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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The magic's still there in movie number five

By Geoff Berkshire, Metromix

July 10, 2007

Critic's Rating:

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When audiences last saw Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) he was coping with the death of a classmate and the return of unspeakably evil arch-nemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). One not-so-pleasant summer vacation later, most of the wizarding world is in denial about Voldemort's reappearance and Harry begins to train his fellow Hogwarts students for battle while suffering the sadistic discipline of new professor Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton).

Big question: Can this fifth film in the Potter franchise capture the attention of both hardcore and casual fans with the release of the seventh (and final) book right around the corner on July 21?

Catch it: Brimming with truly magical special effects, yet tempered with credible elements of teen angst, "Order of the Phoenix" continues the series' maturation. Whether soaring through the air on broomsticks or stealing kisses under magical mistletoe, the main characters are no longer wide-eyed-innocents and it's become a unique pleasure to watch them grow. The cast, including Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman, remains top-notch and the climactic battle scene stands out as a franchise highlight.

Skip it: If you've never seen, or liked, a Potter film or book before this. By this point you should know if you're a Potter-phile or just a mere Muggle.

Bottom line: With British television vet David Yates in the director's chair for the first time this installment doesn't quite reach the creative peak of Alfonso Cuarón's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," but it comes remarkably close. "Order of the Phoenix" is an engaging cinematic ride, especially for Potter fans.

Bonus: Sixteen-year-old Evanna Lynch delivers one of the film's most enjoyable performances in the role of "loony" Luna Lovegood. It's also her movie debut. Not a bad way to start your acting career.

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