It was bound to happen.

After four magical cinematic chapters of &#8220Harry Potter,” the franchise finally hits a bump in the road with &#8220Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” which is full of plot detail and short of all the magic and charm that made this such a successful series.

This story picks up with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) returning to Hogwarts for a fifth year. But this time Harry feels isolated – no one really believes that the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned.

The situation is further complicated when the Ministry of Magic appoints a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher named Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), who is not only there to keep on eye on Hogwarts, but Harry and his friends as well.

There are some positives to take from &#8220Phoenix,” especially Staunton, an absolute delight as Harry’s newest nemesis. The film also features more of the series trademark cool visuals – especially during a finale that ends just as it is picking up steam – but not nearly enough as the first four.

Sadly, most of the effects, this time in the hands of unknown director David Yates, have less of a magical feel – mainly because much more capable directors like Alfonso Cuaron and Mike Newell have done most of it before.

The biggest problem with &#8220Phoenix” is that, for all its substance, nothing really happens. Watching &#8220Phoenix” is kind of like watching the episodes in a season of &#822024” that serve as nothing more than a bridge to get to the next big thing. Sure it serves a purpose, but when it happens in a feature-length film that clocks in at 138 minutes, it only proves to be frustrating.

Don’t get me wrong, I still want to see the next installment, &#8220Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” due next year, but only because there are so many loose ends left dangling. Maybe then I can get a little more closure and not a film that is spinning its wheels just buying time for the next chapter.

DVD dandy of the week

This week’s dandy is &#8220Factory Girl” (B-), a slightly above average indie film based on the life of Andy Warhol groupie Edie Sedgwick that features a couple of nice performances by Sienna Miller and Guy Pierce.

Miller plays Sedgwick, a beautiful party girl who drops out of Radcliffe in 1965 and heads to New York with aspirations of fame and fortune.

Sedgwick meets Warhol, who promises to make her a star. But before long Sedgwick is engulfed in a world of promiscuity and drug abuse that ultimately led to her death.

Miller, best known as Jude Law’s ex, does a good job of capturing the innocence and ultimate corruption of Sedgwick, while Pearce provides an interesting spin as Warhol.

There are some major problems with &#8220Factory Girl.” Hayden Christensen is beyond terrible as a folk singer that Sedgwick gets romantically involved with (in real life it was Bob Dylan, but the singer’s lawyers refused his inclusion in the film) and Captain Mauzner’s screenplay never really gives much insight into Sedgwick as a person, leaving more questions about the person than answers.

Still, &#8220Factory Girl” is worth a look if only to see Miller and Pearce, who make this film easily the best in a weak crop of new DVD releases.

&#8220Factory Girl” is rated R for pervasive drug use, strong sexual content, nudity and language and will be available on DVD on Tuesday.