Do they use volunteers for the 2nd trial?

Because it seems really messed up otherwise.

I haven't read the books so maybe it's explained there. To me it seemed like they took someone against their will and put them there.

Why not just put an item dear to them? They were obviously not gonna kill some kids that didn't sign up for anything so not like having humans down there would increase the stake.

The movie showed Harry trying to be a hero and saving more people but he should have been reprimanded for his stupidity, not given second place because (again, i hope) those kids wouldn't have been left to die anyway.