If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter movies then it’s time to get out the bunting, don your wizards hat, collect your magic spells from wherever it is you leave them lying around in the interim and put on your geek-chic glasses, yes there is another Harry Potter film about to hit the screens.

November 18th sees the worldwide release of “Harry Potter and the goblet of fire” the fourth installment of what has become an annual Harryfest at the box office, always timed nicely for the Christmas market, whence kid power is at its most potent, not just in persuading mom and dad to take them to the local multiplex to see it but also in asking Santa to deliver various bits of merchandise from the multi million Harry industry that has grown up around the perma- adolescent hero.

For this fourth cinematic school trip down to Hogwarts Harry, ably supported as ever by his loyal chums Ron Weazly and Hermonie Granger, leaves the (relative) comfort of home and the not so comfortable fear of imminent death at the sinister hands of his arch-nemesis Lord Voldermot behind to enter the inter-school triwizard competition, “The Qudditch World Cup”. Of course HP triumphs and the world cup heads back to Hogwarts, but not without morals aplenty, with his new found fame placing a strain on his friendship with Ron. And also when it comes down to it Harry doesn’t actually win the cup himself but shares the victory with schoolmate Cedric Diggory. He also uses the winnings to help Ron set up his new joke shop.

The usual cast of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint , Emma Watson reprise their roles and there is the usual gaggle of British thespians playing both regular, Robbie Coltrane as Rebeus Hagrid and Miriam Margoyles (Professor Sprout) And one off cameos from the likes of John Cleese, Julie Walters and Maggie Smith amongst a whole host of others in supporting roles, but for this outing there is a new director at the helm in the shape of British veteran Mike Newell.

“The goblet of fire” was about the point where the books started turning slightly darker, it also saw the first signs of “Potter mania”. It is also the first time where Harry’s world expands beyond Hogwarts as he goes to take part in the Qudditch World cup which also opens up a new world of acquaintances for our hero to meet . So with all this in mind it will be interesting to see how the raft of new locations and characters and the more adult tone are tackled. There will be new ground covered but in keeping with the best traditions of the book it will still be recognizably the familiar Harry Potter.

So this is film number four out of a reported series of seven books, six of which have been published and are still flying out of the shops, both with their distinctive and separate children’s and adults covers but also in audio books too. Add to that all the numerous computer games, dolls and other merchandising essentials and it seems that JK Rowling is determined not to allow any part of the populace to escape Potter mania by making sure all media bases are covered. And why should she not?? Both the books and the films are aimed at the whole range of human life and are devoured fanatically by the young and old alike. It won’t be going away for a while yet, for already months before the opening of “The Goblets of fire” book number five “Harry Potter….” Has already gone into production with a slated early 2007 release date. You already know that both will be enormous hits, adding to this vast phenomena.

But sadly the end is in sight, there is only one more book in the series to be written, where if the rumors are to be believed one of the main characters is killed off as the finale. This means with the one about to be released and the one in production, there is only two films left to be released. It is hard to say when the series will finally end other than to guess it will be in the next few years. Then it really will be a case of “The Prince is dead, long live The Prince”.