Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Running time: 2 hours, 18 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13
Just so you know where I stand, I think Prisoner of Azkaban was the best Harry Potter film in the series, with Goblet of Fire coming a very close second. The first two films werent that great, in my opinion.
The latest film, Order of the Phoenix falls in the middle. Its not as weak as the first two, but nowhere as great as Azkaban and Goblet.
Theres a lot to like about Phoenix. The special effects are great; and all the performances, from the stars to the supporting cast, are spectacular. Daniel Radcliffe has really grown into a fine actor, and his portrayal of the young wizard in this film is his best yet.
Also worth noting is the performance of Imelda Staunton as the smiling, torturing Dolores Umbridge. There is a scene where she punishes Potter that is chilling to watch. It reminded me of Laurence Oliviers torture scene in Marathon Man. It was that intense.
The biggest flaw in Phoenix cant be laid completely at the feet of the filmmakers. Some measure of blame rests with the novelist J.K. Rowling. The novel was nearly 900 pages long. In order to pack so much into a two-hour film, a lot of the book had to stripped away. The resulting film is a kind of Cliffs Notes version of the book.
It also reveals that the plot of every Harry Potter book/movie is the same: A new year at Hogwarts and a new teacher who will turn out to be evil. Harry and Co. learn a new spell that will come in handy in the final act. Harry fights some version of Voldemort, only to be rescued in the end by someone. There may or may not be a quidditch match. Sound familiar?
The choppy, episodic nature of the movie is its greatest flaw. Phoenix needed to be at least a half-hour longer so that certain events (like Harrys first kiss, and the death and aftermath of a major supporting character) could be given enough time for the characters (and us) to feel their emotional impact.
Still, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is well worth your time. Despite its flaws, the performances and effects make it worth a trip to the mulitplex.
GRADE: C+