Harry and the gang
are growing into their roles

At the Movies
By Senitra Horbrook

It may be summer for kids around here, but the fifth year of school is in session for our favorite students at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry and his friends are back on the big screen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Those kids are growing up right before our eyes. It’s hard to believe it was 2001 when fans of the J.K. Rowling series finally got to put a visual image to the mental image they had conjured from the books. As evidence of Harry’s growing up, he gets his first onscreen kiss in Order of the Phoenix.
I should say that I have not read one single Harry Potter book, but have seen all the movies. I would consider myself a casual fan. I keep saying I’m going to read the books, but with three jobs, it’s a little difficult to find the time to read an 800-page book. So I’ll have to stick with the movies.
The movies have done right by me so far, and Order of the Phoenix continues to live up to the standard. It’s darker, and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is becoming quite the angry young man. But he has a good reason to be angry.
Harry and Dumbledore, headmaster at Hogwarts, are certain that the evil Lord Voldemort is returning, but no one believes them. Dumbledore is founder of the Order of the Phoenix to help fight Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Those in the Ministry of Magic, led by the minister Cornelius Fudge, are the main people who want to keep quiet on Voldemort’s return.
Harry also has some anger issues at school. The Ministry of Magic is exerting greater influence on Hogwarts, appointing a new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton). Eventually, Umbridge works her way up to headmaster, replacing Dumbledore.
Umbridge, who attempts to be pretty in pink, is quite nasty. She inflicts painful punishments on misbehaving students and decides that magic should be learned about in theory, not practice.
Harry, with the support of trusted friends Hermoine Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), forms his own class to let kids learn magic the real way and to prepare them for Voldemort’s return.
The movie’s standout character is Umbridge. Staunton plays her just right. She’s certainly the teacher I would not have wanted anything to do with. Under her dictatorship — sorry, I meant leadership — Umbridge manages to make school a real drag, with new rules lining the walls by the day.
Radcliffe continues to play Harry just right. Most kids his age experience some teen angst, so even though Harry’s problems are for a different reason, he is still easy to relate to. Watson and Grint are good sidekicks, but I wish Hermoine and Ron had more to do. Hogwarts student Luna Lovegood, a new character played by Evanna Lynch, is a delightful addition.
CGI graphics are incorporated well. Director David Yates is new to the series, but he seems to understand the story well and brought out good performances by the lead and supporting characters.
Speaking of supporting characters, some of the most notable names in British film have roles here. In addition to Staunton, the movie features Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Fiona Shaw, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman and Helena Bonham Carter in small to medium roles.
Even considering that not everything from the 800-plus-page book could be included in the 138-minute movie, Order of the Phoenix does not disappoint and will leave you anticipating next year’s film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. ••
Movie Grade: B+