by Chris Alexis

Watching the fifth Harry Potter movie is like watching Star Wars: Episode I – you get two hours of character development and set up.

Wait, what? Set up? This is the fifth movie!

And for a fifth movie in a series, it’s good. Really good. Star Trek V, Rocky V, Nightmare on Elm Street V…you get the idea. By the time a series reaches the fifth installment, it’s usually a disaster.

It helps that each film isn’t created out of thin air, with a forced story to make a sequel for sequel’s sake, but part of a planned series.

With only two installments left in the series after this, the filmmakers are getting ready for the big finale coming up soon – and this movie is setting it all up.

This year, before Harry even sets foot in Hogwarts, he’s already in trouble for using magic outside the school, and has to prove it was a necessity or face expulsion. Even worse, he’s being labeled as a liar and a “plotter” for announcing the return of Voldemort.

Only a few people believe him. The rest treat him like a man on the street holding a sign saying “Armageddon is upon us.” They mock and scorn him.

On top of this, Harry deals with a darkness that seems to be taking him over. Harry’s dark side is such that you almost think he’s going to become Darth Vader at the end.

If you’re looking for a lot fights and action, you’re better off with Die Hard or Transformers. It’s not devoid of action, but doesn’t have anywhere near the previous movies – but that doesn’t stop it from being a beautiful movie.

There are new and fascinating creatures, new villains, and most of important - a lot of people will find they can relate to Harry.

For the teenagers currently experiencing it, or the adults who look back on it, moviegoers will relate to Harry as he deals with intense emotions on the inside as he faces the changing world on the outside.

He doesn’t know why he feels the way he does. He experiences his first kiss. He notices relationships around him change and evolve. He experiences a great loss.
Another great thing about the Harry Potter series is the movies age with the audience. It’s PG-13 and earns the rating.

If you haven’t seen the other Harry Potter movies, don’t start with this one or you’ll be completely lost. For those of you who know what a “muggle” is and know the name of “he who shall not be named’, I recommend seeing this movie “straight away.”