HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX — ** 1/2 — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes; rated PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15; Century Sandy and South Salt Lake; Cinemark Jordan Landing; Megaplex District, Gateway and Jordan Commons; Red Carpet 5-Star and Gateway 8; Redwood Drive-in; Westates Holladay Center

The book's complex, sometimes convoluted plotting made "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" the least favorite of author J.K. Rowling's massively popular — and sometimes massively long — fantasy novels.

The movie version has the same problem.

"Order of the Phoenix" is basically two hours of set-up with 10 to 15 minutes of payoff at the end.

Of course, that payoff is pretty dazzling and might be enough to please diehard Harry Potter fans. But this talky fantasy isn't likely to convert anyone who isn't already a Potter devotee.

As with the last two films in the series, there's a darkness to the material here. Right off the bat Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has to fend off a pair of Dementors, as well as charges of illegally using magic.

He's eventually cleared of those charges and is able to resume his studies at the Hogwarts school of wizardry, where he has a run-in with a new teacher there — Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) — a mole for the increasingly paranoid Ministry of Magic.

Consequently, Harry and his pals Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) have to be secretive as they build an "army" of fellow students to help in the coming battle with dark wizard Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

British television director David Yates and screenwriter Michael Goldenberg have made a surprisingly coherent film from Rowling's sprawling, 800 pages-plus novel. But at times it's still a tough slog.

Also, the ever-growing cast of characters means little screen time for Brendan Gleason's amusing Mad-Eye Moody and Maggie Smith's Professor McGonagall.

The young actors playing the central trio continue to impress, however, particularly Radcliffe, who's properly brooding but not overly sulky.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is rated PG-13 for violent and sometimes disturbing imagery (including sorcerous attacks and creature mayhem), some suggestive humor and references, scattered mild profanity (religiously based) and brief drug allusions. Running time: 138 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com