Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Review

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"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" reviews

Movie

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2009-06-05 20:39:07

Rating

3/5

Provider

CinemaSource

Review

Less flash, more grit, The Order of the Phoenix is definitely the most introspective of the Harry Potter movies. If you're expecting fast-paced wizardry action at every turn, however, you might be disappointed.

Story

As the fifth year at Hogwarts begins, most of the wizardry world is having a hard time believing Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned, further propagated by the Ministry of Magic, who refuses to recognize anything evil is brewing and blames all the hullabaloo on Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). The Ministry even interferes with Hogwarts business by making Ministry employee Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, whose outwardly sweet demeanor hides a sadistic streak a mile wide. She thinks the children should only learn about the Dark Arts "theoretically" and tortures all those who disagree. But the Voldemort threat is a reality, and Dumbledore has re-formed the Order of the Phoenix, a group of witches and wizards that prepares to battle the Dark Lord. Harry is unfortunately being kept in the dark, for his protection, of course, even as his connection to Voldemort grows stronger, and he's royally peeved at being ignored. Urged on by Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), he forms his own order of Hogwarts students called Dumbledore's Army to teach them what defenses against the Dark Arts he has already learned. Oh, yeah, Harry also shares his first kiss but make no bones about it—love is the furthest thing on Harry's mind when the crap hits the fan. War is imminent.

Acting

Everyone steps up their game in Order of the Phoenix. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint have shed their adolescent whininess and aw-shucks goofiness to give their characters the greatest depth so far. They are forced to grow up pretty quickly in Order, with little time for any playfulness, and the three actors handle the seriousness with aplomb. Of course, both Radcliffe and Grint have already ventured out of the Potter world—Radcliffe shed more than just adolescence on stage in a production of Equus, while Grint lost his virginity in the indie Driving Lessons--and their extra experience shows in Order. Also good are Matthew Lewis as the usually clumsy Neville Longbottom, who shows his mettle in more ways than one, and newcomer Evanna Lynch as the slightly off-kilter Luna Lovegood, who proves to be a loyal member of Dumbledore's Army. But the kids have to keep up with the talented adult cast, especially Oscar-nominated Staunton (Vera Drake) as Umbridge. The veteran actress' interpretation of one of J.K. Rowling's nastiest characters so far in the Potter lore is spot-on, down to the pink wool suits and irritating twitter "ahem" she uses when she wants your undivided attention. Helena Bonham Carter also makes an impression, however over the top it is, as the evil Voldemort follower Bellatrix Lestrange. Does she ever want to look pretty onscreen? Then there's the laundry list of Brits whose time onscreen may be short but is nonetheless memorable, including Alan Rickman as the sneering Prof. Snape; Gambon as the wise but flawed Dumbledore; Gary Oldman as the kindly Sirius Black, Harry's only real family; and of course, Fiennes as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. His late-in-the-game appearance once again throws you for a loop.

Direction

It stands to reason that at five movies in, moviegoers would have a favorite Harry Potter flick by now. Those who love those Triwizard Tournament special effects might feel The Goblet of Fire was the best; or Prisoner of Azkaban for its time-bending action. Yet, The Order of the Phoenix may be the one movie that speaks directly to the fans of the books. Without as much wide-eyed wonderment or wizardry flash, the story is still chockfull of compelling details that are absolutely pivotal to the continuing Harry Potter saga. Screenwriter Michael Goldenberg (Peter Pan) and director David Yates (HBO's The Girl in the Café) manage to wade through this volume of information and cut successfully to the chase with great effect. Yates, who has signed on to do the sixth movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, even shows an affinity for action in the final, dramatic confrontation between good witches and wizards and bad ones. But overall, Order of the Phoenix may leave audiences not as well-versed in the novels a little itchy for some good old-fashioned wand-waving and Disney special effects. Thing is, it's just going to keep getting darker and darker for Harry and his crew. The days of happy, fun playtime are over.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.

Movie

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-07-12 00:00:00

Provider

MyMovies

Review

So Harry is back for his fifth movie adventure - but be warned, gone are the midnight feasts and jolly Quidditch sticks at Hogwarts. Instead life is getting very dark indeed for JK Rowling's teenage wizard. Anyone who saw "Goblet Of Fire" (or has read the books) will know that as we join proceedings the evil Lord Voldemort has returned but the Ministry of Magic refuse to accept this with First Minster Cornelius Fudge adamant that the Dark Lord is well and truly dead. As such doubt is being poured on Harry's (Daniel Radcliffe) claims that Voldemort killed Cedric Diggory, making him a bit of pariah at school. Throw in evil new Hogwarts head Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) and life is pretty miserable for our angsty hero. But fortunately Harry does have allies in The Order of the Phoenix, who've teamed up to try and defend the wizarding world from Voldemort but will they be able to save help when He Who Must Not Be Named plots to obtain a precious prophecy?

Easily the darkest of the five Potter films to date, "Order of the Phoenix" is a dark vision as new director Davis Yates deftly captures the tone of severest of the books. Along with Yates, Staunton is easily the best new addition to the franchise, oozing menace despite her small stature while Helena Bonham Carter is equally terrifying as the wild-haired Bellatrix Lestrange. Also Gary Oldman makes a welcome return as Sirius Black and the rest of the cast are capable but let's face it, who watches the "Harry Potter" movies for the acting? Technically a couple of the effects are a bit hit-and-miss (Hagrid's half brother Grawp especially) but the grand finale battle as the Order battle Voldemort's loyal Death Eaters is intense and eye-catching.

If the dark is this exciting, then we wait for Yates' take on "Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince" with bated breath.

Movie

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-07-06 14:40:12

Provider

Review

New director David Yates opens his first Potter film with a slow air of impending doom. It's been a long, lonely summer for Harry Potter as he awaits his fifth year of study at Hogwarts School.

When a surprise attack by two evil Dementors causes him to wield his wand in self-defence Harry finds himself charged by the Ministry of Magic for illegally using magic outside of school and is threatened with expulsion. Saved from a crooked kangaroo court by the intervention of Headmaster Dumbledore - who is acting very strangely - Harry begins the new term accused of lying about his battle with the evil Lord Voldemort (seen in fourth film Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkhaban) and distrusted by fellow students.

A new teacher, an evil and duplicitous Professor Dolores Umbridge, is another cause for worry, as her 'Ministry-approved' lessons in defensive magic leave Hogwarts students woefully unprepared for the Dark Forces. Harry decides to take matters into his own hands, and alongside Ron and Hermione picks the most talented students to form Dumbledore's Army. As Lord Voldemort draws close, and the mysterious Order of the Phoenix beckons, Harry and his fellow rebels must fly to London for a climatic battle.

The fifth Harry Potter is a 'coming of age'. Radcliffe provides his best performance yet - the budding thespian rising to the challenge of tormented teen with a nightmarish birthright. That's not to say his co-stars are overshadowed: Emma Watson as sensitive teenager Hermione, and newcomer Evanna Lynch's otherworldly Luna Lovegood are exceptional. Gary Oldman welcomely returns as fugitive Sirius Black; plus a host of top actors, including Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Richard Griffiths and a wonderfully villainous Helena Bonham Carter round out an A-list cast.

In addition to Hogwarts and the dystopian Ministry of Magic, much of the action takes place in London via thrilling sets and CGI-assisted action. Lasting two hours 18 minutes, it's the perfect length (although forcing the customary Quidditch match to sadly end up on the cutting room floor), and that long-awaited kiss between Harry and fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung) balances the often scary scenes.

Love, betrayal and rebellion all feature in a spellbinding, action-packed instalment that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.