Production Company: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Katie Leung, Imelda Staunton, Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Alan Rickman, Jason Isaacs, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Robert Hardy
Rating: PG-13 for fantasy violence and frightening images.

By Gregg Tubbs

(UMC.org)—After screening Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I couldn't help thinking of 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Harry and his friends have definitely put away childish things. Through the four previous installments, the Harry Potter series has progressively moved us from the kiddy rides at the Hogwarts amusement park to the darker, scarier stuff—the haunted house, the hall of mirrors and the rides that make your knees knock while you're waiting in line. The series has always been a coming of age story, involving an escalating showdown between good and evil.

The Minister of Magic (Robert Hardy) appoints the saccharine but sadistic Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but her real purpose is to keep an eye on Dumbledore and events at Hogwarts—particularly the infamous Harry Potter. Copyright © 2007 Warner Bros. Pictures

Order of the Phoenix finds Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends returning for their fifth year at Hogwarts, and they return to a school in turmoil. In the previous installment of the story, Harry had a deadly encounter with the evil and reborn Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Yet, the news of this encounter has been stifled, and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is under suspicion of trying to undermine the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy). Fudge appoints his Undersecretary, the saccharine but sadistic Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but her real purpose is to keep an eye on Dumbledore and events at Hogwarts—particularly the infamous Harry Potter.

Umbridge's tutelage against the Dark Arts proves so worthless that it dawns on Harry, Ron and Hermione that the Ministry's real intent is to disarm the students whom they fear will rise up with Dumbledore to challenge the Ministry. Accused of sedition for supporting Harry's claim that Voldemort is back, Dumbledore goes into hiding. Harry and his friends must take matters into their own hands and prepare themselves for attacks from both sides—Umbridge and the powers of the Ministry on one and Voldemort and the powers of darkness on the other.

Emulating the old Order of the Phoenix, a group that included Harry's parents and Sirius Black, they begin to meet secretly with a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army," with Harry training them in defense against the Dark Arts. The old Order of the Phoenix had successfully defeated Voldemort a generation ago, but are the youngsters of Dumbledors's Army ready to pick up the mantle and do battle again? The idea of passing the torch from one generation to another is essentially a new theme for the series that dovetails nicely into the ongoing coming-of-age thread that has run through all the stories. Harry, now a teenager, continues to cope with the same anger, confusion and willfulness that every adolescent experiences, and this growing sense of increasing responsibility, and burden, of adulthood is played out well by both Radcliffe and Gary Oldman, who plays father-figure Sirius Black.

Emulating the old Order of the Phoenix, a group that included Harry's parents and Sirius Black, Harry, Ron and Hermione begin to meet secretly with a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army." Copyright © 2007 Warner Bros. Pictures.

Order of the Phoenix continues to develop themes familiar to any Potter fan—loyalty, betrayal, heroism, truth versus deception, and of course, the titanic struggle between good and evil. In this film good and evil become both external and internal states, and Harry learns that the line between the two is sometimes blurry. Is he simply battling Voldemort or is he also fighting his own dark side? As Sirius explains, "There aren't really good and bad people. We all have parts of both. What matters is what parts we choose to act on."

Responsible use of power is again a central idea. Umbridge, once installed at the school, soon becomes dictatorial, imposing silly restrictions, harsh punishments and even resorts to the illegal "Cruciatus" curse—torture—to control the students and uncover their secret plans. It's chilling and relevant that her vicious tactics, as well as those of the increasingly oppressive Ministry of Magic, are all in the name of security. When Harry asks how the Ministry could restrict personal rights, implant spies and resort to torture, Dumbledore explains that they are afraid that Voldemort has indeed returned, and "people do terrible things when they're afraid."

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is another worthy installment in an ever maturing series. Harry experiences are again emblematic of our own struggles to resist temptation and do what's right. We must resist the temptation to abuse our own powers—whether money, influence or strength—and instead use them to help and protect rather than hurt or advance ourselves at the expense of others. Watching Harry grow up, we are all reminded of what being a grown up is all about.

Study Questions:

Did you read the book "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?" How did the film compare? Were any major themes different or left out?
Is there a problem with Christians watching films that contain magic-even "good" magic? Does the Harry Potter series differ in any way from the Lord of the Rings films or "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," which are widely embraced by Christian groups?
Harry looks up to his father as a hero, but has an unsettling revelation about his father's conduct as a boy. Who do you look up to? Have you ever been let down by a hero?
What does this film tell us about judging people by their appearance or reputation? What about Sirius Black? What about Umbridge? Who is good and who is bad?
Black says that we all have both good and bad in us. Do you agree? What does the Bible say? (See Romans 3:23 and John 8:7.)
Do you see how Harry could be seen as Christ-like? In what ways is this possible? Must he sacrifice himself to conquer evil? Can Voldemort be viewed as symbolic of Satan? How? Is it coincident that he is depicted as serpent-like?
Have you ever faced the hard choices Harry has? Have you ever been tempted to misuse your abilities to get ahead, or get even?
What are your feelings towards Umbridge? Is she cruel or afraid? Is it right to torture someone to get answers? Can someone like that be saved?
Do you think loyalty is a Christian virtue? How is loyalty displayed in the film? What other traits do you see in the film that you consider virtuous?
Can those involved in magic and the occult be saved? Can magical powers save you from God's will? Refer to Ex. 7:10-12, Act 8:9-13 and Deut. 18:10-12.