by Megan Stoddard

Created on: November 17, 2010

One of the last lines in the previous movie in the Harry Potter series was, “Dark and dangerous times lie ahead.” In “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” we are catapulted straight into those dark and difficult times.

The acting in this movie is nothing short of stellar. Michael Gambon finally grows into the role of Professor Dumbledore. Whereas he played the character as too excitable in the previous movies, “Order of the Phoenix” is meant to bring out the fierce and fiery side of Dumbeldore, which Gambon plays to the hilt. Newcomer Evanna Lynch plays dreamy Luna Lovegood with a perfectly magical sparkle. The three principals, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, are likewise growing with their roles, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione respectively. All the other actors are likewise good.

The cinematography is markedly different from before. Much more than the previous Harry Potter movies, “Order of the Phoenix” makes use of high angle shots, in which the audience looks down on the characters from high above their heads. This contributes to the effect of making us feel we are entering a world where everything has been shaken up and turned upside down.

In the wizarding world, things have indeed been shaken up. The evil wizard Voldemort, who lost his corporeal existence fourteen years ago when he tried to kill Harry, is back, with a new body. He has already committed one known murder, witnessed by Harry Potter. His former followers, known as the Death Eaters, are growing more and more active. Yet the Ministry of Magic, which overseas everything in the wizarding world, is in deep denial.

Like the other movies, this one begins right before the beginning of the school year. But Harry’s way back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his fifth year is not straightforward. He is first threatened with expulsion and put on trial in criminal court for having used magic in the presence of his Muggle (non-magical) cousin, and for having used magic outside of school when he is underage. Yet Harry did this only to save himself and his cousin from an attack by dementors, ghostly beings with the power to suck out a human soul.

The headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore, presents a spirited defense of Harry. Yet even though he stands up for Harry, in court and in other sticky situations, something has changed: Dumbledore will no longer look Harry in the eye and will not tell him why.

Meanwhile,

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