HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Director: David Yates (British TV and small film work)

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Imelda Staunton, a cast of thousands (of veteran British actors)

Heeee's back. Again. The multi-billion dollar cash cow that is Potter has returned. And fueled by the popular excitement over the release of the final Potter book in mid July, The Order of the Phoenix has a chance of becoming the biggest earner of all of the films. Even if it turns out the least amount of money of the films (which looks to be unlikely), it would still rake in a half a billion dollars in profit. Yep, profit. Nice job.

Normally I feel a little slimey if I even mention profit and popularity when talking about a film, but in regards to Potter it all goes down a little easier because these are not bad films. I'm happy that people are spending their money to see decent movies, rather than Transformers. Decent? Hmmm. I'll go so far as to say that the first 3 Potter films were quite a bit better than 'decent'. They were good films. The Goblet of Fire was less so, but it was still miles above Transformers on most aspects of the quality scale. The Order of the Phoenix is a little less enjoyable, a little less fun, a little less ... good, but it's still fine. So, if somebody has to make a billion dollars on a movie, I'm glad they make it on Potter (and hope they don't make it on Transformers ...).

So, The Order of the Phoenix? Less good? Yep. Not too bad, but definitely less good. The plot of this film is certainly more intricate, and I don't think the screenwriters did a particularly good job of translating the story to the screen. Here the government of the Potter world (the ministry of magic) is intent of placating the populace, after Harry's claim that Voldemort has returned in the last film. Their belief is that law and order trump truth, and they will go to any length to maintain their version of it (order, that is). Therefore the minister of magic tries to discredit Harry and Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Step by step the government begins to take over Harry's wizarding school Hogwarts. Imelda Staunton gives a creepily cute performance as Umbridge, the government agent who takes over the school, enacting rule after rule, restriction after restriction. She comes across as a mix of Joseph Goebbels, Queen Elizabeth II, and the most sickeningly sweet aunt in your family. She has a collection of kitten plates, and also a fondness for low-level torture. Creeeeepy.

While the facists take over the world, Harry suffers through a series of bad dreams that turn out to be some sort of link with the bad guy. (I won't try to explain the link, mostly because the film doesn't do a very good job of explaining it either. It just happens. Live with it.) At the big climax Harry has a dream that the bad guy is killing his godfather, Siruis (Gary Oldman). There is a mighty special effects fireworks display as Harry and Dumbledore magic it out with Voldemort and his band of baddies, and in the end the minister of magic is forced to admit that they were wrong about his presence. (Oh, if only it were that simple to get rid of the of the neo-facists in the world.)

It's all moderately interesting, but not as good in any way to the early films. The story is not as tight, not as clever. The world is not nearly as delightful, and that's a great loss. The Order of the Phoenix is much, much darker than the earlier films. This is not a happy decision, I think, since the Potter world is wonderful simply because of the wonder that it evokes. The visuals are not as interesting (excepting some parts of the big special effects finale, I think). It's just not as good a film. Heck, look at the movie poster to get a sense of what I'm talking about. Is that not the most mundane film poster you've ever seen? Ugh. Anyway, and it seems I say this a lot in my reviews, "less good" does not necessarily equal "bad". This film is certainly less good. I think Potter fans will look back at it as the weakest link in the series (so far). Luckily, it's still not a bad film. It's okay. It's fun, still somewhat creative and enjoyable.

Standouts: The Potter world remains full of fun delightful, intriguing moments.

Blowouts: The plot and direction were not home-runs, by any means. Kind of boring in parts.

Grade: B-