It seems only fair to give a little background on my opinions about the Harry Potter series, books and movies, so you'll know where I'm coming from when I tell you why I liked the fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I've read all the books by J.K. Rowling (except the seventh, of course, due later this month) and have enjoyed them overall -- but my least favorite was the fifth book, the one on which this movie is based. I thought it was at least 100 pages longer than it needed to be, and I grew irritated with the overload of Sullen Teen Syndrome from Harry. You have no idea how relieved I am that the movie successfully eliminated many of these difficulties, to the point where I found it an improvement on the book.
I've also seen all the movies, most of which I liked well enough but found unmemorable, with the exception of the third movie (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), which had better character development. Yes, I am firmly in the "Alfonso Cuaron rocks" camp, as opposed to the "Chris Columbus needs to return" camp. The previous movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, seemed so rushed and crammed in an effort to condense a thick book into a single movie that I didn't have high hopes for this film. Fortunately, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was able to pare down the storyline to its essentials without making me feel like we were missing anything critical.
For those of you who haven't read the fifth book (and I promise to be very careful about spoilers), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is about Harry's return to Hogwarts after his encounter with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), the chief evildoer of the series. The Ministry of Magic refuses to believe Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) or the headmaster, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), about Voldemort's return -- they are too fearful of the implications. So the Ministry sends the school a new teacher, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), who despite her pink outfits and fussy demeanor, has some nasty tricks in store for students and teachers who cross her. Harry also must deal with recurring nightmares involving Voldemort, who apparently is after some new weapon or power. Finally, Harry's continually frustrated because the adults won't tell him what's going on, and most students seem to believe the Ministry propaganda that he's crazy or lying.
The focus in this movie is on Harry, as it should be, but fans of the book will be a little sorry not to see more of their favorite characters. Ron and Hermione get more screen time than in the last film, but that's not saying much. We barely see Draco, which will disappoint many a teen girl with a Tom Felton crush. Many subplots from the book are missing in the interest of time and focus, which is not always a bad thing. I'm happy that Hermione's efforts to liberate house-elves went by the wayside, for example, but I missed the Christmastime hospital scene. The Quidditch subplot was my favorite part of the book, as it gave all the Weasley kids a chance to really shine, and I'm sorry we don't see more of Ron and Ginny in this film. However, the Weasley twins, Fred and George, still get some of the best moments here, as with the book. The fifth movie is darker than the previous ones, and the twins provide some much-needed comic relief.
As much as I have loved Michael Gambon's performances in other films, I feel he is miscast as Dumbledore. Dumbledore has a charming, even humorous side -- he practically twinkles at times in the book -- that we have not seen since Gambon took over the role. He often sounds impatient and angry, although he's also able to convey gentleness and affection when it's called for. Again, it's a little frustrating to see all of these wonderful British character actors in the film who don't get nearly enough to do: Maggie Smith, Emma Thompson -- and new for this film, Helena Bonham-Carter as the lunatically evil Bellatrix Lestrange, who has no more than a half-dozen lines. However, Staunton is perfect as Umbridge, and we do get a little extra time with Alan Rickman as Snape.
The CGI effects were often more of a drawback than an asset. The house-elf Kreacher has a few moments in this film, during which he is talking to himself in a way that reminds me uncomfortably of Gollum. Add the new Ringwraith-ish look for the Dementors and you start wondering exactly which fantasy franchise you're watching, anyway. The most obvious and least attractive use of CGI was with Grawp, later in the film (and if you don't know who/what that is, I won't spoil it) -- the look was a little too fake for me, and I wished the filmmakers had found a way to cut that from the film. (With the seventh book still unreleased, Harry Potter fans may be scrutinizing what is included and what is not, trying to determine what will be important in the final book.)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has more suspense than the other films in the series -- we're very much aware that Voldemort is out there hatching horrible plans for Harry and in fact the entire wizarding world, and that he could strike at any moment. We're fascinated by Umbridge's gradual increase in power and want to see what she'll come up with next. The movie has some scary moments: Small children may find the sight of Voldemort frightening, and there's some mild violence. David Yates has done an excellent job with his first Harry Potter directorial outing, assisted by a script by Michael Goldenberg, who seems to have picked just the right amount of storyline to keep in this movie. I am a little sorry that Goldenberg is not returning for the sixth film (Steve Kloves, who adapted the other films, will be returning), but look forward to seeing what Yates will do with the material. While the third movie is still my favorite in the series, this movie is right behind it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-10-2007 @ 9:59PM
The Addict said...
Hmmm...not a spew fan then? *Shrugs* This review makes me excited, and I can't wait to be in the theater come two hours from now.
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7-11-2007 @ 3:29AM
Alex said...
I agree with every word you say, Jette. Thanks for this mind-reading review. :)
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7-11-2007 @ 8:44AM
Jessica said...
I'm going to see this movie one friday simply can't wait. I must say since Harry is growing up and each book gets darker and daker I hope that the last HP is actually rated "R".
