Newell, who in 1999 had declined to launch the Potter franchise as its first director, eventually accepted the gig of helming Goblet. (American Chris Columbus directed the first two Potter movies, and Mexican auteur Alfonso Cuarón helmed the third.) Newell loved the book, and recognized that beneath its meaty humanity beat the cold heart of a lean, mean thriller. He also saw the chance to give Harry a makeover. Newell has only praise for Columbus (''a heroic job''), but he has a different perspective on British school life, having experienced it firsthand. ''I felt the children were rather...oh, stiff,'' says Newell, 63. ''My view is that children are violent, dirty, corrupt anarchists. I was very anxious that [the franchise] break out of this goody-two-shoes feel.''