Brilliant but scary was the verdict of Harry Potter fans attending last night's gala screening in Dublin of the boy wizard's latest cinematic adventure, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
"Much scarier than the other films," pronounced the Harry-like Sam McCann from Raheny. His dad George said that it was "a great story".
Nicola Martyn (22) from Ballinteer found it hair-raising too. She and her brother Bryan (12) were already planning to see it again.
The film was introduced at Movies@Dundrum by Irish teenager Devon Murray who plays Seamus Finnegan, another pupil at Hogwarts School. Along with Brendan Gleeson, whose character gives a new meaning to term "roving eye", Murray reflects a strong Irish presence in the new film.
The opening scene is set at the Quidditch World Cup and features a magic contest between teams from Ireland and Bulgaria. We don't learn the result - there is a vague implication that Bulgaria wins - but a terror attack on the athletes' village is initially mistaken for the overenthusiasm of the Irish post match revelry.
Of course, the attack is really the work of the evil Lord Voldemort. The scene is thus set for Harry to again confront the forces of darkness even as - now aged 14 - he confronts the parallel challenge of teenage hormones and the task of finding a date for the Hogwart's Yule Ball.
Some 900 adults and children attended simultaneous screenings of last night's screening at the Dundrum Town Centre. Dress was more subdued than on previous occasions.
However, there was some atmosphere provided by teenage fans who greeted Murray's arrival at the cinema with high-pitched screams.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is darker and scarier than the three previous movie episodes.
It also features the young sorcerer taking an interest in the opposite sex for the first time - all of which helped the movie to gain an unprecedented 12A rating from the film censor.
The decision means children under 12 are only allowed to see the latest instalment of JK Rowling's adventure saga if they are accompanied by an adult.
