Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Overall rating from 1 to 100: 54

O Masterpiece (95-100)
O Excellent (75-94)
O Good video rental (60-74)
X Merely OK (50-59)
O Pure mediocrity (30-49)
O Medusa: don't watch (1-29)

Review by Jason Pyles / July 12, 2007

I admit that I have not read any of the “Harry Potter” books. But before you die-hard Harry Potter fans decide to ignore this review, you should at least read my next two paragraphs.

Here’s the biggest problem with the “Harry Potter” movies: Remember in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, episodes IV, V and VI, when we see Luke Skywalker learn how to become a Jedi? In “A New Hope” he was merely a novice, but in “Return of the Jedi,” we see him wield various Jedi abilities. Then, in Episodes I, II and III, we see even more Jedi powers from the old-school knights. That was cool, right?

Then why oh why, are we watching the 5th “Harry Potter” movie and still primarily seeing paltry magic displays from Harry, such as glowing wand tips, “Releasio Prestario” and a beam knocks kids over, and so forth? What good is a movie full of wizards, warlocks, witches and magical beings if their hocus pocus is rarely the focus? Locusts. Crocus. Imagination has disappeared.

Of the five movies, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is second only to “Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004). Even so, “Order of the Phoenix” is heavy on plot and dialogue, light on magic, insomuch that we get the feeling that the filmmakers are trying to cram as much of the book as possible into the screenplay, as not to offend complaining readers. And the popular accusation about the series becoming too dark still resonates here.

This is the nutshell premise, in layman’s terms, for those (like me) who haven’t read the book: Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is ridiculed for claiming that the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is back. Voldemort is raising an evil army. Hogwarts is infiltrated, overrun and left impotent by the Ministry of Magic (the governmental-like powers that be who officiate over the school). The Ministry sends Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton, you’ll remember her from “Freedom Writers”). She steals the show and reminds us of the scariest teacher we’ve ever had.

Umbridge basically strangles the school with her strict rules and disables the school’s magical training. So Harry Potter takes the helm with his little wand, training his classmates to be an army against Voldemort. Of course, there’s much more to this overly complicated plot, but this is the bare-bones gist.

Naturally, the movie looks great and has very good moments, such as an impressive battle of wizardry (for once) near the end of the movie. Cinematographer Slawomir Idziak gives us some fabulous, sweeping shots that make us feel like we’re on a carnival ride. Oh, and the movie does have some moments that would likely be scary to younger kids.

Speaking of wizards and such, I know a magician named Seth Cutrell who would always say, “Once a magic trick; twice a magic lesson, and I don’t give magic lessons.” I think Seth could tear Harry up in a magic fight ... and Seth doesn’t even carry a little, glowing wand.

Directed by David Yates
Daniel Radcliffe / Ralph Fiennes / Imelda Staunton
138 min. Fantasy
MPAA: PG-13 (for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images)

Copyright 2007.
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