IT first, it appears that the makers of the fifth Harry Potter film have strayed into troubled teen Asbo territory as the trainee wizard confronts a gang of youths in a children's playground.

That all changes when he's stopped in his tracks in a dingy pedestrian underpass by a Deatheater - a sort of malevolent Odoureater - and, before you can say "Izzy, wizzy, let's get busy", he's whipped out his wand to deal with the intruders.

Then it's business as usual for the Potter franchise back at Hogwarts where Harry continues his battle against the dark arts and He Who Cannot Be Named (hang the consequences, I will name names - it's Lord Voldemort). New director David Yates does a grand job trying to flesh out the characters in between the action and special effects but can't banish the feeling that (a) we've seen all this wandwaving before and (b) the book's too big to fit comfortably into even a film running 138 minutes.

It all seems a bit crowded, a bit rushed and bit confusing because there's so much going on. Regulars, such as Maggie Smith and Emma Thompson, are reduced to the odd scene. Others, like Helena Bonham Carter's Bellatrix Lestrange (who's very strange indeed), barely say a word.

At least newcomer Imelda Staunton gets a chance to shine as the deceptively smiley Professor Dolores Umbridge, a lady with a predilection for pink, pussies and imposing draconian Ministry of Magic rules on the Hogwarts community.

Harry's response is to take up arms - well, wand - and teach rebellious schoolchildren how to defend themselves magically, calling themselves Dumbledore's Army in honour of their respected headmaster.

As a rebel with a cause, Daniel Radcliffe is as convincing as he is as a somewhat elderly schoolboy. His constant torment and bleating about his parents' deaths (you'd think he was the only orphan in the world) is beginning to irritate. How I cheered when Professor Umbridge, a sadist with a smile, made him write lines with a special quill that painfully carved out the words on the flesh on his hand.

Ron, Hermione and this time Neville too show more backbone than before when it comes to breaking rules and fighting evil. A welcome addition is Evanna Lynch's Luna Lovegood, who's as good as her name - as mad as a hatter.

One major character has the decency to die and leave more room for the others in the next instalment, again to be directed by Yates.

Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters
Running time: 138 mins
Rating: Three stars