Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

*IN THEATERS WEDNESDAY, JULY 11th*

The Plot: With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

The Pros: This film, especially the climax, is technically brilliant. The sound is crisp and well thought-out, the CG is necessary and executed impressively, and the...the climax scene is literally jaw-dropping. I cannot describe to you how astonishing it is. You must see it for yourself. The film itself is also highly enjoyable and provides a very satisfying experience. Acting from the adult cast is fantastic.

The Cons: The writing near the beginning of the film is a bit sluggish and rough; some jokes are milquetoast, while others hit the mark. Also, a select few scenes are very cliché, containing camera work and editing techniques that we've seen one too many times. Finally, the trio's acting has seen better days. That's not to say it's bad, because it's not. It's just not great.

The Bottom Line: Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix is the best film of the series thus far. It's mystifying, foreboding, and exciting at once, with outstanding use of sound and CG to boot. Although a few scenes reek of shopworn banality and the children's acting is not the best it's ever been, the Harry Potter series has a knack for making the most commonplace wizardry lore seem perfectly believable. And that's what I love about it. It's simply a good, enjoyable, and stimulating film that is sure to please Harry Potter fans everywhere.

The Score: 8 / 10