Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The magic is still there but the mood remains resolutely dark in this engrossing fifth episode in the fantasy franchise. With no Quidditch matches or tournaments to divert him, the task facing Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is to convince the wizarding community of the re-emergence of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). His cause isn't helped when Dumbledore's position as Head of Hogwarts comes under threat. Adapting the bumper-size book was always going to be a challenge, and it's therefore surprising that David Yates's film is one of the shortest in the series. Less may not necessarily be more, however, as some characters are given short shrift and subplots are sketched over. That said, Yates instils proceedings with the requisite sense of wonder, Alan Rickman is deliciously dour as Snape and Rupert Grint's Ron injects some much needed light relief, while Imelda Staunton steals the show as prim but poisonous tutor Dolores Umbridge. In a spellbinding finale set in the Ministry of Magic, we finally see the forces of good and evil engaging in full-on combat, and it's well worth the wait.