Click here for a detailed explanation of how we determine our grades.

The MPAA has rated Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.

Classes are back in session for yet another semester at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and already Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is swimming in trouble.

Uppity ups at the Ministry of Magic refuse to believe Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is back and in order to squelch any fears of his return, they've started a smear campaign meant to discredit both Harry and the school's headmaster Albus Dumbledorf (Michael Gambon). But the chief officer, Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy), and others in his organization aren't content to stop there. Worried about unrest among the aspiring magicians, the ministry implants one of their own as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

On the outside, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) appears all pink and proper, yet inwardly she harbors a hatred for Harry and implements cruel, medieval punishments designed to bring him and the other students into submission. Introducing bland, Ministry-approved textbooks that teach only a theoretical knowledge of defense, she also leaves the apprentices utterly unprepared to ward off evil until Harry and his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine (Emma Watson) began secretly teaching incantations to the other students.

However, Harry isn't the only one casting spells in class. Smitten by the sly smile of Cho Chang (Katie Leung), Harry takes every opportunity to help her with her homework. Yet, after an awkward kiss-and-tell smooch between the two of them, the romance appears to be quickly doused as Harry is haunted by nightmares of impending danger.

Touted as the darkest Potter film yet, The Order of the Phoenix delves into the internal struggles of the tortured teen who is drawn to the dark side where occult characters are designing a gruesome end for the young wizard. Skeletal figures attempt to suck the life out of the boy while he-who-cannot-be-named fills the boy's mind with bloody images of injured and tortured friends. Misrepresented and shunned by many of his classmates, Harry battles the desire to give in to his evil thoughts and luckily, as in the past, he isn't left alone in his fight. Although the glamorization of wizards and witches is still at the heart of the story, this fifth screenplay continues to promote the concepts of friendship and cooperation among a core group of students and adults who face evil sorcerers in a war of the wands.

Six years after the first film was released, Harry Potter, older now and sporting whiskers, has changed considerably since his first day at Hogwarts. Yet while his growth spurt may be surpassing that of some of his viewers, older audiences may find only incremental developments in this rather uneventful chapter in the ongoing saga.

Beyond the movie ratings: What parents need to know about Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix...

There's been a lot of discussion about the Potter series growing darker, and certainly in tone and mood this film fulfills that prophecy. However, in our content categories, this one comes up with better grades than the two previous outings. Violence is the greatest concern, with a jump scene and other visions of ghost-like characters and odd-looking creatures that will certainly frighten young children. The death of a character is discussed, and we see a bloodied face in a few quick flashbacks. All other violence is through magic manipulation and people being "shocked" or knocked over by metaphysical forces. At times characters disintegrate or disappear in a "beam me up Scotty" type of effect, but nothing gruesome. Sexual content is limited to a single (highly publicized) kiss, with absolutely no other activity seen before, during or after. Language includes one mild expletive and another word that is somewhat more objectionable in North America than Britain. Parents sensitive to depictions of occult and satanic-like themes may not find this film suitable for their children.

Talk about the movie with your family...

One character makes a statement that in essence says we are more formidable to our enemies when we are working together as a group as opposed to individuals. Do you agree with this? How is this evident in reality?

Harry advises his friends that thinking positive thoughts will help them to gain power over their opponents. Is this applicable in your life?

Video alternatives...

Follow Harry's earlier adventures in:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

DVD Notes: Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix: 2-Disc Special Edition

DVD Release Date: 11 December 2007

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment conjures up a 2-Disc Special Edition of Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix. Included in its bag of tricks are seventeen minutes of additional footage, The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter (an A&E featurette exploring past clues to Harry's future destiny), Trailing Tonks (a behind the scenes tour of the movie's sets led by actress Natalia Tena who plays Nymphadora Tonks) and The Magic of Editing (an interactive opportunity to cut some virtual celluloid with director David Yates and editor Mark Day).

All formats (DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray) offer the aforementioned materials, but each provides a slightly different choice of bonus extras. If you choose the DVD version, you'll also receive a ROM with a timeline and a sneak peek at Harry Potter 6. If you select HD DVD, you'll get the following web-enabled features: Pick Your Favorite Scene (assemble clips from the movie to create a montage), Live Community Screening (create, organize, and invite your buddies to your own screening) and Mobile Downloads (select images and ring tones to send to your mobile phone). Blu-ray adds Focus Points (some "making of" featurettes). And the Limited Edition Gift Set contains the Hogwarts Challenge, a bonus disc sporting 14 adventure games based on the first three Harry Potter films, and containing clips from the fourth and fifth movies. Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English, French and Spanish), with subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

Kerry Bennett