MIT Lecture Series Committee

Rated PG-13
138 minutes

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

In the silver-screen adaptation of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth chapter in the beloved book series, everyone's favorite wizard-in-training (Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself in increasingly perilous situations. Not only is Harry in trouble with the Ministry of Magic for using his abilities outside of school, his trusted mentor, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), has grown distant, and an icy new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), has arrived to bring a frightening level of discipline to Hogwarts. And waiting in the shadows is the demonic Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), an ominous figure whose very existence is questioned by the powerful Ministry, leaving Harry and his friends--most notably Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson)--to form a rebel group, Dumbledore's Army. [www.rottentomatoes.com]

A deliciously dark affair, brimming with impressively gritty performances but still managing to balance magical wonder with breathless excitement.
      -- Mark Adams, Sunday Mirror. Read this review.