By Lubna Abdel-Aziz She did it again! He did it again! They did it again! J K Rowling's whimsical creation of Harry Potter unfolds one more time on the silver screen to thrill and delight the child within, young and old. The Harry Potter franchise has been nothing less than miraculous for the film industry. The first four films made an astounding $3.5 billion in worldwide receipts, and with the fifth about to be released, Harry Potter will surpass the six Star War movies, including their multiple releases. Rowling not only makes magic, she makes history. The luxury of a good read is infinitely delightful for the solace of our souls, the education of our powers, the increase of our joys. The Harry Potter series fits the bill. It sold over 325 million copies and was translated in over 63 languages, making her the wealthiest writer in literary history. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth in the series, became the fastest selling book in history with over 1.7 million copies sold in the first 24 hours of its release. Total sales went over 80 million. The last instalment Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, scheduled for a July release, is projected to sell yet another record breaking number. Its first print is slated for 12 million copies in the US alone. We are united in applauding Rowling's innocence of heart, whimsy, simplicity and charming wizardry. Yet what will poor Rowling do next, once the Hogwart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry closes its doors? Poor, she is not. She is already one of the richest women in the world. Harry Potter is the work of many lifetimes, and her name alone will deify whatever her deft pen produces next. Could she too be a product of her own school of witchery? For those hungry eyes who feasted on the previous four films, Phoenix promises even more delectation. Its world premiere is set for 28 June, 2007 in Tokyo of all places. Its UK release is scheduled for 15 July and shortly thereafter, the rest of the world will be wrapped up in Rowling's magic. Most writers feel a sense of disappointment on viewing their creation on the screen. They resent changes with all their bleeding cuts and bruises. Not Rowling -- she always praised her film adaptations. By the time the reader or viewer reaches the Phoenix, he finds that the fifth year of study at Hogwarts School presents a turning point for Harry Potter and his two best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. No longer children, they are suddenly faced with the challenges of coming of age, and all the consequences of young adulthood. At school, the wizarding community is in denial about Harry's recent encounter with "He Who Must Not Be Named", the evil Lord Voldemort, refusing to believe that he has returned and is once more seeking to enslave the world. Not only is Harry's credibility in doubt, but the Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge turns a blind eye to the news and fears that Hogwart's venerable headmaster, Albus Dumbledore is lying about Voldemort's return in order to undermine Fudge's power. Fudge assigns Professor Dolores Umbridge as a new 'Defence against the Dark Arts' teacher, but in reality she is to keep watch over Dumbledore and the students. Her course is lacking and the children find themselves unprepared to resist the dark forces threatening them, their headmaster, and the entire wizarding community. At the prompting of his two best friends Harry organises a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army"; Harry prepares the courageous young wizard for the extraordinary battle that lies ahead. Warner Studio's choice of director for this fifth movie was, to say the least, a surprise. None of the big Hollywood names with several hits in their filmography. The selection fell on a virtual newcomer to the big screen, with only one previous feature to his credit. David Yates, a veteran of British TV had won an Emmy for Girl in the Café, in 2007, but to be given such a high profile assignment, with a budget of $150 million was a confirmation of the total trust in his ability. In fact he is slated to start the sixth Harry Potter episode Harry Potter and the Half- Blood Prince in September. The screenwriter Michael Goldenberg is also a newcomer to the franchise who approached the material with verve and passion. "I had to make the magic even more magical." This version presents a list of brilliant actors as only the English can offer. Apart from our young leads, now five years older, Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, the rest of the cast reads as a Who's Who of the best in British drama. The versatile Maggie Smith reprises her role as Hogwarts Professor Minerva McGonagall which she played in all Harry Potter films. Michael Gambon is again the wise and respected headmaster, Albus Dunbledore. Gary Oldman returns as Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. Emma Thompson as Sybil Trelawny, Alan Rickman as proton teacher, the enigmatic Severus Snape. Julie Walters as the maternal Mrs Weasley, not to mention the outstanding Ralph Fiennes as the evil Lord Voldemort, one of modern literature's most terrifying villains. Newcomers to this episode are the lovely and talented Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Le Strange and Oscar nominee Imelda Staunton as Professor Dolores Umbridge. Of the latter, the best- selling suspense author Stephen King says, she is the most intriguing villainous in modern cinema. Any one of these names is enough to send us rushing to the nearest movie theatre. The combination of so much talent comes close to perfection. The film has already won the award of Best Summer Film You Have Not Seen. Rowling's elegant prose is the product of the magical and fantastical, yet stands firmly on the ground as a classic, today and evermore. The Dark Prince is still at large and the forces of good and evil battle for the soul of Harry Potter, as they do in all our journeys through life. There are triumphs and tragedies leading to a climactic finale that leaves us riveted, raptured and enriched. For all children, and all who are still children at heart, Phoenix arises once again, promising to be the highlight of this summer season. That fairy kind of writing, which depends only upon the force of imagination John Dryden (1631-1700)
