Fiona Shaw's Legs

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2013)

By January 2013 I had never read a Harry Potter book or seen any of the movies. I decided to start with the movies.
A trenchant commentary on the failings of the British educational system, the British press and the dystopian future that awaits us all, with a clear nod to George Orwell. (Well not so much a nod as a total reworking of 1984 with extra Harry Potter and Hogwarts).
New thesps introduced in this episode include Helena Bonham Carter playing herself and Imelda Staunton channelling Margaret Thatcher. Staunton is particularly good as the hate figure appointed to run Hogwarts along Ministry lines and for whom the audience expends its mental energy on looking forward to her comeuppance.
Another good entry into the series and it really does manage to get in some social commentary about the press, health and safety gone mad and Big Brother. It's nice to see Harry, Ron and Hermione now starting to take much more responsibility and teaching skills to the other students. It's a bit of a mystery why parts of London and the Ministry look as though they are back in Victorian times and why the nearest village to Hogwarts is still set in medieval times but I'll let that pass.
I know I should be re-educated by the thought police but for me the highlight of this film has to be Fiona Shaw's legs