NOTE: If you are not a member of the HARRY POTTER cult of personality, not only is it my duty to tell you that what follows will barely make a lick of sense, but it is an article of my wonderment why you even clicked on this review in the first place.
Why does such an imaginative and energetic series of books bring about a franchise of middle-of-the-road movies?
Money. When you have something set up to make gobs of cash aimed at youngsters, you can’t get too wild. Drives the grosses down. Confuses the kids and weirds out the adults. This is why the Harry Potter series of films hasn’t really been all that great, with three long and expensive sighs of indifference and one admittedly good one (Alfonso Cuaron‘s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) that still had moments of playing like an advertisement for itself. “See the pretty colors? I bet you want the toys that go with it, huh?”
Both the book and the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix mark the time when author JK Rowling and the folks at Warner Brothers stopped fucking around with being cute and started taking it as seriously as the fans did. This isn’t some kind of non-threatening Goonies peril these kids are in, but rather actual dangers that result in one dying and not coming back. The genius of the books has finally caught up with the movies, wherein they actually grow with the kids reading them from year to year. Complex ideas and shades of gray are brought in. For example, I never thought a kids movie would actually tackle Stalinism before I saw THIS one.
It’s the fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and stress has finally caught up with Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). Worn out from the constant attempts on his life by the returning Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and besieged by bad dreams when he saw a kid die last year, Harry acts, well, like a complete ring-meat most of the time. He blows up at his friends and generally acts all taciturn and moody”¦ Or it could be because he’s fifteen and practically everyone was a tool at that age, myself included.
I would say that “all is not well at Hogwarts,” but it so very rarely is. The Ministry of Magic, combating the idea of the return of Lord Voldemort, decides to prop up Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton of Vera Drake) as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. No silly wand waving in this class, because according to the Ministry and their media pogrom of disinformation, there’s no evil threat to defend against. Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) call bullshit and get Harry to teach a few of the kids how to defend themselves in secret. And the most fun phase of being a teenager takes occurs: Rebellion.
The David Yates-redirected Phoenix may be the first entry in the franchise where acting and technique can be discussed by the film-savvy fans of the novels and not just what was left out of the given book. Black Hawk Down cinematographer Slawomir Idziak bathes the film in steely gray and pallid, ill green. Editor Mark Day, who hasn’t done a lot of film work, makes a splash in a big way, providing dream sequences that bring to mind Dark City. And all of this is under the banner of Yates, who is the only non-established director the series has had to date. Unlike previous directors Chris Columbus, Mike Newell, and Alfonso Cuaron, who were content to not take seriously what they saw as a “kids movie,” THIS motherfucker has something to prove.
To all you fans of Ron Weasley, I’m sad to say that Rupert Grint doesn’t get a whole lot of face time in this one, but what’s there is choice. Emma Watson as Hermione Granger is starting to remind me a little of Keira Knightley, only without the impossibly gleaming white teeth that could chew through an engine block. And Radcliffe as Harry is proving to be a more complex and intriguing actor as the years go on. That these kids are going to be good in other projects post-Potter is no surprise. That I would actually pay to see them, however, is.
While it is more of an observation than a criticism, I could only imagine how the Harry Potter films have crippled the English film industry. It seems practically every actor in the British Isles has been co-opted for the bi-annual Harry Potter shoot. Nevertheless, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, and Alan “The Jesus” Rickman all acquit themselves well with their relatively little screen-time. A side bit of praise must be given to Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, who I suggest had a little bit of Errol Flynn in him in his younger days, had he not become the greatest badass the screen has ever known, playing Dracula, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Sid Vicious.
Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge is quite possibly the most grating and intolerable villain I’ve come across in quite a few years of going to the movies, and that winds up being a strength. Officious and cheery, while hiding psychosis and a loyalty to her career that even Dwight Schrute would find terrifying and obsessive. She’s like the Christian Bale character in American Psycho: Perfectly composed in every way. Unlike one Mr. Bateman, however, we get to see Umbridge get her comeuppance and OH SWEET LORD is it gratifying.
And I must make mention of a newcomer to the series, Helena Bonham Carter as Voldemort’s henchwoman Bellatrix Lestrange. She imbues her character wi–OH MY GOD, SHE’S FUCKING HOT!
Um”¦ Sorry”¦
Anyway, Phoenix is not without its drawbacks. Even though I had no complaints about this, 870 pages has been pared down to 138 minutes. At least one of your favorite moments of the book is missing. Debate which one amongst yourselves. And though the first hour is intriguing in a way, setting up the political turmoil and what Harry is going up against, plays a little too much like a dusty Star Wars prequel for comfort, though Lord knows it’s not NEARLY as bad as I made that sound.
And perhaps the biggest problem could be a strength. For all you non-Potter fans out there, in order for this one really good movie to make sense, you have to sit through four mediocre movies to get to it.
***1/2 out of 4
NOTE: If you are not a member of the HARRY POTTER cult of personality, not only is it my duty to tell you that what follows will barely make a lick of sense, but it is an article of my wonderment why you even clicked on this review in the first place.
I absolutely agree. For someone who never read the books this particular movie was confusing and at times just flat out moronic.
Comment by disco — July 11, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
@disco
You must not have watched the other movies either then. I haven’t read the books, I’m just watching the movies.
Anyway, the level of dark is supposed to get hiked up each movie. The story and drama are growing with the kids. They’re not going to get in that much trouble at 12, but a few years later, teetering on adulthood, they will.
