Something Wicked This Way Comes

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2007)

Ask any long running television series cast how the show differed from beginning to end and they will all have the same answer: character dynamics. This movie was a reflection of just that. We have seen, since the first movie, these three actors become closer and more aware of the other's acting styles. In this film, that awareness shines through magnificently. We see comfortable actors. No longer are they the children we saw in the first few movies that seemed to be thrust together, acting hard to create false relationships. We see dynamics, people working off each other, people settling down into their magical niche. This allowed--of course--for the magic, that was intended to flow through every scene, to explode like Fred&George's firecrackers. The movie, itself was quite extraordinary (as it should be), packed full of priceless characters portrayed by uniquely successful actors (i.e. Imelda Staunton as Umbridge) and special effects that will have you cowering in your seat. 'Phoenix' delves into the dark side of this magical world and presents the evil that lies within both the main villain and the hero himself. Radcliffe does an impressive job during his scenes of intense pain and scrutiny, truly leading you to believe that he is suffering. Yet all of his efforts to seem shut off from the world are outshone by the lovely youngster Evanna Lynch who plays the aptly nicknamed 'Loony Lovegood'. Her melodious, vacant voice adds perfectly to this misunderstood character. Without anyone's knowledge it was this little part that kept the audiences intrigue, wondering when she would show up next. I'm much looking forward to seeing her in the next films. To end I say: David Yates' love for minimalist acting and staging paid off in these scenes, capturing the inner characteristics of each person in the movie (ex. After the Cho Kiss) and it also allowed for every battle and high tension moment to double in its hysteria and panic. I applaud this movie and I much enjoyed it.