Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has got style
Written: Jul 11 '07 (Updated Jul 11 '07)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Cast, especially the ingenious Staunton. Direction. Script.
Cons: Lack of plot can make it all drag a bit.
The Bottom Line: is all downhill from here.
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| updateghost's Full Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix |
You knew that it had to happen eventually-----the Harry Potter transitional film. Harry Potter the Order of the Phoenix, like the book, almost has no plot-----much of the picture (the fifth in the series) is spent expounding upon various histories or merely exploring the title character's (Daniel Radcliffe) journey through the difficulties of late adolescence. It is not until the final thirty minutes that we have any notion of what is truly going on in J.K. Rowlings' world of witches and wizards-----magically (tom-tom... crash!), director David Yates handles Michael Goldenberg's dark, witty script competently enough to keep most of the venture enthralling and impactful.
The line-up of top-tier veteran actors is one of the film's finest qualities. As any Potter connoisseur knows, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry cannot retain a Defence Against the Dark Arts for more than a year, and the latest addition to the profession is Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), sent from the Ministry of Magic. The viewer learns to hate Umbridge from the very second he/she sees her, all because of Staunton's histrionic genius-----with every hee, hm and "huh-haw!", the seed of hate that Staunton plants grows further.
As Umbridge imposes hegemony on all of Hogwarts, nightmarish visions creep up on Harry in his sleep. His elders ascertain that he and Voldemort, through Harry's scar, have acquired some sort of connection, and resultantly can see into each other's minds. Professor Snape (the always convincing Alan Rickman) attempts training Harry to avoid Voldemort's penetrative eye; meanwhile Harry attempts training various Hogwarts students how to defend themselves in battle, calling the group Dumbledore's Army.
That's about as much as can be revealed without spoilers-----while you're waiting for the climax, Daniel Radcliffe and Co.'s forseriously improved acting can be enjoyed without reprove. Long gone are the days of substandard elf-chasing and melodramatic awe; you can now receive the performances of Emma Watson (as Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (as Ron Weasley) and Matthew Lewis (as Neville Longbottom) at a professional. This makes the movie far more worthy than the amateurish Chris Columbus entries, which succeeded in setting up a magical world but failed in apt rehearsal.
For most of the film, Order of the Phoenix cruises along at a pleasant B-level, but then all of the climactic gears kick in, and David Yates' direction is allowed a chance to shine. The battles between the heroes and villains are all displayed very impressively, and Mark Day's skilled editing allows for some very poignant moments to take place. Add in Michael Goldenberg's brooding, clever, memorable-one-liner-packed script, and you have one highly entertaining and sincere addition to the Harry Potter series.
Rating: B+ (79.5/100)
See also:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
updateghost
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Tom Speaker
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