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7-11-2007 @ 10:10AM
Radio Dan said...
There's a Chris Columbus needs to return camp?
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7-11-2007 @ 7:46PM
Jaydlyn said...
I watched the movie early this morning. I have to say I was somewhat dissapointed in it. I felt like it was choppy, and the storyline didn't flow quite as smooth as the others had.
I agree with Jette on one point, I wish they had put in the visit to Mungo's Hospital, I had really wished to see more of Neville. I was somewhat confused with the fighting scenes, and when Dumbeldore was fighting Voldemort I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the statues to make their move. My conclusion, this is my least favorite movie of the series and I'm not sure I'll be as excited to see the next with the way this one was directed.
If I had the chance to change at least one thing it would be that Dumbeldore had a chance to explain everything. I mean I think people would like to know more about the prophesy. Hopefully they'll put it in the next movie but I doubt they'll have room unless they do the same as this movie and skip through it to get the big action scenes and nothing else.
Even though I find the movie a let down I'm anticipating the next book! I already have it ordered and I'm just waiting to get my hands on it. I know J.K. Rowling won't let me down!
Jaydlyn*
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7-12-2007 @ 1:33PM
David Flanagan said...
Jette,
Excellent review of the movie! I went to the midnight premiere of the movie in my hometown of Annapolis, MD and got in line with the huge audience to see the movie. Our theatre had 11 theatres total, all of which ran the movie, and every single theatre at that cinema was full.
I also wanted to say that I agree with you wholeheartedly when it comes to Michael Gambon being miscast as Dumbledore. Richard Harris was SO perfect in that role and while Gambon is a talented actor, he's not the right guy to play Dumbledore.
And I agree as well that Imelda Staunton did a fabulous job as Umbridge. Her performance helps to make this movie a much better one than "Goblet of Fire."
The one person you don't mention, whom I thought just about stole the show, is Evanna Lynch in the role of Luna Lovegood. She was just terrific in that role, and in a theatre packed with hardcore Potter fans, you could hear a very positive reaction to her performance.
Both Staunton and Lynch added some nice new elements to this movie and I sincerely hope we see more of Lynch in the next movie as well.
Regards,
David Flanagan
Annapolis, MD
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7-13-2007 @ 4:01PM
Hytone said...
HP #5 is a great movie!! I just finished taking the Harry Potter Creature quiz, and if the quiz is dealing with creatures from the movies, then Harry let loose a python not a Boa on cousin Dudley. In the movie the snake was a Burmese Python, because theHarry askes the snake if it was nice in Burma, but the snake was born in captivity and had never been to Burma.
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7-14-2007 @ 3:47PM
M H Collins said...
I agree JJ. Order of the Phoenix was a tedious, poorly made movie. I was soooooo disappointed with this washed out TV quality film. The director, the writer, the cinematographer and the EDITOR were about as bad as they come. Take the magic out and just move from incident to incident until you totally disconnect from the characters and the story...was my experience. Definitely a movie made by muggles ... from calculation and not made from the heart.
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7-15-2007 @ 12:14AM
J. J. said...
If the Daily Prophet had said that Harry Potter had died in this film, I would have believed it! I am so disappointed in this film and the irony is that I have to have a copy to fill out the set. To be very honest I would love to know what J.K. Rowlings thoughts are of this adaptation of her 5th book. The actors and actresses were great given what they had to work with, but I believe the failure for this film lies with David Yates the Director, Michael Goldenberg the screenwriter, and also Mark Day as the Editor.
The scenes were disjointed and as described as “Choppy”, there was no flow from scene to scene, so the editing was just as bad as the films portrayed, heaven or Hogwarts only knows what was left on the cutting room floor! And even though as other reviews pointed out to the details of the book being deleted from the movie, there were and should have been a much better plot line that went along with the foundations of the book. For example what about the Daily Prophet's constantly harrying of Harry this was very loosely portrayed, but did Lovegood and her father play a role in vindicating Harry and what about Rita Skeeter. This was minor in the over all lack of book to movie rendering. Consider deeper the connection of Harry to Trevor, and the prophecy with came from Professor Trelawney and the whole reason Dumbledore keep Trelawney protected. Consider the Dursley's and why Harry had to be allowed to live there and the "howler" Harry' Aunt Petunia got from "Prof.Dumbledore. What about the betrayal of Kreacher towards Sirius, all the while manipulating Harry for Voldmort's plan? And the ultimate outrage Harry had before Dumbledore in His office, and the list goes on. For me the payback came with the fact that Lucious Malfoy and the other Death Eaters were arrested and sent to Azkaban, no comments were made to indicate this! Not the least was the Harry and Malfoy's exchange at the end of the book over Malfoy's father's incarceration.
Needless to say as a Harry Potter Fan I am not happy at all with the lack of professionalism and integrity to J. K. Rowlings’ work. And as it has already been said, what is one to expect with the next movies! If there is any prophetic insight, they can make Blood Prince run for about half and hour and cover the important points as seen by this lame production crew!
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