Loved it, Warts and All {:-}

Rating: 9/10 (16 July 2007)

Evening descends on Hogwarts . Hagrid stares out of a window in his hut; Harry, Hermoine and Ron follow his gaze. A storm approaches, billowing ominously. Howling wind blows between the cracks in Hagrid's door, seeming to spread to the very edges of the wizarding world. Hagrid broods: "It's happening again you three... just like last time." Alas, I can only paraphrase, but Hagrid's warning captures a pervasive, unmistakable sense of impending doom. The characters - and the audience - begin to feel; to understand: Lord Voldemort has truly returned, and his campaign to terrorize the wizarding world - all over again - has begun.
Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts in this 5th installment of the 7 part story, and he has been forced to grow up. Rather than dwell on thoughts of this year's quidditch cup; or reminisce about the sweet, warm taste of butterbeer, or the latest, most whimsical magical spell in Charms, this year at Hogwarts shows Harry downcast...haunted (even tortured) by what happened in year four. Voldemort succeeded in deceiving Harry, regaining a physical body, and committing murder. Cedric Diggory, Harry's friend and Triwizard Tournament rival, was killed - without warning. As film 5 begins, the awful truth is made clear, the magical world Harry Potter loved since he first discovered it at 11 years of age, is not safe anymore.
This year Harry is blindsided by Cornelius Fudge - the Minister of Magic - who in an act of cowardice has gone to great lengths to deny Voldemort's return. He has created a smear campaign to discredit Harry, and anyone else that shows any support whatsoever for Harry's statements about Lord Voldemort being 'back' (particularly Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who firmly believes Harry). Furthermore, Fudge sends his undersecretary - Dolores Umbrige - to Hogwarts as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Umbrige helps the Minister keep Hogwarts (the students, the faculty, even the curriculum) under the Minstry's firm (and eventually, complete) control. So insult (Harry being called a liar) is added to the injury (Harry's facing Voldemort, barely escaping, but losing a friend).
I thoroughly enjoyed the 5th installment of the Harry Potter films. I followed Harry Potter's story through JK Rowlings books (and Jim Dale's rich, layered narration), but my fondness for the story extended to its interpretations on film. All directors, for the most part, have done well (special fondness however, for Alfuono Cuaron's 'Prisoner of Azkaban'). But I must say, David Yates has taken the translation and interpretation of Harry's story in this 5th film to a whole new level of excellence, building a great sense of excitement for the two remaining installments in the series.
There is so much I enjoyed from this film! The performances were outstanding. Dan Radcliffe is maturing, and his emulation of Harry's internal trauma and external frustration is marvelous - he really did the character of Harry Potter a great service. Imelda Stuanton is a treasure as Dolores Umbrige. Her plastic smiles and 'hem hem's have to be seen to be believed (fans of the book will be delighted!) Imelda displays incredible range as an actress and captures the character of Dolores to a 't'. Also, my favorite female character from the book - Luna Lovegood - is a treat to watch! Evanna Lynch made Luna touch my heart on the screen as much as she does in the book! Emma Watson and Rupert Grint give their performances some great heart, and it is easy to see the sweet romance in Hermoine and Ron's future. I won't mention ALL the actors (everyone was good, basically), but can I just GUSH about how well Alan Rickman has captured the character of Severus Snape?!? Any fan of the books knows how important his character becomes to the conclusion of the Harry Potter story, but quite honestly, Snape has been a consistent pleasure to watch in ALL of the Harry Potter films. He barely speaks TEN FULL LINES of dialog in this installment, but I think he made almost every single line a cinema classic! And kudos also to Gary Oldman for bringing a real 'coolness' to Sirius Black.
There were funny moments scattered amidst the dark, and they felt very natural and well-timed. Many of the adult characters stay in the background, and the focus is kept on Harry and his friends fighting Voldemort (and Umbrige) in their own extra-special way. Harry starts to teach defensive spells to any and every student that believes his story, and it's very exciting seeing many seemingly background characters (most especially Neville Longbottom) suddenly grow in depth and importance. The Order of the Phoenix is introduced briefly, then kept hidden for much of the film, making a dramatic entrance in the film's final scenes (a thrilling face-off that occurs when Voldemort finally decides to come out and play.)
David Yates' direction really gives the film a sense of momentum and dread. Watching the film, you begin to realize the Potter story is about to get very grand, and very dark (thanks to David, the story feels dark already, and wonderfully so). The first paragraph of this comment was inspired from the tension I felt watching the film, as several adult characters would quietly confess to Harry: "it feels like it did before..." Yates grabs hold of that feeling and doesn't let it go for the entire film. Even after the jaw-dropping climax (Order of the Phoenix vs. Voldemort's Death Eaters; Dumbledore vs. Voldemort), you feel that this is not the end of troubles to come for Harry, Dumbledore et al...not even close. The war between good and evil has officially begun, and one side shall not live so long as the other side survives....