Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[DotTheEyes]

View the trailer...

HP and the Order of the Phoenix is an efficient film, condensing an imposing and oft-ponderous novel (close to 1,000 pages in length) into a lithe and energetic roller coaster ride lasting under two-and-a-half hours.

The film, directed by David Yates, follows the wizard-in-training through his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He must face off against a power-mad bureaucrat who's seized control of the school and nurture a burgeoning romance, not to mention prepare for the coming battle against Lord Voldemort, his pasty, nose-free archenemy.

The returning ensemble cast shines in the most character-driven HP film to date (Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson are especially impressive and continue to mature as actors), but it's Imelda Staunton who impresses most. As the despicable High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge, her blend of sugar-sweetness and caustic sadism is unique and frightening, and results in a villian far more complex and interesting than He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

The action, especially a climactic battle-of-wands, is ferocious and rendered with eye-wowing VFX and ear-assaulting sound effects, though there isn't as much of it as there has been in the past. The film, same as the novel it's based on, is more concerned with shading characters and setting up the endgame between HP and Voldemort. This results in a slower paced, but still highly involving film.

Overall, this is yet another enjoyable film in the series, and one of the summer's more intelligent and marvelous offerings. Recommended.

[DotTheEyes]

The HP films from best to worst (in my opinion):

1. Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Order of the Phoenix
3. Sorcerer's Stone
4. Chamber of Secrets
.
.
.
5. Goblet of Fire (Wasn't a fan of this one)

[Sweet 16]

Originally Posted by DotTheEyes

The HP films from best to worst (in my opinion):

1. Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Order of the Phoenix
3. Sorcerer's Stone
4. Chamber of Secrets
.
.
.
5. Goblet of Fire (Wasn't a fan of this one)

Having seen all of the movies several times, but still catching up on the books, I too agree that POA is the best. I think there was more momentum in GOF than OOTP, but the Dolores Umbridge character was so well done and absolutely priceless!

[DotTheEyes]

OotP has less momentum because the story's more about clarifying the past and setting up the future, and doesn't have a very clear acton plot the way GoF does (the Triwizard Tournament). OotP was definitely the hardest of the novels to adapt, I bet.

I thought it was good.

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Originally Posted by DotTheEyes

The HP films from best to worst (in my opinion):

1. Prisoner of Azkaban
2. Order of the Phoenix
3. Sorcerer's Stone
4. Chamber of Secrets
.
.
.
5. Goblet of Fire (Wasn't a fan of this one)

Goblet of Fire wasn't very good.

[MiMiMi]

Originally Posted by DotTheEyes

OotP has less momentum because the story's more about clarifying the past and setting up the future, and doesn't have a very clear acton plot the way GoF does (the Triwizard Tournament). OotP was definitely the hardest of the novels to adapt, I bet.

I also felt that while the film was very good it lacked the natural flow of the previous movies. Also, at times it seemed like there too many characters.

[DotTheEyes]

I was disappointed David Thewlis was given nothing to do as Lupin (the werewolf professor from the third film). He's a fantastic, underrated actor and I love the character.

By the way, it's interesting how this series has progressed. The first movie made such a fuss over Quidditch and the Hogwarts ghosts. They're not even in this movie.