Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is a different breed than some of the other films. The first two were joyful mysteries, while the third was a much darker one. And of course the fourth centered on the Tri-Wizard tournament and contained a bit of mystery itself. Only this fifth installment puts us at the center of the real meat of the series, the epic battle between Voldemort and Potter. The movie begins with a thrilling scene where Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his cousin Dudley (Harry Melling) are attacked by Dementors sent by Voldemort to kill Harry. The incident leads to Harry using magic outside of school, which puts him in direct line of opposition to the Ministry of Magic.

He is not the only one, however. Despite the best efforts of Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Harry, the Ministry refuses to believe that Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is actually back, going so far as sending one of their own, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), to Hogwarts this semester as Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. Umbridge is like an overall pink version of the Taliban, enforcing strict rules about almost everything. She even refuses to teach the students how to fight or defend against the Dark Arts, leading Harry to pick up his wand and teach the students, including friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson, in a secret club known as "Dumbledore's Army." Meanwhile, the real Dumbledore, Serius Black (Gary Oldman), and Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) have brought back "The Order", a group dedicated to proving that Voldemort is in fact back to stop him.

I liked this movie but not in a way I liked the others. There is still a great joy in watching Harry and his friends as they grow into the wizarding world, only there isn't a lot of that here. There are a few wondrous and beautiful looking scenes, two that stick in my mind are a nighttime flyover an illuminated London and an amazing fireworks display by Ron's brothers, but mostly the Potter stories are growing more political. There is a threat some agree with while others do not, life and death decisions have to be made, battle lines are drawn, and young people feel the need to answer the call to action. All of these elements propel the book, but the movie, less so.

"Phoenix" drags through much of the first hour and a half, the only real substantive thing going on being Harry's private classes. I haven't read the book in a while but it does feel as if some of the social commentary J.K Rowling brought to the book is missing here. The "Order" is introduced in the first half hour but then is never heard from again. Sirius Black's house elf Kreacher was another interesting character in the book, forced to slave for the Order even though he has ties to Voldemort. The movie makes little of him. It barely made sense putting him in the movie at all. I just wish they would stop cutting things out. As the movies get darker and more complex, they should be getting longer, not shorter.

Umbridge is another fun character added to the mix this time, and Imelda Staunton, so good as the sweet old lady in "Vera Drake", gives an incredible performance in the opposite direction. Easily the best supporting performance of the year, Staunton makes Umbridge a firm-handed, unreasonable, and cruel nightmare. This monster dressed in pink is probably the best villain of the year. And like her, the rest of the cast, including Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Michael Gambon all fit into their roles beautifully. I wished they could have all got more screen time here but smiled at the fact that the sixth movie will allow them to do some of their best work. And who can forget Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint. The kids are growing up and they've brought an amazing amount of maturity to their roles. Radcliffe especially deserves a shout-out for not only carrying Harry's innocence and fear, but for capturing the emotional strength and anguish that have become his life.

"Order's" last half hour really elevates it. Harry and company must go to the Ministry and are confronted by Voldemort's Death Eaters. This is where a true epic finally breaks out of its mold. A battle ensues, a loved one is killed, Voldemort and Dumbledore go head to head, and Harry is tested by Voldemort for the very first time. The whole thing is exciting and really leaves you psyched for movie number six. I just hope that now the filmmakers decide to cut less and less from the book, because the first 2/3 of this movie, plot-wise, was kind of a mixed bag. It's a testament to J.K Rowling's work that fans can not only tell when something has been left out, but they can also be distracted and disheartened by it as well. Here's hoping the next Potter movie is three hours long. The way it should be.

Craig's Grade: B

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%