HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX [review] 2007

Director David Yates had me right up until the point he made Cho Chang the person who told Umbridge about the D.A. I loved the opening and him giving time to show Harry’s frustration at Dumbledore, at Hermione, at Ron, at everyone save Sirius. Even as they return to Hogwarts, we see Harry’s continued isolation from his fellow classmates. This makes for an uncomfortable movie, as it made for a very uncomfortable book (read my review of the book). Yet an admirable job was being done on the screen with numerous nods that readers of the book would appreciate, like Tonk’s changing her nose into different shapes for Hermione and Ginny, the mumbling portrait of Mrs.

…HARRY POTTER & THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX could almost have been the best movie in the series, from the least workable material no less. Yet like in the book, the almost complete lack of joy in the movie makes it hard to watch. Like all the previous Potter movies, save maybe Goblet of Fire, this movie felt very rushed. … Thinking about starting a secret defense against the dark arts clubs, two short scenes later we’ve got one. … I was very excited for this scene, I couldn’t wait to see him disarm two auror’s, the Minister of Magic and Umbridge, but no such thing happened.

…Lest I pick apart the whole movie, I will say Ginny was handled the best of any character in this movie.

…You can tell that Imelda Staunton must really have studied how the character was written in the book because her mannerisms, tone of voice, body movements, everything are note perfect in the movie.

…Gary Oldman was the best actor on the screen in his few short scenes as Sirius. … Even Michael Gambon managed to make me not despise how he played Dumbledore for the first time, though it was perhaps easier to do this time because the character of Dumbledore is more distant and less friendly.

…One last complaint, the final battle in the Ministry should have had at least 10 more minutes added to it. … Another great moment in the book is when Harry first sees Dumbledore in the Veil room, and he thinks to himself, “we’re saved.”

…Still, despite all the negatives, I was glad to get to see it before reading the final book next weekend.

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