Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here.

Unlike many of you, I've never read a Harry Potter book in my life. I'll admit, at first it was because I just didn't care. But over the years, as the films have rolled out faithfully ever year and a half or so, I've actually been keen to discover whether those of us unfamiliar with the Harry Potter saga were seeing it translated to the big screen faithfully enough that we were getting the gist of the countless characters and winding plot twists. I know few films can capture ever nuance of its source material, but I'm decided to see everyone of these films before I dive into the books in 2010 just to see if the cinematic Potter holds up as a stand-alone entity.

I've enjoyed all the films to varying degrees over the years and had no trouble keeping all of the relationships and ever-more-complicated plotlines straight in my head. The fifth installment of the film series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, marks the first time I genuinely felt a knowledge of the book's inner workings might have helped me enjoy the adaptation more. I don't know what details from the book were missing, but the film hints that layers of far more interesting connections and relationships are afoot. I still thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and the idea that there will only be two more entries in this phenomenal series is only now just starting to sink in.

Order of the Phoenix feels like a transitional work, complete with more exposition than most younger viewers will probably be able to fully grasp. The plot essentially sets up what will clearly be a monster battle in the final two films. As a result the importance of certain characters--many of whom have been largely shoved to the background in the last couple of movies--are now becoming clearer. I was especially pleased to see Gary Oldman's Sirius Black, Alan Rickman's Professor Snape, and even Jason Isaacs Lucius Malfoy play major roles in this story. There are a couple magnificent scenes in which Snape attempts to teach Harry how to protect his mind from potential invasion. But when Harry turns the tables and briefly enters Snape's memories, holy crap, the things we see reveal so much. It still amazes me how many great actors have lent their talents to this universe. To see Emma Thompson as the sniveling Prof. Trelawney or Maggie Smith or Robbie Coltraine or Julie Walters or David Thewles or Brendon Gleeson in such small parts that if you blink you'd miss them is kind of fun. Plus, the film's final battle between Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, who simply eats up every scene he's in and asks for seconds) and Michael Gambon's Dumbledore is nothing short of perfection.

The film also introduces two new characters to its evil arsenal. Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge, who swoops into Hogwarts from the clearly corrupt Ministry of Magic and takes over with her strict policies and love of punishment, and Helena Bonham Carter's Bellatrix Lestrange, who escapes from Azkaban Prison clearly set on causing as much destruction and mayhem as possible. Bonham Carter whips out her best goth girl makeup and hairstyle, and reminds me once again why I've always lusted after her. And while she's only in the film a brief time, I suspect her return is eminent and will be devastating. While I'm willing to believe that the character of Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) will get more interesting as time goes on, her introduction into the Harry Potter world is somewhat underwhelming compared to the new baddies brought in with this film.

One of the most welcome surprises in Order of the Phoenix is just how strong the kids' acting has become, with Daniel Radcliffe as Harry really coming into his own as a dramatic force. His performance as a tormented, emotional adolescent plagued by horrible nightmares, visions that torture his waking hours, and constant attacks on his fragile mind is one of the film's most welcome revelations. This is the first time I've felt any performance in one of the Harry Potter films ought to be considered for an acting prize. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Hermione and Ron also get opportunities to emote and give us hope that these talented young actors might have a shot at impressing us in a post-Potter world.

The film's plot is actually several smaller plots, some of which are resolved (or so it would seem) by the end of the movie and others that clearly will carry on until the last page/frame of The Deathly Hallows. When I say that Order of the Phoenix is a transitional work, I mean that no one story dominates the proceedings. We get Umbridge's overtly undermining schemes at the school, while we also dig deeper into the gathering of both dark and light forces for the coming clash of the wizard titans. The connections between Voldemort and Harry are more deeply explored without truly being resolved.

As a testament to the overall greatness of author J.K. Rowling's storytelling, this is the first of the films that actually made me crave the next installment. I'm desperate to know how certain aspects of this story pull together in the next part of this adventure. November 21, 2008 is already marked on my calendar for the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and I look forward being one of the few people in the audience who hasn't got a clue what's going to happen next.

Capone