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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix review

Posted : 10 years, 2 months ago on 18 January 2014 11:56

Excellent pacing, great script adaption, and a rather good start for the director David Yates that helmed the rest of the franchise.


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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Posted : 10 years, 7 months ago on 15 August 2013 09:45

Well I wouldn't call it a dud, but let it be known: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is easily the worst of the Potter films so far. Granted, this is still a very likeable and certainly recommendable production, but it's not as good as the first two Potter films, and not nearly as good as the second two.

Potter is failing to convince almost anyone that Voldemort is truly back, and those that do believe Potter have been ridiculed. Unfortunately, it is also believed that Dumbledore is planning a rebellion against the Ministry of Magic, so a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is hired in order to avoid the practice of practical magic by students. This new teacher is Dolores Umbridge, who immediately makes many strict rules, and creates unfair punishments. Meanwhile, the beginning stages of Voldemort's wicked plan take place.

While Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has many of the things that has made the other Potter films so enjoyable (great characters, great special effects, good story), there's an element of childishness that makes the film feel slight and less intelligent than the previous films. The first Potter film- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone- had a similar issue, though it's much worse in this case, as we've become accustomed to the darker and more thoughtful Potter films of late.

Still, this is a Harry Potter film, and with that being said, it's still funny, exciting, and intriguing. The characters are still fun to be around, and some of the new additions are great.

Dolores Umbridge is perfectly repulsive, and downright evil, while still being civil, and having a smile that never leaves her face. She's easily one of the most memorable characters in the franchise. Bellatrix Lestrange has an interesting character design, and while she doesn't get much screentime here, I look forward to seeing her character develop in future films. My only issue regarding the characters is that the dark lord Voldemort doesn't seem even nearly as menacing as any of the other Potter villains. Perhaps that will change as the series continues, but for now, he's hardly memorable, especially when compared to the rest of the characters.

The acting continues to improve. The child actors are getting better and better, and the adults are consistently great. Most notable, however, is Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge. Staunton gives one of the best- if not THE best- performance of the Harry Potter series so far.

The score is composed by Nicholas Hooper. His score is good, and at some parts very good, but it's far weaker than any of the previous Potter scores. Dolores Umbridge's theme is memorable, and it pays more respect to Williams' themes than Doyle's score did, but Hooper's efforts simply aren't as great as the previous four.

While it doesn't stand up to the rest of the Potter films, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is still a watchable, amusing, and sometimes thrilling adventure, from a series that- so far- has not turned out a bad film.


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An average movie

Posted : 11 years, 1 month ago on 13 February 2013 02:58

To be honest, I have never been really a fan of Harry Potter but my wife really loved the first installments so we went to see this one in the theater as a date. It was the first HP movie we saw in the theater and we would eventually watch all the following sequels in the theater but with the kids this time. I must admit it, there was at some point a nice progression with this franchise. Indeed, ‘Azkaban’ was finally a decent entry and ‘The Goblet of Fire’ was my favorite so far so I was really intrigued to see how this new movie would turn out to be. Unfortunately, this flick was eventually rather disappointing and a step-down in my opinion. At least, Daniel Radcliffe easily gave his best performance so far and the whole thing was rather entertaining and visually rather appealing with some pretty cool special effects but I thought that the story was seriously underwhelming. Indeed, the whole concept of most people not believing that Voldermort was back was just really weak and misguided in my opinion. Furthermore, the whole thing about Harry Potter finally getting a girlfriend was poorly developed  and really anti-climatic. Finally, the last thing that really bothered me was the fact that the whole franchise shift its focus. Indeed, from that point, the whole school life which had been a major element in the franchise didn't really matter anymore and, suddenly, it became all about fighting Voldemort which I found rather boring and disappointing. Back then, I saw this movie in IMAX with, at the end, about 15 minutes in 3D. That was before the whole 3D swindle started with ‘Avatar’. I thought it was not bad, especially the sequence in the library where all those glass balls falling on the ground. To conclude, even though it seemed that this franchise was showing some improvement, with this installment, it became pretty obvious that these movies wouldn’t deliver anything really amazing, at least, that’s my opinion. Still, it remains a well made and entertaining blockbuster and it is worth a look, especially if you like the genre.



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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix review

Posted : 12 years, 7 months ago on 31 August 2011 12:09

I consider the great number of different views in relation to the movie, some people say that this is the best of the franchise, others claim standing beside it was the worst, we also compared the book, and some think that this was the best adaptation ever achieved even if the book is a bit drab, others think the book is the best, and that adaptation was the worst, finally, the most varied opinions, this is great. Another important thing is the new director, David Yates, who will close this saga, the last being the division of the seventh book. Some dislike it, hated the choice, they argue that the return of Alfonso Cuaron would have been a better choice, do not know the reasons for this has not been done but we agree with that thought. Want to know what to think of it? Wonderful, this means that Harry Potter, even in his fifth film, has the chops to stay in front, with people debating its positive and negative, it just proves the success of the series. The most interesting is that it will continue delighting every fan spread across the planet, each person, like me, who believe that Harry Potter is not just a passing fad, and that is very, very much further.


