Reviewed by Max Foizey.

Release Date: July 11, 2007
Directed By: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Rating: PG-13

Without question the best of the Harry Potter films thus far.

Yes, I know I started off my review of the last Potter film the same way, but that's because these films outdo themselves with every entry. As a matter of fact, the first paragraph I wrote in my review of "Goblet of Fire" pertains to "Order of the Phoenix" as well:

"It is rare for a series to get better with age, but that's exactly what the Potter films are doing. Just as J.K. Rowling's books get progressively adult and sophisticated, so go these films, and it's a delight to see. Consider yourself warned - this is the first (second) Potter film rated PG-13, so you may not want to take the very young ones to see this. The overall vibe of this picture is dark....and with good reason."

Yes, things don't look bright and sunny for young Potter these days. Not only did You-Know-Who (Ok, Voldemort if you don't-know-who) return in the last film, but nobody believe Harry when he tries to warn them. The Ministry of Magic decides to cover it up, fearing public chaos. Harry and his pals decide to form an underground resistance, "Dumbledore's Army," to prepare for the inevitable battle with Voldemort.

Impeding their progress is the latest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Dolores Jane Umbridge. Imelda Staunton is quite possible the most perfect piece of casting EVER, as she completely embodies the reserved menace of Umbridge. I'm also happy to report that my favorite scene in the book, involving Harry's detention with Umbridge, has been faithfully reproduced here. Scary stuff.

In a supporting cast that just keeps growing, it's nice to see so many familiar faces back, notably Emma Thompson as Divinations teacher Sybil Trelawney, David Thewlis as the Werewolf Remus Lupin, and Brendan Gleeson as the ex-Auror Mad-Eye Moody.

The most welcome return may be that of Gary Oldman as Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black. Oldman plays Sirius with a strange, fitting kind of rebellious warmth. In the scenes they share you can tell Daniel Radcliff looks up to him, just like the fictional Harry Potter and Sirius Black.

Newcomer to the series Helena Bonham Carter is a BIT over-the-top for my tastes as the insane Bellatrix LeStrange, but hey, I guess she's supposed to be insane...and strange. As Voldie, Ralph Fiennes continues to turn a one note villain into something more, and I'm anxious to watch him stretch out in this role as the films progress.

Alan Rickman doesn't have much screen time as the irascible Severus Snape, but what he does have is important, and the next film should be all his anyway.

Emma Watson seems more relaxed as Hermione Granger than she has before, but Rupert Grint sadly doesn't get much to do as Ron Weasley in this film, as his Quiddich subplot from the book has been cut. Basically if he's not talking to Harry, we don't see him. So don't go in to the movie thinking you're going to hear chants of "Weasley Is Our King."

Daniel Radcliff is emoting the best he can within the tightly bound confines of a literary hero archetype, and "Order of the Phoenix" contains his best performance yet. I'm betting he will go more the way of Christian Bale than Mark Hamill, as far as past young actors go. (No offense to Luke Skywalker! Still the best Joker ever!)

Richard Harris' passing between the second and third Potter films was sad of course, but the role of Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore would have had to be recast anyway, given what is demanded of the character in the later films. I know some still aren't on the Michael Gambon train, but especially after this film, he simply IS Albus D to me.

I enjoyed Mike Newell's take on the Potter universe in "Goblet of Fire" so much that I was upset when the announcement was made that they were giving "Phoenix" to a director who had primarily worked in television. Turns out I had no reason to worry, as David Yates takes the ominous vibe of "Goblet" and unleashes that darkness onto the wizarding world.

So are the Harry Potter films/books for kids anymore? Will the series just keep getting darker? Well, no and yes. The Potter world is definitely for kids, with nothing scarier than a Grimm's fairytale ever had - but yes, Hedwig, this series will get even darker as we fly our Firebolts into the "Deathly Hallows."

To quote again from my review of the last Potter epic:

"If you're not reading the books because you think they're 'kid stuff' you're missing out on some excellent writing, and you haven't seen the movies because you don't want to 'waste your time' than you're really missing cinematic history. If they succeed in filming all seven of Rowling's books with the same principal cast, (and it looks like they're going to) it would be the first time in film history such a massive 'mini-series for the multiplex' has been attempted and completed."

In the meantime, Yates is already in pre-production of the next film, "The Half-Blood Prince," which will hit theatres in November of 2008. I'll see you there, Muggles.

In addition to hosting 'Max on Movies' on Sunday nights at 7pm on 97.1 FM Talk, Max appears weekly on the Dave Glover Show Fridays at 5pm. A member of the Saint Louis Gateway Film Critics Association, Max has written about film and theatre for various print and Web media, and appeared as guest critic on various nationally syndicated radio shows. Max lives in Missouri and is a diehard Miami Dolphins fan. He actually dressed up as Professor Severus Snape four years ago...for Halloween, of course. Not just on a Wednesday or something. E-mail Max and let him know where you stand on the Snape debate! Good or Evil?