’s imminent return colliding with the raging hormones of adolescence. But the actors, whose skills also show a surge of maturity, are up to the task. The biggest kudos goes to the screenwriter who managed to turn the 734-page novel into a movie that feels neither overstuffed nor oversimplified. The movie lives up to its PG-13 rating and isn’t for young children, but for those growing up alongside Harry, it’s a constant thrill ride. And, at risk of sounding pervy, Harry Potter is hot!

Brokeback

Mountain

Starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhall, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway. Rated R

You gotta see this if: You long for a home where the buffalo roam.

final analysis: **** This movie pulls no punches and will make a lot of people uncomfortable. It pushes boundaries, asks questions and doesn’t give many answers. It’s the type of movie you’ll either love or won’t see at all. “Brokeback Mountain” spans 20 years in the lives of cowboys, Jack and Ennis. They meet on the aforementioned mountain herding sheep in 1963. The men become good friends then, reluctantly, lovers. Uncomfortable with their feelings for each other, they part and return to lives that eventually include wives and children. However, when they meet again four years later, the feelings between them haven’t diminished and a lifelong affair begins. Their story is both beautiful and tragic. It’s a classic love story that dissects culture and humanity and does so without apology. The characters are honest and superbly acted. Everything in this film is painted with fine brush strokes, including the scenery. The Wyoming landscape is epic, as is “Brokeback Mountain.”

The Ice Harvest

Starring John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, Connie Nielsen. Rated R

You gotta see this if: You’ve ever spent Christmas Eve bellied up to the bar.

final analysis: *** Finally, a Christmas movie that doesn’t rely on every bad holiday cliché in the book. While not quite as good as “Fargo” or “The Grifters,” “The Ice Harvest” manages to channel some of their essence. A film-noir type comedy, this flick takes place on Christmas Eve and portrays a mob lawyer named Charlie (Cusack) and Vic, a strip club manager (Thornton) who have just stolen over $2 million from Wichita’s mob boss . Their hurdle to a clean getaway comes in the form of an ice storm keeping them in town until morning. While Vic protects the dough, Charlie visits every strip club in town falling for femme fatale Renata along the way. Who knew there were so many strip clubs in Wichita, Kansas? As the name implies, Vic and Charlie are skating on thin ice and their constant incompetence makes them more sympathetic than they deserve to be. The dialogue makes this movie wickedly funny as well as the brilliant pairing of Thornton and Cusack. Sardonic wit and puppy-dog deadpan never sounded so good.