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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix review

Posted : 13 years, 11 months ago on 11 April 2010 09:54

You dare speak his name, you filthy half breed?!

An iconic line said by a legendary British thespian. The main reason that pushed me to see this film was to see Helena Bonham Carter in Death Eater action. I was beyond euphoric to see her pull off a perfect Bellatrix Lestrange. Although her screen time was brief, I couldn't help but cross my fingers in the hope that she would be given more screen time in the following films. As this film marks the beginning of the Second Wizarding War, the whole aura which gripped the film was gloomy and, at times, apprehensive. It seemed as if the film itself knew that one of its members would be removed from its ranks. Nevertheless, this is a great film adaptation of the Harry Potter novel, although it may not stick exactly to the books.
Harry Potter (Radcliffe) has escaped the cluthes of Lord Voldemort (Fiennes) a third time, but he still carries with him the memory of a fellow Hogwarts student who was slain before his very eyes: Cedric Diggory (Pattinson). Over the summer, he feels cut off from the rest of the world, and after a particularly intense fall out he had with his cousin, Dudley (Melling), Harry is transported to 12 Grimmauld Place, which happens to be the home of his godfather, Sirius Black (Oldman). Here, Harry learns that the Order of the Phoenix, a group formed by Albus Dumbledore (Gambon) to fight the forces of Lord Voldemort, has been recalled once more, and is currently using Grimmauld Place as headquarters. Going back to Hogwarts after learning of Lord Voldermort's return seems foolish, but Harry, Ron (Grint), and Hermione (Watson) have no choice. This year they have to contend with a particularly foul professor, Professor Dolores Umbridge (Staunton), who believes that she is molding Hogwarts into the ideal school, and refuses to believe Harry's claims that Lord Voldemort is back. The climax of the film occurs not at Hogwarts, but in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic. Here, Harry will have to face his nemesis and hope that he comes out alive, especially with a murderous group of witches and wizards hot on his and his friends tail.
Excellent. That's all I can say. The characters penned by J.K. Rowling are coming to life before my very eyes, and I must say that Yates did a fantastic job with this one. The fight scenes add a touch of magic and everything feels surreal. It's my favorite film in the series; but we'll have to wait until the seventh and *gasp* final films come out before I say anything final. ;)


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We've all got both light and dark inside us.

Posted : 15 years, 6 months ago on 23 September 2008 11:16

''I want you to listen to me very carefully, Harry. You're not a bad person. You're a very good person, who bad things have happened to. Besides, the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.''

With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return frowned and discarded by many, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat in the shape of Umbridge slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

Daniel Radcliffe: Harry Potter

I thoroughly enjoyed the Phoenix installment of the Harry Potter films. I followed Harry Potter's story through JK Rowlings books but my fondness for the material extended to its interpretations on film. All directors, for the most part, have done well (special mention for Alfonso Cuaron's Prisoner of Azkaban). But I must say, David Yates has taken the translation and interpretation of Harry's story in this installment to a whole new level of perfect entertainment and fantasy proportions, elaborating a great sense of wonderment for the two remaining films to follow.



There is so much I obtained from Order of the Phoenix, the performances were outstanding and it features three of my fave acting counterparts. Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman & Helen Bonham Carter together is a heavenly miracle on film.
Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort really excels even more so this time than he had in his one scene in Goblet of Fire. His rasping tones and slippery snake-like ways, even his evil laughter and menacing hairless eye brow raise is perfect. This man truly asserts himself as a pure talent and for that reason I love any film Ralph does. Ralph Fiennes has played a villain or hero with equal magnificence, and here he plays the Darkest fantasy bad ass since Rings or even Sci-Fi's Sith in Star Wars.
Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix also excels even though shes not in it too much, she leaves a burning impression for these wonderous roles she participates in. Like Sweeney Todd her fantasy/Period films are delicious and dark.
Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, also after Prisoner of Azkaban, is settled in his role and his chemistry with Daniel Radcliffe is effortlessly believable. Was also particularly pleased Oldman & Fiennes have a scene together, plus Helena & Oldman in that fast paced climactic wand duel was fantastic.

