'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' (PG-13) Marked by magical performances, thrilling special effects and swift pacing by director David Yates, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is easily shortest -- and best -- of the five "Potter" films to date.
It shouldn't come as a big surprise to the fans of the Harry Potter books or previous movie that "Phoenix" has a decidedly darker tone from the get-go, as we find the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) a permanent resident in Harry's nightmares.
The story also finds Hogwarts falling under iron-fisted rule of authoritarian Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy) and his minion, Dark Arts Professor Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) -- who threatens to relieve the school's headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon).
Realizing the school's livelihood is in jeopardy, Harry teams with his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) to start Dumbledore's Army. Becoming the group's leader, Harry dives into teaching the rebellious group of students: Ron's sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright), and twin brothers Fred and George (James and Oliver Phelps), Cho Chang (Katie Leung), Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) and Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), a new student that has acute senses much like Harry.
With the maturity of the characters and dark circumstances they continue to find themselves in, there's no question that parents of younger fans may become leery of letting their children watch. Yes, there are still plenty of tricks to be had at Hogwarts, but there's no doubt that this film could be better classified as a psychological drama than a traditional family film. In fact, the film's climactic battle scene involving Harry, Dumbledore and Voldemort leaves Harry in an "Exorcist"-like trance, which is a far cry from the high-flying fun of the Quidditch matches in Potter films past.
Burning with intensity at times, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is probably best suited for pre-teens and older. Harry's not a kid anymore, and nor are the stories that he's a part of --especially given that the first of several main characters that author J.K. Rowling slays in books five through seven meets his unwelcome demise.
Among the film's highlights is introduction of the sinister character Bellatrix Lestrange, deliciously played by Helena Bonham Carter, who is pivotal to the scene leading up to the final battle, and the return of Gary Oldman, who's as charismatic as ever as Harry's Godfather Sirius Black.
DVD Features: The two-disc release of the DVD includes additional scenes, production featurettes and more. (Warner Home Video)
'High School Musical 2' (G): Actors Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Richards and Lucas Grabeel are all back and have their heads in the game for "High School Musical 2," the Disney Channel's teen adventure that's doesn't quite measure up to the first film, but is satisfying nonetheless.
This time around the group is on summer vacation, and the setting is a country club owned by Sharpay (Tisdale) and Ryan's (Grabeel) parents. Part of the summer's proceedings include a talent show that, much to no one's surprise, is usually won by the sibling pair. But Sharpay has her sights set on winning a different trophy this time around -- by the name of Troy (Efron) -- from his girlfriend Gabrielle (Hudgens).
When it debuted as the highest-rated basic cable show in history with its smashing debut in August, "High School Musical 2" didn't seem to live up to its hype. But like the first film, the sequel has this uncanny ability to grow on you with its catchy tunes (among the highlights are the Troy and Gabriella duet, "You Are the Music in Me") and gets better with each viewing.
The hook for the DVD release is that the film now includes an extra musical scene integrated into the film, which certainly won't draw any objections from its intended 'tween audience. Also look out in the last scene for another Disney Channel juggernaut, Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus), who turns up as a star-studded extra in the final musical number. It's a lot cheaper way to see her than trying to score tickets for her sold-out concert tour.
DVD Features: Music videos, sing-along and Karaoke features, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more. (Walt Disney Home Entertainment)
'Dirt' -- The Complete First Season (Not Rated): Perfectly-timed in a day where celebrity gossip is burning up the tabloid newsstands and Internet sites, "Dirt" is a must-see series if you have an insatiable appetite for the tawdry.
Courtney Cox Arquette (who executive produces some of the episodes along with husband David Arquette), plays the very un-"Friend"-ly Lucy Spiller, a tabloid news magazine editor who will go to no lengths to expose the misgivings of the hottest people in Hollywood.
Also starring Ian Hart, Jeffrey Nordling, Alexandra Breckenridge, Josh Stewart and Laura Allen, "Dirt" -- which appropriately aired on the envelope-pushing FX cable channel earlier this year -- isn't afraid to mirror tabloid subjects in the real world. The references to the likes of Paris Hilton are thinly veiled, and the mockery goes straight for the jugular.
Among the most blatantly mocked are the trio of Jessica Simpson, Ashley Simpson and their father/manager Joe Simpson in one of the series most risqué episodes. But smartly woven in between are the on-going plights between the central characters, including the personal dalliances of Spiller herself and the effective psychotic episodes of Hart's schizophrenic paparazzi character. The show's pilot is perhaps the weakest episode, but after that, "Dirt" is definitely worth digging into.
DVD Features: Production featurettes (including a look at real-life paparazzi and interviews with Cox and Arquette, deleted scenes, and more. (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
Also New
'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' (PG-13) Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back and as zany as ever in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," the third and perhaps final chapter in the trilogy of films based on the popular Walt Disney theme parks' attraction that bests its immediate predecessor.
Following his cliffhanger appearance at the conclusion of "Dead Man's Chest," "At World's End" finds Capt. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) teaming with Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) in Singapore, as they seek the help of cutthroat pirate Captain Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat) for the daring rescue of Captain Jack from Davy Jones' (Bill Nighy) locker.
But given that Barbossa is a former enemy, his ambiguity presents a major quandary if they are ever to confront Jones, the Flying Dutchman, Lord Cutler Becket (Tom Hollander) and East India Trading Company -- who together are wreaking havoc across the seven seas. If they are to ever to preserve the pirates' way of life, Barbossa, Swann and Turner's only hope is to get pirate lords from across the world to band together for a battle of titanic proportions.
Like the two first two "Pirates" adventures, "At World's End" boasts of dazzling visual effects and plenty of laughs, but it's also dreadfully overlong.
But the difference between "Dead Man's Chest" and this adventure is that it moves about with a sense of anticipation, presumably because it could be the end of the franchise. Several loose ends are tied up in the film, and plus, we're finally introduced to the quintessential pirate in Capt. Teague Sparrow, played by noneother than Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards (who, yes, briefly strums a guitar in the film).
The film also takes us back to Davy Jones' tentacle-free past, and introduces a memorable character in the villainous Sao Feng, whose screen time, unfortunately, is far too short.
It's necessary, of course, for the film's narrative to come together, which, after two previous adventures, is well worth the wait. Make sure to watch until the film's end credits for a scene that may cue up another sequel, should Depp, his fellow cast members and the filmmakers decide to set sail again.
DVD Features: The two-disc version of the DVD includes filmmaker commentary, bloopers of the Caribbean, and more. (Walt Disney Home Entertainment)
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