Movie number 5 in the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is out in the theatres this weekend (and will likely easily come in as the number 1 movie of the weekend, given the insane number of showings at the big megaplex not that far from me).

I took Mrs. Terpfan1980 and my teen daughter to go see the movie this afternoon and all left happy having seen the movie.

I've not read the books, nor has my daughter.  My wife has read through most of the series though, and commented that she thought that this particular movie was going to be one that was difficult to get done as a movie since it was a very long book (over 1,000 pages).

The movie was definitely darker, and more tense and depressing than the previous Harry Potter movies.  That is too be expected, given that Harry Potter is aging and his arch-enemy, he who shall not be named, is back to life and ready to cause many problems for Harry and the rest of the Hogwarts crowd.

There's an intense battle between Dumbledore and the evil V. man that pretty much wraps up the movie.  Very reminiscent of Yoda's intense light sabre battle in the second Star Wars movie.

The movie is a bit long at just over 2 hours, but again, given the original materials, the length is to be expected.  It doesn't drag, and doesn't feel that exhausting to get through.  I'd say that recommendations of parental guidance are probably well heeded, but nothing in the movie is that intense and not 'kid's safe' enough to let them see.  Just be sure to talk with them about what they saw and remind them that it's a fantasy movie, not reality and not events in the movie should be imitated at home.