'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' book QUIZ: 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer s Stone' QUIZ: 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' QUIZ: 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' QUIZ: 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' QUIZ: 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' QUIZ: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' movie Harry Potter's alter ego is ready to turn the page Secrets of the 'Potter' kids revealed! AUDIO INTERVIEW: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint AUDIO INTERVIEW: Director David Yates, writer Michael Goldenberg and producer David Heyman Through the first six books and five movies, the story of the boy wizard has been arcing into darker places, but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the first of the movies to illuminate the troubled Muggle world where most of us live. With two more installments to go, it necessarily lacks a satisfying conclusion; but this parable of terrorism and surveillance gives us plenty to chew on, from Harry's bitter foretaste of doom to a sweet romantic subplot and a deliciously tart villain.
During his annual break from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is hounded by his vulgar relatives the Dursleys and by the soul-sucking Dementors. After he wields his wand to save his beastly cousin from the wraiths, Harry is notified of his suspension from Hogwarts for practicing magic in front of a Muggle. In a hastily convened trial at the Ministry of Magic, headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) proves that Harry's actions were justified; but they fail to convince the ministers that the Dementors herald the imminent return of the evil Lord Voldemort.
While the ministry hires a pink-suited snoop, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), to teach at Hogwarts and quash the rumors about Voldemort, Harry is inducted into the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's secret sect of rebels who are preparing for the final showdown against the dark lord. It's hard to miss the parallels between our current war on terror and this fictional crackdown on dissent. But Umbridge's phony cheerfulness is also reminiscent of a long tradition of British political satire, from the novel 1984 to the TV series The Prisoner and Pink Floyd's album The Wall.
With her kitten collectibles and girlish titter, Umbridge is arguably the most distinctive character in the entire franchise. The Order of The Phoenix is the longest of the first five Potter books, yet this is the shortest of the five films, and dedicated readers will note the compromises. Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall and Emma Thompson as Professor Trelawney have mere cameos; Alan Rickman as the mysterious Professor Snape and Robbie Coltrane as the kindly caretaker Hagrid are standouts in diminished roles.
Even Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Hermione and Ron are reduced to providing Harry with moral support. Of course, he needs it more than ever. He is haunted by nightmares of approaching evil, in the person of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), who is determined to kill Harry, just as he killed Harry's parents.
Harry is also grappling with the mysteries of adolescence, in the person of Cho Chang (Katie Leung), with whom he shares a long and confusing kiss. Notwithstanding the budding romance and colorful Umbridge, this is a dark and foreboding film.
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