pure magic

In a great NYC tradition, my Aunt and I headed to the cineplex and watched the HARRY POTTER movie. We have been doing this since the first one came out in 2001. So, early Sunday, we wandered down to the 84th Street Loews, and took in HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. I loved it. In all honesty, this was my favorite HP film to date! The films have started crossing to the dark side, and I like it! Voldemort is back, but no one believes Harry or Dumbledore. Harry finds himself treated with suspicion and the belief that he murdered Cedric Diggory in the previous year's Triwizard Tournement. The ministry is taking over Hogwarts, and suddenly they no longer learn actual Defense against the Dark Arts and teachers are being let go right and left. What's a kid to do but form a secret class where he teaches others how to fight? Daniel Radcliffe takes a giant step forward, and I feel a good actor has truly been born. (Getting naked on the West End stage seems to have done him some good.) The underused Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are lovely in their return to Ron and Hermione. Harry even shares his first kiss with Cho. The kids are growing up, and evil is taking over. What's not to love? Once again, there is a parade of great English actors filling in the parts of adults. Imelda Staunton is fun to hate as she takes over Dumbledore's position as headmaster. All in all, this picture is committed to telling the story, and not trying to sugarcoat it. I loved the first three films. They captured the "fun" of magic and youth. The fourth, although my favorite book, didn't seem to work as well as it went with some of the darker themes, but tried to keep the "fun" alive. This film says things are getting crappy....let's embrace and find what inside us will ignite us to fight against said crappiness. Perhaps it makes it a less kid-friendly film....but it makes a better film. The shortest movie, it is also tighter and less effect-heavy.

Final thoughts: This is one heck of movie. Get your popcorn and check it out on the big screen. A great adaptation that trims the fat, and makes a lean, mean, magic machine.

Photo credit: www.movieweb.com