Before I forget, as I walked out of the Arclight Theatre in Hollywood last night, Matthew Perry walked right past me. I had just posted about him a few hours earlier because TMZ had posted side-by-side picks of Perry and Matthew McConaughey jogging and Perry looked pasty and puffy and I defended him. So, I decided to turn around and check him out as he walked into the theater and, well, he is quite portly these days. Guess that's why he's jogging! But the hair was perfect as was that handsome face.
So, I was was at the ArcLight to see "Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix." I have loved every single "Potter" movie so I was quite excited about the fifth in the franchise. It didn't let me down. Loved it! While I miss the lighter moments that the previous films had, this film had a good story, moved along briskly and by this time, the cast inhabits their roles expertly.
The film follows the struggles Harry (Daniel Radcliff) is having as he tries to alert the wizard world about the return of He Who Shall Not be Named — the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. But complicating matters terribly is a real bitch named Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) who is senior undersecretary to the minister and begins teaching at the school. Staunton is just deliciously wicked in the role and more than makes up for the mere cameo roles given in this film to Oscar winners Maggie Smith and Emma Thompson.
Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) are back as Harry's best friends and the three become the leaders of Dumbledore's Army, a secret school organization designed to teach Hogwarts students practical defense against the dark arts after the curriculum at the ancient school is restricted and much of the staff fired. The trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron are growing up and since they have been the leads in all the "Potter" films, you feel like you are seeing them grow up...and you are! I really loved a new castmember, Evanna Lynch, who plays the eccentric Luna Lovegood. She is very odd but so irresistable.
I really missed seeing a spirited game of of Quidditch which is always a highlight for me in a "Potter" film but this is the darkest movie in the series yet so there is no time for fun and games. But there is time for Harry to get a kiss under the missle toe and to battle evil forces and to prove himself a hero once again.
The film opens on Wednesday and if you are a fan of the series, GO!