An honest opinion of the movie and it's graces.. - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Reviews

Alrighty, what can I say about this film. I can above all say that it was very enjoyable to watch to be sure. There were several times in fact that our packed theater applauded out loud at some of the antics on screen in fact. It's been quite awhile since I've seen a theater group do that. It makes sense however, since this was an advance screening of the film by 2 days, and there was an air of... camradarie.. to the evening. We were all getting first views of something magical... and we all knew it. Ah, a great way to start a week. :) Anyway, onnnn to the film itself. I have to give credit to the director.. with all the source material to address from the book, he did an excellent job covering as many bases as he could. My wife mentioned that it felt a little choppy with the scene cross-overs... but really,.. it's similar to the last few films.. so much time passes in the course of the flick and where in the kiddie ones this time passes well, in the more adult times now... things aren't all chocolate frogs and peppermint malts anymore. Whereas in the first 2 films you see the 3-some always walking together and laughing and something silly that Ron would say... in these last few, the strife of the troubled times takes hold muuuch more often as we get deeper and deeper into the overall Harry Potter story. Was it a little disjointed? Ehh.. maybe a smidge here or there. You'll hardly notice it though unless you're the most die-hard of the Potter book fanatics. As most of those have learned in the films prior however... ya can't have everything (Peeves)... so, you take the best that can be offered and you be thankful at how enjoyable it all is for you and yours. :) As for the characters, what to go into with them. Kudos to the casting department for this film, because they got it 110% right yet again. You absolutely love all the characters that you're supposed to, and absolutely despise all the characters that you're not. Two words that will make my skin crawl and my jaw clench for probably the rest of the summer.... Dolores Umbridge. That woman.... *shaking my fist*.. ohhhhhh.. she's just *auuuugh* completely flabberghastingly, frustratingly awful. I'm not saying the actress was bad in portraying her, this is a character impression... just.... as time goes on... you just wanna reach through the screen and throttle the woman. She makes an excellent foil in Hogwart's to Harry's magical progression to be sure, so she's perfect in the storyline... but... damn did that woman know how to get under your skin.. literally in the case of a certain young wizard. lol The supporting cast were all excellent as well, as usual. A very nice addition, in an evil sort, was Belatrix. Helena gave her a certain vile charm all her own. Her exposure to Tim Burton is verrrry evident, in the best of ways. As a light-sided, pure-in-a-nutty-kinda-way flip side to Bela's dark side, you have Luna Lovegood. I didn't know what to think of her after her first appearance... but as the school year went on... she quickly became one of my faves of this film. Very, very, very excellent acting by that young actress... I'm looking forward to seeing her yet again for the Half-Blood Prince to be sure. What else to say... what else to say. Not much more without giving away possible critical plot points. Whereas in previous films it was either fantastical creatures or Hogwart intrigue that was the best eye/memory-catcher... in the Order of the Phoenix.... it's allllll about the magic. They really got it right in this one, from the smallest of pranks to the largest of the wizardly duels, the amaaaazing visuals really had that... that raw, emotional power behind it. I'm quite sure that I'll be pouring over this film again and again when it comes out on DVD just to catch the little nuances that I am quite sure that I missed in this initial experience. Either way though... it was a great ride to see Harry finally taking those maturing steps into the wozard that he'll soon HAVE to become. :) Okay... that's it, I'm wrapping this up. In a 1-5 stars ratings I'd give this a solid 4... maybe 4 and a half. The film was fun, empowering, frustrating, and kinda depressing... all at the same time. It's what it was supposed to be, since all of these emotions come from the story itself. Very well-done.. excellent 'coming of age' storyline... and whereas Harry was shown to be alone, woefully alone, in the beginning of the tale... by the end of the film.. it gives you a warmth in your heart to finally see him taking a lead in his magical 'family', even through painful tragedies. My final word on the film is this.. Dumbledore has styyyyyle! ;) Enjoy the movie everyone!!