7/16/2007 9:48 AM
posted awhile ago
THOUGHTS: HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
Confession: I saw this at midnight the day of release. Confession: I haven't discussed it until now because I didn't know what to say. Promise: I still don't know what to say and will try to make this as spoiler-free as possible. Qualification: I am a huge Harry Potter nut, and the fifth book (as well as the third) are my two favorites in the series. I say this before reading the 7th of course and upon re-reading the 6th (in process). Also, I realize as anyone should that no film based on a book really ever does its source material true justice, and that the Harry Potter films (at least since the second one) have never held a candle to the books they're based on. Which goes to show that anyone not heretofore in the Harry Potter fold should read the books if anything rather than watch the movies. The experience is really that much better. I had bad feelings about this movie before going in. It has the shortest running time of all the Harry Potter films yet is based on the longest book. A book that, although had some possible fat to trim, was pretty much jampacked with plot points to set up the final two books in the series. I knew that I would be disappointed by likely cuts in the film, and so I went into it with the lowest expectations possible, tempered by the fact that I saw it with all the other nuts at midnight. On the whole, Order of the Phoenix is a decent entry in the film series, I suppose. It was remarkably streamlined, and the action was fast-paced. It had all the angst of the book, about Harry's then-darkest year (we don't know what the seventh year will bring), while still maintaining a good clip and did its best to resolve some of the key plot points. Some of the plot points I was most worried about did shine through amicably. After giving Sirius almost no screen time in Goblet of Fire, the screenwriters did a commendable job in re-establishing the relationship Harry has with his godfather, his emotional connection to his past, and the ultimate consequences. Professor Umbridge was by far the most satisfyingly (and horrifyingly) adapted plot point. Imelda Staunton was simply wonderful as the most sadistic Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher turned High Inquisitor turned Headmaster that Hogwarts has had, and she played the part with terrifying accuracy. Detention with Umbridge was exactly as how I'd imagined it, and I had to turn away because it really did kind of scare me. Can you just imagine having a teacher like that? Magic or no? Dumbledore's Army, the most film-compatible plot point, was excellently developed, and Daniel Radcliffe's performance was much more impressive this time around than in the last four films put together. Emma Watson (Hermione) was also very good. All of the adult actors were very good. Poor Rupert Grint (Ron) was reduced to mere nothingness, I thought however. The final battles in the Department of Mysteries were pretty good and true to the source material. Here are my true disappointments in brief. I know they had to cut, but a few more minutes' film could have been expended on the following: Ginny in general, Snape in general, and Dumbledore's end conversation with Harry. Also, I felt the actual Order of the Phoenix itself was given short shrift, particularly as Snape ties into it, and that Occlumency was not given enough attention. These three plot points were extremely underdeveloped to the point that it has me worried for the sixth book-to-film, when all of these three characters and storylines become of utmost importance. However, they dug the Sirius storyline out of the hole caused by the 4th movie, so you never know. This is all vague as can be because there are people in the world, I'm sure, who haven't seen it yet. What do you think? All in all, my reviews are mixed, but I will probably end up buying the movie just the same. Where do you stand? Decent entry or dud? How do you feel about the adaptation? What did you like about the movie? What are your concerns going forward? Oh, and who preordered Deathly Hallows???? :-)
|