Saving the series

Rating: 9/10 (14 July 2007)

After the fourth film, I had decided I would skip the remainder and move on with my life. I liked what the films had done, liked the cast, and the production was always first rate, but the feeling on my part was "so what?" I found myself wishing Rawlings had stopped at five books. I no longer felt involved.
Happily I can say I was completely wrong. A few weeks ago, I began to hear buzz that this film was very good indeed. And the reviews on the well-known movie review site were remarkably positive, so I decided to give it try. I am sure glad I did. This films works, there is real danger and conflict, and the actors, old friends and new, rise to the occasion. It is a movie with children, not a children's movie. "Teenage adults," I probably should say.
As always the world of HP is beautifully realized and the new characters are fully developed and fit in perfectly. In the case of the new head-mistress of the defense against the black arts, the monster is as loathsome as can be. There is still plenty of humor in the movie, but it is humor with a bite. This is probably the most ruthlessly satirical of the films (so far) and well-worth seeing more than once. People who complained about POTC:AWE may well complain about this one too as it gets fairly complex who is doing what to whom, but the pacing never flags and the ride is well-worth it.
Particularly interesting is newcomer Evanna Lynch as "Luna Lovegood," a traumatized character who seems at first will just be played for cruel humor, but comes into her own as a fighter fully worthy of the Order of the Phoenix. This is a wonderful film debut and certainly offers promise of her going on to do great things.
I even found myself wishing it had been longer. This movie definitely saves the series and primes us for the final two films. Now, I can hardly wait to see them. Great job to all concerned, especially the director.