Comment by Xiag — July 12, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
I haven’t read the books, and only vaguely followed the first four movies. However, my wife has explained them to me, so I was able to catch what was going on.
Overall, I thought the movie did the series justice. Harry Potter finally gets adult emotions. Although I wonder what’s up with Luna…
Comment by tim — July 12, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
You’ve nailed it, and I concur – there’s something very different about this one. {link}
Let’s hope what follows will retain this level of quality.
Comment by Walt Stoneburner — July 12, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
The movie was boring, episodic, and awash with crappy, obviously CGI effects (the collapse of the shelves in the Department of Mysteries especially), which failed to make up for the lack of plot. I give it 1 star.
Comment by GeekFreek — July 12, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
ive read all the books multiple times. have not seen the order of the phoenix yet, but cant wait. all the other movies leave out important or funny or just plain cool parts that were in the book. even some of the script is changed. if you read the books and see the movie you will be dissapointed with all of the movies. how ever, if you havnt read the books you should. there are alot of things that are left out of the movies.
Comment by jarid — July 12, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
What makes ME mad is that they didn’t accent Emma Watson’s hotness enough. I mean, mom jeans and a sweater? Yeah…like there was one shot where she was good-looking and it was in the DA room when she had her hair back.
Yes I know it’s trivial:-p but still.
Yeah pretty good movie.
But why have they basically cut the “Percy” storyline out of the movies? I think they just didn’t have enough time. Well, they’re screwed for number 6, he has a pretty important part.
I liked the scene with the twins cheering up Nigel. Made me happy and reminded me of my big brother.
Comment by RAWRR — July 12, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
i dont know what all of you are talking about.I thought it was pretty good. if you didnt read the book then you may not have followed it,but you can at least ask someone who likes it to fill in the blanks for you. I saw someone on another website complaining about how its all about Voldemort.Well arent all of the except the third!?And the only reason the third was nt about him was because they were introducing Surius. If youv’e read the book,you already know about the stuff they left out,so stop complaining!!I did that and i thik it was the best besides the 4th
Comment by Sklooperis — July 13, 2007 @ 8:47 am
Easily my favorite movie so far … but, then, again, Order of the Phoenix is my favorite Harry Potter novel so far … http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2007/07/harry-potter-and-3-d-phoenix.html
Comment by Paul Levinson — July 13, 2007 @ 10:30 pm
i agree with GeekFreek…the movie had no action or anything…it was boring and when it ended i was like…um what??
Yeah kinda a waste of time going to see that i think…
Thought it would be good but still not really sure what the point of that whole movie was..
Hope the last 1s are better than this
Comment by jes — July 15, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
yup the movie was boring i felt it was rush and the music background did not fit the scenes this movie was the worst of the others because i like the other last four they were more exciting. i even read the book for this one and like they skipped several good parts on the book i’d blame the Director David Yates i mean Chris columbus who directed one of the Hp movies did great and i felt the editing was terrible skipping scene after scene i felt each scene was a whole different story unlike the last four which was exciting. why didn’t Chris Columbus do it i admire his work for i astrive to become a director myself. itw as entirely boring the one particular part i hated in the movie was when Bellatrix Lestrange escaped the music background made me think something exciting was gonna happen but no nothing i mean the music background was terrible it didnot fit the scenes and the filming it self was terrible except a couple of parts. i mean they often zoomed toward the castle of hogwarts and they used aerial cameras alot i mean alot if you watched it.
Comment by chris — July 16, 2007 @ 3:22 pm
In the scene where seamus is arguing with harry in the common room, there is some rock background music playing. Any idea what the name of the song is and who sings it?
Comment by lleroy — July 24, 2007 @ 6:48 am
The music playing in the common room is “Boys Will Be Boys” by The Ordinary Boys. They rule!
Comment by Bean — July 29, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
The Potter books are far too complex to be replicated on screen in their entirety. Of necessity, the films must be impressionistic; they can only give you the high points of the books. While I found the jump cutting in the OOTP film irritating, I don’t know how else they could have done it without adding an hour to the running time. To my mind, the best of the Potter films was Prisoner of Azkaban. The screenplay was excellent and Alfonso Curion’s direction was best able to capture the spirit of the book. I would hope Curion is signed to do the final film. I have heard that Yates and Goldenberg are already under contract to do The Half Blood Prince.
Comment by Jim — August 18, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
I was willing voldamort to kill the irritating little twerp towards the end! H Potter went from a nice kid to a really whiny, attention seeking drama queen. Shame Ron didnt get as much screen time as tends to balance out Harry’s self obsession.
The actress who plays Harmonia or whatever….cannot do what she is being paid to do. Why does she shout her lines, spit them out like polyjuice potion, constantly screw her annoying shrew like face up over and over. Her acting is a lot scarier than Voldamort.
Any for gods sake tell me why all of the members of the Weasley family have different accents? Some regional, some best British BBC – some Cockney, some north of the border. Rons sister is dire – her plummy voice is in complete contrast to Rons homely regional accent. Is she trying to out posh Harmonia or something?
Will someone just put Harry out of his misery and kill the little bastard. Havent read any of the books but I hope the glorious Alan Rickman gets to torture and then kill Harry, v v slowly and with lots of dialogue. What a man, what a voice!
Comment by fi — June 30, 2008 @ 10:51 am