Radcliffe defends darker tones of latest Potter movie

Sydney, Nov 30 (DPA) Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has defended the darker tones and the mature contents in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", the latest film on the young wizard.

"The nature of the book - a 16-year-old kid dies in Harry Potter IV - you can't make that light and frothy," said Radcliffe Wednesday, who is currently in Australia filming "December Boys".

"There is no way of doing justice to the story. If you are going to do justice to the book, it has to be dark."

The film is the fourth screen adaptation of what author J.K. Rowling promises will be a seven-book series. As in the past, the film, which opens Thursday in Australia, stars Daniel in the title role with Emma Watson as Hermione and Rupert Grint as Ron.

The film has received an M classification in Australia, recommending it for mature audiences only. The three earlier films - "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - were rated PG, suggesting parental guidance for young viewers.

Speaking to reporters in Adelaide, their 16-year-old star said the change in classification reflected the change in subject matter.

"People would have been disappointed had it not got an M rating, or not a higher rating than it had got in the past," said Daniel.

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire