Am I the only person who liked this flick? Everyone is saying it's 'boring' and 'slow' and nothing significant happened... but I had a good time watching the wonderful effects, the spirited performances, and steady pacing. True it doesn't have the non-stop action of Die Hard, or the campy fun of Transformers... but that's exactly what I like about it. It's a slow burn of a flick that really kicks into gear in the last act, and I think that's totally fine. As a backgrounder, I thought the first two Columbus-helmed films were solid, but lacked flow and visual flare. Cuaron turned it all around with the third flick, Azkaban, and i thought Newell's Goblet was a solid flick and a step in the right direction. Now, Phoenix has the tough job of being the aftermath of the fourth and the start of the concluding trilogy, and I think director David Yates did a good job of handling this transition. The main cast is coming of age, the professors are excellent in their small roles, and the villains are absolutely terrific in their performances. And thus, the nitty-gritty of what I think worked, and didn't work in this latest Potter flick. SPOILERS abound, so be warned.

the wRong:
Decreased Roles:I really had to find something wrong with this flick. If ever, it''s the decreased role of some of my favorite characters from the past flicks. Mad Eye Moody, Hagrid, Lupin, Snape, etc. were all in the movie, but had barely a few lines to show for it. What little time they were there was great though. I especially wanted more of Alan Rickman's spot-on Snape character, especially since a lot of his past was revealed.
Cho Chang: Ok, this doesn't really have to do with her performance, but really her character in the story. What a traitorous beeotch. (Gayette has just informed me she was forced to drink a friggin' truth serum!)
The Score: The new score by Nicholas Hooper is fine and functional, but I guess I just miss the distinctiveness and grandeur of John Williams. A score is supposed to be subdued yet memorable - a tough balance, and since i can't say much wrong about this movie, I'll put this in the wRong section but it's really more in 'purgatory'.

the Right
The Cast: Harry Potter simply has one of the best casts around. The main trio has really great chemistry as always, while supporting roles are also memorable. It doesn't matter how famous the actors are - they just play their roles so well they become their characters... and really, I think that's all that matters. Here, I'd like to point out who were the exceptional ones:
Sirius Black: Do I really have to point out what a great actor Gary Oldman is? His Black is the caring father and cool uncle all roled into one. That made his untimely demise all the more moving... and Radcliffe's silent screaming showed beautifully the pain he was feeling.
Dolores Umbridge: Yeah I know Staunton's role was a big one and what some consider 'filler' for the main plot of the movie... but c'mon, she was deliciously evil here and played her role to a T. From the way she punishes students, the iron fist rule she dictates by, and freakishly perky-pink personality - she's definitely my favorite new character in the series.
Harry Potter: Radcliffe has come a long way in this series. This is easily his best performance as 'the boy that lived' in the whole series. His inner struggles, dealing with new emotions of affection, having to be the reluctant leader of the rebellious students... Radcliffe did an excellent job and proves why he was chosen to be the face of the most popular literary character today.
Luna Lovegood: Evanna Lynch plays this character so mysteriously charming that I wanted her for Harry more than that traitor Cho. She relates to Harry's tragic side more than anyone, but is also a compassionate friend and ally.
The Effects: Need I say more? It's not as amazing as it probably once was, but I loved how they were visually executed in this one, especially the magic spells, Hagrid's giant brother, the spectacular fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort, and...
The Order Vs Death Eaters Battle: Just when hope was lost in the end and the kids were sure to be doomed... Sirius Black comes right on time and punches Lucious Malfoy old-school style. The cavalry comes, Moody, Lupin and the rest of the order face off against Belaxtrix and the Death Eaters... the battle that commenced exceeded my expectations of what a wizard battle should look like. Utterly cool and breathtaking.
Tonks: Natalia Tena is the most gorgeous witch ever. She was barely in the movie, but when she was there with the Order it was great. Oh, and you can't go wrong with a name like 'Nymphadora'.

the veRdict:
All in all, I'm still torn where to place Potter 5 in the series in terms of quality... I'd say it ties with Goblet, just under Azkaban, and miles better than the first two. I love how this one is grounded in the real world more, showing scenes in modern London. I love the wonderful cast and how great they play their roles, whether big or small. I love the amazing effects. I love the new characters Umbridge and Luna. It may not have the visual panache of Azkaban, or the big story of Goblet, but what was there I enjoyed a lot. It was a 'transitional' Potter that's slow because it sets up the impending war in future movies, but I found nothing wrong with that and the great performances made these seemingly 'slow' scenes still enjoyable. It's not for everyone, and I can't really imagine kids warming up to it... This movie was actually more mature than Transformers! But if your looking for a quality flick this summer, let Order of the Phoenix cast its spell on you.

On a side note, David Yates is set to direct Half-Blood Prince as well, so I'm looking forward to another quality Potter sequel in the near future.