Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Although Order of the Phoenix, the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, is the pivotal book in the series, it was actually the least interesting to me. The movie is no different. It's not that it's bad, it's that they are delving into the back story of so many of the characters in order to set them up for the final two books that there really are not that many great plot devices to keep things 100% interesting for two plus hours in the theatre.

The story goes something like this: At the end of the Goblet of Fire Voldemort returns (and can no read Harry's thoughts and gives him nightmares). Nobody believes Dumbledore or Harry and they are made out to be liars. The Ministry of Magic puts Dolores Umbridge in at Hogwarts and she ends up as Headmaster, shutting down every club in the school and handing out sadistic punishment to students who piss her off. Harry decides to start a secret club called Dumbledore's army to teach members how to defend themselves against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Those teachings help when the club has to face off against the baddies at the Ministry while trying to recover the prophecy declaring that Harry is the one that has to kill Voldemort.

Now if you didn't know what the hell I was just talking about you probably aren't interested in the movie anyway. If you are it is definitely worthwhile. The acting is top notch and the cast is really incredible when you think about. Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Julie Walters and Helena Bonham Carter all in the same movie is crazy for what is still essentially a "kids" movie. And the kids who play the main characters are great with Evanna Lynch perfect as Luna Lovegood (Bonham Carter had to have taught her everything she knows during filming, because Carter would certainly play the adult version of Luna).

Dark but good fun.

7.5/10

The final book comes out this weekend when I am in Vegas. I swear to God that if some little shit is running around Vegas screaming out the ending I am going to put a raw steak around his throat and throw him in the Lion's Den at the MGM grand. The timing actually works well because Ms. Skeelo and I would have had a hell of a fight on our hands to see who got to read it first.