Is there really anything left to say about the Harry Potter series other than the fact that we're glad it will be over soon? That's right, with "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" it's five down, two to go, in a seven-movie, ten-year marathon of pagan crap.

Example: In one early scene, Harry and his friends ride around on brooms. Whee. Been there, done that, four times. Similarly, the "moving pictures" effect that animates the paintings and newspaper photos is neat -- and we're sure the accountants are thrilled with the savings realized by developing that effect once and then using it again and again -- but for the love of God you can't carry a movie with it.

Clearly, the series is starting to get old and along with it, so is Harry. He opens the film gaunt, angry and haunted, something Daniel Radcliffe no doubt channels by simply reflecting on how the hell he's going to avoid being typecast for life as "that wizard kid." Seriously, if Radcliffe ever wants to appear again in something other than "The Surreal Life" in 15 years, he'd better do something dramatic. (Granted, he did appear nude with a horse to promote his naked-as-a-jaybird role in the London stage production of "Equus," but we said dramatic, not crazy.)

The movie gets right into the story, wasting no time with niceties or any clue what might have happened in the four previous stories for those of us who don't happen to have them memorized. As a result, it feels like you've stumbled into the wrong dinner party and are missing out on all the inside jokes and references. It's disorienting for anyone who's not a full-blown Potter fanatic, which, given that Potter fanatics tend to be a bit disoriented themselves, sort of levels the playing field.

The plot of "Order of the Phoenix" revolves around the increasing totalitarianism of wizard society, complete with its own "big brother" livery and Fox Newspaper. The sly political nods don't end there, and it's likely no coincidence that new "defense against the dark arts" teacher Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) -- marked by her authoritarian ways and unctuous smile -- bears a striking resemblance to what Laura Bush would look like if Laura Bush ever had any occasion to open her mouth and utter a thought in public. Similarly, Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) has a new pet: a giant in the woods who bears a striking resemblance to George W. Bush. He's a big, dumb giant, but ostensibly on the side of the good guys, so I'll leave it to you to figure out what sort of political message there is to glean from that.

Take flight from "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."