Director: David Yates

Writer: Michael Goldenberg, based on the book by J.K. Rowling

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Katie Leung, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon and Imelda Staunton

Tagline: The Rebellion Begins!

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images. Its running time is 138 minutes.

Harry Potter’s fifth year at Hogwarts is off to a rocky start. After a lonely summer away from his friends, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) returns to Hogwarts, only to find all is not well. The newly positioned Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), is determined to instill order at Hogwarts and banish all mention of the Dark Lord’s return – any student who crosses her plays with a dangerous fire. But Harry will not go quietly. In secret, Harry is training his fellow students in defensive and aggressive magic. His hope is that together as the Order of the Phoenix, they can stand against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his growing minions.

Nearly every Potter character is back – and back in style. Most prominent in this film is the acting. All three leads have matured as actors, bringing true depth and realism to their roles – especially Daniel Radcliffe, who is proving himself to be a gifted performer. The film depends on the talents of these three, and it is in good hands indeed. Aside from the main cast, we meet new students, including Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) and Cho Chang (Katie Leung). While Cho Chang becomes nothing more than a contrived love interest for Harry, Lovegood is a great addition, playing up the quirks and oddities of her role to make a very likable character.

Supporting all the children is a slew of British thespians, each one better than the next. While Maggie Smith, as Minerva McGonagall, is criminally underused, her brief appearances are captivating. And, while most fans still miss the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, Michael Gambon finally comes into his own as the head of Hogwarts. He finally embodies the most powerful wizard in the world.

While “Order of the Phoenix” is not as pitch-perfect as “Prisoner of Azkaban,” it is, nonetheless, a great experience. It falls short of perfection because of one thing – the conclusion. The story is great, but the conclusion is something of a letdown. We have now reached the point in the Harry Potter franchise where stand-alone scripts are ignored in favor of cliffhanger questions and a desperate need to know what happens next. As a movie alone, “Order of the Phoenix” stands, but the resolution is nonexistent because there was so little to resolve. It feels slightly cheap.

But enough with faults. After a summer that has produced a fair share of disappointing sequels, we have, at last, a movie worthy of praise. This film is about the villains, and there are plenty of them. From the standby Lord Voldemort to newcomers Dolores Umbridge, Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs), and the wicked Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bohnam Carter), it’s the villains rising up. All the great British performers come out of the woodwork to embody the villains of Harry Potter and do not disappoint. Bravo to them all, and bravo to the fifth “Harry Potter.” Don’t save money, don’t penny-pinch – see this movie at the earliest opportunity.

Best performance: Imelda Staunton is magnificently cruel as the pink-encrusted Dolores Umbridge. She portrays a woman who is not pure evil, but very much self-righteous and determined to have order and decorum at all costs. A terrific role, and a terrific performance to fit.

Overall: A wonderful return to the world of Harry Potter. A stellar cast, but it will leave you wanting resolution. A cruel, yet brilliant plan.