Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2007 ★★★★☆

Last night we went for one the summer's last big movies, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Thankfully we didn't face as many problems as the last time a Potter movie released. At that time, although tickets were available there was no parking spaces left and we had to return for a midnight show.

I could hardly remember the details of the book so the movie for me was going to be almost like someone who had never read the book. And the director, David Yates excluded plenty of little details and sub-plots from the movie in order to keep it tight. Of course, Potter fans would need no revision and am sure many have already re-read the books while waiting for the last one. But overall, the movie worked out pretty wonderfully and predictably, the movie had a nuanced dark look that would keep it from being categorized as a children's movie.

The acting was definitely superior and the trio has not only grown in age but also in terms of their acting capabilities. Although Ron doesn't get much opportunity to 'act', you definitely cannot keep Hermoine from dominating the scenes she is in especially the one with Hagrid's giant brother. However, the most impressive performance was that of Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) with her menacing tone and smiling rage in trying to discipline Hogwarts. She play the character perfectly of that head mistress with her overbearing presence and rigid rules that we loathed sometime or the other back in our school days. The Weasley twins provide the comic relief and literally go out with a bang after crashing the OWLs examination halls and bringing down Umbridge's educational decrees in a blinding crash. I'm sure everyone who aspired to be a prankster in school sighed enviously at the perfect going-away impact.

The movie started out in a much different fashion as compared to its predecessor and as my wife mentioned, even had a hint of Fight Club touch [first rule of Hogwarts - you don't talk about Hogwarts?] with the altercation between Dudley and his cronies. For the first time in Potter movies have they actually shown London extensively most notably in the two fly-through sequences over London's night skyline. The special effects skills in almost all movie are now so enhanced that it is simply difficult to go wrong. The Ministry of Magic ambiance and the final fight sequences especially with the glass bottles tumbling down is well done.

There are several other moments in the movie that keep it from being just a children's movie and in fact, even reflects the fine art of adapting a much-loved and popular book series to perfection. Aside from Cuaron, Yates brings to screen Rowling's world of magic to perfection and even sneaks in couple of deft touches that add to the experience. Two more movies remain and am glad that Yates is directing at least the next one.