Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
(B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Back to Hogwart's we go in 'Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix' (directed by David Yates). Another long summer has passed, and a new, challenging year at Hogwart's Wizarding School begins. Now in his 5th year, Harry encounters some adversity on school grounds. Students, parents, & staff fail to believe Harry who claims that Voldemort is back! The Ministry of Magic appoints yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge (a prickly Imelda Staunton), who aspires to take-over Hogwart's from a floundering Dumbledore. Its great be back in the long, dank corridors of Hogwart's castle. But I don't know this new director. And while condensing an 870 page book into 135 moody minutes is impressive, he's made a choppy film that feels incomplete.
After being deemed innocent by the Ministry of Magic for having to use the Patronum spell in the muggle world (what I thought was an awesome 1st scene), Harry returns to Hogwarts with steadfast friends, Hermione Granger & Ron Weasley (Emma Watson, Rupert Grint). Harry contemplates why Hermione & Ron had been so secretive over the summer, but he doesn't harp on it. He'd rather focus on his sweetheart, Cho Chang (an utterly listless Katie Leung). Through all of this, he still can't shake the mysterious dreams which cause him to wake in full body sweat. Apparently, Voldemort is seeking a secret weapon. It's up to Harry's 'Dumbledore Army' (consisting of 27 fellow students) to thwart off Umbridge, her cronies, and prevent 'V' from attaining the war-initiating 'secret weapon'.
Although 'V' clouds his mind, he's not the only source of Harry's troubles. Aside from studying for his OWL exams (S.A.T.-like tests), he's hitting a brick wall by trying to convince the skeptical, ambiguous Ministry of Magic that Voldemort is back to wreak havoc. The entire school is in chaos because the loathsome Dolores Umbridge has decreed a multitude of rule changes concerning existing teachers & existing curriculum. Why is the wizarding community shunning Harry & Dumbledore? Why is Filch aiding Umbridge? Will a supplanted Dumbledore be able to save Harry in the end? Can Sirius Black be a sturdy ally for Harry at a critical juncture? Who is/are the Order of the Phoenix? Will this mysterious 'order' be able to save Harry before he loses his mind, no less his life?
As usual in the 'Potter' films, there are loads to like. It's amazing to see Daniel Radcliffe grow up before our eyes & become an able, emotionally affecting actor. The tone of this film is substantially grim (which I enjoy, though I do want for a dose of the whimsy which was so organic in the 1st 4 films). The plot is heavy, but broken up by bursts of action & poignant coming-of-age goodness. The usual suspects, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman & Alan Rickman (Snape's occlumency lessons with Harry are riveting) are great, though underused within the confines of the plot. There are moments of beautiful, compelling, cinematic greatness in '… Phoenix', but they show up rarely; & usually to save an already choppy, disjointed scene.
I have some problems with this movie. New characters (with exception of Luna Lovegood, played brilliantly by Evanna Lynch) barely make an impression. i.e., Kreature is onscreen for about a minute. Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) speaks about 3 lines. We barely see Grawp & the Centaurs. And for a book with 'The Order of the Phoenix' in its' title, we barely get to know just who they are, why they're helping, etc. Comparatively speaking, the new characters are not as fleshed out as in the previous films. And for as little time as we're given to meet the new characters, even less time is spent with old friends, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Hagrid, the Dursleys, the Weasleys, etc.. This film needed to be a good 20 min. longer for us to absorb the plentiful characters & enormous plot.
To me, 'The Order of the Phoenix' is the weakest film of the series. It just doesn't measure up (plot, conciseness, charm, peril, action & most importantly ... fluidity). Even a climactic duel btwn. Dumbledore & Voldemort lacks a certain wow factor. Then, before I knew it, the kids were shuffling off home for the summer again & the credits rolled. What I'm trying to say is, while I've always been 'engaged' during Potter films, I was quite passive when watching this one. What I'll take away from this film? Radcliffe is improving as Harry Potter. And I hate Dolores Umbridge so much ... I almost feel like taking it out on Imelda Staunton. To me, this is a poor film that's been bolstered up, in my subjective opinion, by sheer nostalgia & blind love for its' seasoned characters.
After being deemed innocent by the Ministry of Magic for having to use the Patronum spell in the muggle world (what I thought was an awesome 1st scene), Harry returns to Hogwarts with steadfast friends, Hermione Granger & Ron Weasley (Emma Watson, Rupert Grint). Harry contemplates why Hermione & Ron had been so secretive over the summer, but he doesn't harp on it. He'd rather focus on his sweetheart, Cho Chang (an utterly listless Katie Leung). Through all of this, he still can't shake the mysterious dreams which cause him to wake in full body sweat. Apparently, Voldemort is seeking a secret weapon. It's up to Harry's 'Dumbledore Army' (consisting of 27 fellow students) to thwart off Umbridge, her cronies, and prevent 'V' from attaining the war-initiating 'secret weapon'.
Although 'V' clouds his mind, he's not the only source of Harry's troubles. Aside from studying for his OWL exams (S.A.T.-like tests), he's hitting a brick wall by trying to convince the skeptical, ambiguous Ministry of Magic that Voldemort is back to wreak havoc. The entire school is in chaos because the loathsome Dolores Umbridge has decreed a multitude of rule changes concerning existing teachers & existing curriculum. Why is the wizarding community shunning Harry & Dumbledore? Why is Filch aiding Umbridge? Will a supplanted Dumbledore be able to save Harry in the end? Can Sirius Black be a sturdy ally for Harry at a critical juncture? Who is/are the Order of the Phoenix? Will this mysterious 'order' be able to save Harry before he loses his mind, no less his life?
As usual in the 'Potter' films, there are loads to like. It's amazing to see Daniel Radcliffe grow up before our eyes & become an able, emotionally affecting actor. The tone of this film is substantially grim (which I enjoy, though I do want for a dose of the whimsy which was so organic in the 1st 4 films). The plot is heavy, but broken up by bursts of action & poignant coming-of-age goodness. The usual suspects, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Gary Oldman & Alan Rickman (Snape's occlumency lessons with Harry are riveting) are great, though underused within the confines of the plot. There are moments of beautiful, compelling, cinematic greatness in '… Phoenix', but they show up rarely; & usually to save an already choppy, disjointed scene.
I have some problems with this movie. New characters (with exception of Luna Lovegood, played brilliantly by Evanna Lynch) barely make an impression. i.e., Kreature is onscreen for about a minute. Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) speaks about 3 lines. We barely see Grawp & the Centaurs. And for a book with 'The Order of the Phoenix' in its' title, we barely get to know just who they are, why they're helping, etc. Comparatively speaking, the new characters are not as fleshed out as in the previous films. And for as little time as we're given to meet the new characters, even less time is spent with old friends, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Hagrid, the Dursleys, the Weasleys, etc.. This film needed to be a good 20 min. longer for us to absorb the plentiful characters & enormous plot.
To me, 'The Order of the Phoenix' is the weakest film of the series. It just doesn't measure up (plot, conciseness, charm, peril, action & most importantly ... fluidity). Even a climactic duel btwn. Dumbledore & Voldemort lacks a certain wow factor. Then, before I knew it, the kids were shuffling off home for the summer again & the credits rolled. What I'm trying to say is, while I've always been 'engaged' during Potter films, I was quite passive when watching this one. What I'll take away from this film? Radcliffe is improving as Harry Potter. And I hate Dolores Umbridge so much ... I almost feel like taking it out on Imelda Staunton. To me, this is a poor film that's been bolstered up, in my subjective opinion, by sheer nostalgia & blind love for its' seasoned characters.