Harry Potter & the Order of the Pheonix ~~~~

Puberty obviously suits the main cast (and their acting talents) as the kids seem to be all fired up in this fifth instalment of the never-ending world of JK Rowling.

This is a great adventure film for the whole family and as a 30-something, a great escape from this, the very mundane muggle world. The acting has greatly improved since the last film and all three of the main actors - Harry, Ron and Hermione, are getting their teeth into some darker materials (no pun intended re: the forthcoming Philip Pullman Northern Lights book to film.) The effects are spectacular (DO NOT sit at the front of the cinema, eyes will goggle) and the story, whilst not covering all in the book (which I am half way through as we speak) does justice to the main theme of the novel. Rebellion, and about time too!

Potter's got sexy. Literally. The kids of Hogwarts are up to no good (in a kissing sort of way) as is the evil returning Lord Voldemort (no kissing, just killin'). We get to see the inner workings of the Ministry of Magic where the grown-ups work and the sets are magnif. It's the little touches - the intense greens and blacks of the interiors, the lifts which go back and forth rather than up and down, the floos in which the witches and wizards transport to work. It's just like a mixed up, magical London....

The action centres on the kids forming an army. Without ruining the story, it's all rather exciting and makes you want to be able to join the gang. (I need to get out more...) Harry is turning in to a bit of top totty, as is Ron. Even Hermionie looks kind of grown up. I really want to see the next film... NOW!

All the grown up actors are great - Helena Bonham Carter (one of my fav actresses ever), Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton are just perfect. The latter plays a very creepy and nasty teacher intent on taking all the fun out of magic - boo, hiss. Gary Oldman manages to look sexy even whilst on the run and Michael Gambon is serene as Dumbledor.

I especially enjoyed the sets for the Black mansion in London. I could have spent the full two hours just being shown the creepy, magical house with the grumpy house-elf. It's all very dark, literally - I can't imagine how this will translate onto a smaller TV once the DVD comes out, but I'll give it a go.

Don't expect the same old Hogwarts adventures... you'd be forgiven for expecting this but the HP series is morphing into something darker and more exciting. Who now will say that they give a damn about whether Quidditch is cool or that Dobby is an annoying little house-elf when you can watch the dark magic rise like a sign of change?

Please go and see this film if you want to escape reality for two hours. I loved this film tons and would like to see it again.... in the meantime, I'll just keep trucking with the book (which is excellent.)