by Thomas Ferguson

Dust off the wand. Air out the invisible cloak. Clean the circular glasses. Our favorite kid wizard is casting yet another spell on movie audiences across the world in the fifth installment of the hugely popular Harry Potter franchise.

The Order of the Phoenix is the subtitle to J.K. Rowling’s fifth book which continues to chronicle the adventures of young gifted wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and his best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).

This time, their beloved school Hogwarts is being taking over by the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry is a governing council appointed to ensure that all rules of magic are being upheld. Of course, Harry has a tendency to break the rules.

After performing magic outside the walls of Hogwarts, Harry, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), and the school itself are investigated by Ministry officials. Dolores Umbridge (Academy Award Nominee Imelda Staunton) is appointed as the school’s disciplinarian and, boy, does she turn the school upside down.

While the school is being torn apart, the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his dark followers are plotting a war that nobody believes is coming - no one, but Harry and his friends who take matters in their own hands.

Voldemort finds a way to get into Harry’s mind and begins poisoning him with nightmares and visions that not only foreshadow Harry’s grim future, but also holds the key to unlocking his troubled past.

I would be lying to you if I said I was a huge fan of this franchise. Truthfully, I saw the first movie and thought it was pretty good. I saw the second and thought it was boring. I completely skipped the third and fourth installments. That was until I was given this assignment. Let’s just say I made it a Blockbuster night watching what I’d missed. Good thing I did.

These movies are all over the place. I’m still trying to figure out what is going on. I have a pretty good idea, but there are so many characters to keep up with and so much going on that it could make your head spin.

I didn’t want to be a part of the whole Potter bandwagon, but I have to admit, I’m now hooked. Each installment has gotten better than the last. This story is intriguing and I have half a mind to buy the last two books to find out what happens next. I can’t believe I’m a Harry Potter fan now. Word of caution to parents. This movie is much darker than its predecessors. I have a feeling the next two will be even darker. Maybe that’s why I like it now.