Ok going on to Dan Radcliffe as the lead, the fabled Harry Potter, is maturing, and his emulation of Harry's internal trauma and outward frustration is a marvel, he really does the character of Harry justice.
Imelda Stuanton is a treasure as Dolores Umbrige. Her plastic smiles and giggles have to be seen to be believed. Imelda displays incredible range as an actress and captures the character of Dolores to a 't', pardon the pun.
Also, one of my favourite female character from the book, Luna Lovegood - is a treat to behold!
Evanna Lynch, an avid fan of the books and Luna, made her touch my heart on the screen!
Emma Watson and Rupert Grint give their performances some great heart, and it is easy to see the sweet romance in Hermoine and Ron's future.
Alan Rickman has captured the character of Severus Snape yet again.
Any fan of the books knows how important his character becomes to the conclusion of the Harry Potter story, but quite honestly, Snape has been a continually pleasure to watch in all the Harry Potter films. He barely speaks in this and is sidelined but leaves an impression regardless, it's obvious he's being saved for the next film where his big break comes.

There were funny moments scattered amidst the dark ones, and they felt very natural,well-timed with excellent editing. Many of the adult characters stay in the background, and the focus is kept on Harry and his friends fighting Voldemort (Including Umbrige at one point) in their own extra-special way.
Harry starts to teach defensive spells to any and every student that believes his story, and it's very exciting seeing many seemingly background characters (looking at Neville Longbottom in particular considering the prophecy) suddenly grow in depth and importance.

The Order of the Phoenix is introduced briefly, then kept hidden for much of the film, making a dramatic entrance in the film's final scenes, a thrilling face-off that occurs when Lord Voldemort finally decides to come out and wreak havoc!

David Yates' direction really gives the film a sense of momentum and gloomy dread. Watching intently you begin to realize the Potter story is about to get very very adult, and very dark.

Was inspired from the tension I felt watching the film, as several adult characters would quietly confess to Harry "it feels like it did before..." Yates grabs hold of that feeling and doesn't let it go for the entire duration of Phoenix.

Even after the jaw-dropping climax of Order of the Phoenix vs. Voldemort's Death Eaters, then the epic battle of Dumbledore vs. Voldemort, you feel that this is not the end of troubles to come for Harry, Dumbledore and company...not by far.

The war between good and evil has officially kicked off in Phoenix, and even though it has one pivotal sad occurrence by its end, the ending still cleverly retains a positive and vibrant glow that has you aching for the next film, Half Blood Prince will be highly sought after by me, and Phoenix one of the best of the series so far.


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With talent comes improvement

Posted : 15 years, 6 months ago on 15 September 2008 07:41

While this is not my favorite of the series, after Goblet of Fire, it was by far a vast improvement. The kids felt like they were having fun again, they got in (almost) enough of the story to make up for the lack in the previous two movies, and they didn't cut out anything vital this time around.

Umbridge was perfect, and we saw just enough without having to suffer too much. The twins exit was stupendous. And the Order was nice.

I would have liked to have seen the Quidditch match--any of them. For me, you can't have Harry without Quidditch being in there somewhere, and this one had a decided lack of it. I could definitely have done without Cho, though. But that's more a matter of personal taste.

It was lovely to see how much Daniel has grown up, especially after his experiences with Equus in London. Of course, at the time of filming, they hadn't actually started showing yet, but you can see that he'd already been working out--he just looks wonderful. Whatever else the creators of this team have done, they did one thing right in hiring him.

I look forward to seeing where the next film will land.


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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix review

Posted : 15 years, 6 months ago on 10 September 2008 08:20

This was definitely my favorite of the harry potter films to have come out so far. It was intense, dark, stood alone well without the book, and definitely got me excited to see the next one. Loved it :)


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The actors get better each time around

Posted : 15 years, 11 months ago on 21 April 2008 02:45

The great advantage of keeping your main cast together for (presumably) the whole movie series is that they get more comfortable with their characters as the go on. With the Harry Potter movies, it's paid off handsomely. The acting in the fourth (Goblet of Fire) and fifth (this one) movies has been the best of the series.

The thankfully got rid of Chris Columbus as director after the first two clunkers and started to take a few more liberties with the story. Slavishly following the books led to two pretty dull movies, that I could really have done without. Although, it must be said that the directors that came later had the advantage of experienced actors and less effort required for character development.

Looking forward to the remaining movies.


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More wooden than the Mayflower

Posted : 16 years, 4 months ago on 16 November 2007 12:15

I think there is a tendency to over-rate the Harry Potter films, as most of us have fallen in love with the story. The previous films had a rushed feel about them, but none more so than this. A great deal of the original plot has been completely rewritten and the whole film was so rushed I felt like I was being shunted down a underground escalator. The casting however is superb, Imelda Staunton and Natalia Tena particularly were perfect new additions. The crux of the story is however maintained and still encaptivating. However even this is undermined by the odd piece of wooden child acting that shakes me to the core. Adapting novels(especially lengthy ones)to film will always be filled with such pitfuls, and all considered it has been adapted here as best as it can. If nothing else the special effects will amaze you.


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