I am a big fan of the Harry Potter books. The Harry Potter event of the summer I have been really excited about is the release of the seventh and final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, on July 21st. The release of the latest movie in the Harry Potter saga, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was an event that, when I gave it any thought at all, I was hoping to avoid. Past efforts to bring this terrific story to film have been, for me, disappointing. I successfully dodged seeing the fourth film altogether, and my eldest daughter assures me that I didn't miss much. So, it was with low expectations that she and I attended a screening of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Well, talk about an enormously pleasant surprise. Once I allowed myself to accept this film as something separate from the book, which happened surprisingly quickly, I enjoyed it very much.

From the very first second, this is a visually stunning picture. Beginning with the scorched, empty landscape of the Muggle community, Little Whinging, to the high gloss and polish of the Ministry of Magic, the settings are so well realized they seem almost tangible. Along these lines, the special effects are just as amazing as one might expect in a film about the magical world (the departure of George and Fred Weasley from Hogwarts is, while significantly different than the book, a delightfully raucous event worthy of the twins), but they never become the story, as special effects sometimes do.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, the actors who have portrayed Harry, Ron and Hermione in all of the films have grown not only in age, but in talent as well. This is fortunate because they carry this film in which the adult actors, while impeccably cast, seem, with the exception of Imelda Staunton who is perfect as the nauseating, despicable Dolores Umbridge, somewhat peripheral.

Much to my surprise and delight Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a PG-13 rated film which deserves its rating (it is not, in my opinion, appropriate for young children) and is both very well made and very entertaining. I was a little concerned when I realized that I hadn't brought any Kleenex to the theater because of the death of someone who-must-not-be-named due to spoiler issues. I was prepared for tears from both my daughter and myself. But the tears didn't come. Unlike the book, which we put down to weep over, the movie, mercifully, keeps going and didn't really give us time to cry.

I still think the Harry Potter books are far superior to the films. They are much richer, more detailed and, in my opinion, far more satisfying. That being said, I look forward to seeing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in the theaters a second time, with my nine year old. And unlike when we read the book, I won't need Kleenex.

Sue "Mom on Film" Harvey is a mother of three who shares her passion

for film with bi-weekly, family-friendly movie recommendations.

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