Sunday, August 5, 2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This is the fifth movie in the series, and is the first movie since the full return of Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If somehow you missed GoF, both the book and the movie, then you should know that it is the book where the series begins to take on a darker tone. The movies (especially, but even the books) are not for younger children. Parents are responsible for defining what "younger" is, but I would think no less than a teenager.

As the movie begins, Harry is having a run in with Dudley and some of Dudley's "friends." One could easily get the impression that Dudley's friends are like Voldemort's friends, merely partners in crime. Dementors show up and attack the two boys, and Harry is forced to defend them with his patronus (the dementors are one reason this movie is not appropriate for younger viewers - they are well done and could easily cause nightmares).

This leads Harry to be expelled from Hogwarts, to meet the Order of the Phoenix - Dumbledore's cadre to oppose Voldemort, and to undergo a trial at the Ministry of Magic. Through this Harry learns that the ministry is denying Voldemort's return and suspects Dumbledore of plotting to overtake the ministry. What follows is perhaps Harry's most difficult year at Hogwarts. Even many of his fellow Gryffindor's suspect him of lying about Voldemort.

Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint once again portray Harry, Hermione, and Ron with faithfulness to the books presentation of the characters. Ralph Fiennes and Jason Isaacs play Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy with the proper amount of malice and terror. Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge reminded me of a cross between the worst traits of two of my grade school teachers, which nearly gave me nightmares.

This movie is a good addition to the series. While probably not the best in the series, it is a definite "see at the theater" movie.

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