Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I succumbed to Potter fever and hopped along to the cinema to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon watching the latest Harry Flick,  The Order of the Phoenix.

What I like about HP's magic is that it is so psychological.   In order to scare off demons, you have to conjure up your happiest moment in the face of great danger - a sort of method acting technique.   Harry can get no-where in his mind games with The Dark Lord Voldemort unless he gives it all his concentration and mental force.   This gives Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe some real acting to do - and it makes this the first truly gripping installment in the film series.  There are few jolly school japes, and it's pretty dark and scary - so you've been warned.

We see Harry coping with his teenage years "I feel so angry" and learning to deal with a life that just isn't fair.   The only disappointment,  his first snog doesn't set the screen on fire by any means.  No sizzling magic here.   I was surprised to notice how short he is - the other young actors have shot past him height wise - but his small stature seems to fit the part, as his real strength lies within.  Still, I think they did well to find a girl short enough for him to kiss.