BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- On day 2 of the release of the film, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” lines were still long, even at 9 p.m.

Getting into a theater wasn’t a problem. Arriving late simply assured a front row seat that wasn’t too uncomfortable at Bakersfield’s Edwards Cinemas.

In the theater sat a wide range of fans that represented a cross section of Bakersfield culture. Old and young fans attended the film, including book lovers, and all the members of local band Aural Attack.

“I love the movies. I just can’t get through the books,” claimed one fan caught in the mystery of what would happen to Harry Potter in the latest episode.

Harry Potter’s life has become one big nightmare that’s portrayed with dark glimpses of Harry’s tormentor, Voldemort.

For Potter and company, completely gone are the days of holidays at Hogwarts. There’s no more colorful and glittering themes of décor, no more bright rooms filled with innocent youthful Christmas cheer and Halloween goodness.

Both Hogwarts and Harry Potter films, for that matter, have become stormy in color, theme and dialogue.

In fact, most of the color within “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is shone through the bright pink clothing layers of Ministry Official Dolores Umbridge. Her lot in life, at least during this film, is to manipulate and take over Hogwarts as well as the minds of its students.

Imelda Staunton’s portrayal is as magical as the movie. There’s really a strange 1950s style wardrobe and deadpan acting, as if she stepped out of an episode of “Leave it to Beaver” into a nightmarish gray castle.

Along with the Weasely brother’s constant magic tricks, the character of Umbridge is comic relief. Her dapper cotton candy persona provides a repulsive bright spot throughout the dark film.

Fans definitely will hate her, but love that Harry Potter and friends have someone to be so angry about besides Voldemort.

The rest of the film is filled with shadows. Even Hermione appears as shades of her former self in past films, transitioning into an adult worry wart—excuse the Hogwarts pun.

No matter how strange Harry Potter films get, you can’t ignore that fans adore the Harry Potter books and movies.

The film is yet another in the series that is a coming of age Harry Potter film. It's filled with glimpses of young adults grappling with the demons of authority, acceptance, and temptation. Moviegoers who want to see hot sparks between characters will only see the occasional flicker.

Hermione and Ron Weasley glanced at one another so often through the film that expectations build for them to have an on-screen kiss. In the end film-goers get Harry Potter’s rather comical and unbelievable kiss with another Hogwarts student. Only book readers can possibly understand Harry Potter’s inward dilemma there. Other moviegoers will simply see a stumbling, bumbling first-time make-out session.

Yet, the real teases of the film weren’t about failed movie romance.

In all of the movie’s darkness lies a grandeur that could have been explored further: the Ministry and its many catacombs were a strangely magical urban scene. Yet, there was only a glimpse.

Dolores Umbridge’s office has a mystique where a bit more cinematic exploration could have alleviated many curiosities into her lavish life.

Even Harry Potter’s nightmares were mere glimpses into his inner turmoil. Most of his moments were angry, bitter and contained a biting dialogue that stabbed at the unfairness of being who he simply is: Harry Potter, a boy transitioning to a man with dark secrets that he doesn’t completely understand.

Though, angry, dark, stormy and containing rapid-fire dialogue, the triumph of the film really is in characters like Harry Potter made believable through popular books.

Sure, there were beautiful dark sets and animation, and a wardrobe fit for the sloppy kind of academy most private school kids probably dream of attending. Yet movie magic is made when seeing the continuation of the on-screen realization and adaptation of the most popular characters ever imagined.

Read "Harry Potter Movie Madness" to find out about opening night and to see another slideshow.