Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Review

This film feels like treading water to me. Each film in the series I feel advanced the franchise's plot forward by revealing something new or having a major event take place. Sure, some events do occur in this film that is fairly important (No Spoilers) but I personally feel like they could have fit them into other films. Now I know that this is a series based on books and they have to stick to the source material so that argument doesn't have that much merit, all I am saying is that I feel like "more happens" in other films. So my arguments about moving events from one entry to another are quite pointless but it still doesn't change the fact that I feel like the characters haven't progressed that much in this film. That being said, I love these characters and this universe and watching it is always a pleasure and here is no different. It's entertaining to see Harry teach his friend's different charms, Voldemort square off against Dumbledore and Dolores Umbridge makes a great antagonist. I could punch her in the face I hate her so much. I'll say it right now that I thought the romance between Harry and Cho Chang was unnecessary. Sure it got a funny line right after the first on-screen kiss with Harry but if I remember correctly, she only gets one line of dialogue in the entire film afterward and doesn't appear until film number 8. The last thing, I love Luna Lovegood. I love her. That is all. Not my favourite in the franchise but still an enjoyable one. Had better pacing then Goblet of Fire but not as exciting or emotional gripping as Prisoner of Azkaban.