REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

(above) Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliff) and his classmates stand united against the forces of evil

A Longer film with less Magic
Fifth installment lacks the fun of previous films

Rating: C+

Our favorite cast of wand-wielding Brits is back in this, now, fifth installment of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” franchise. Now the stakes are higher and the situation more dire. We last left our scarred hero with the realization that the evil Lord Voldemort (slithering, seedy Ralph Fiennes) has returned with a vengeance. Now at full strength, and just as ugly, Voldemort seeks to continue his power hungry journey to kill or convert all that stand in his way, pretty classic antagonist stuff really. Only Harry and a team of his schoolmates are all that stands between Voldemort and his diabolical victory. In a nutshell, that’s pretty much the only story this movie seems to want to tell. Two and a half hours does seem like an ample amount of time to tell a good story and, in the case of a franchise, it should be enough time to make a significant journey through the story arc. This film however, despite riveting visuals and some creative action, squanders its precious time on depression, angst, and tedious exposition. Harry’s trusty sidekicks, and an enjoyable comeback of some old characters from previous installment, including Gary Oldman as Harry’s lovingly protective godfather, Sirius Black, are also dragged along for the ride.

Since the last film Harry’s got a hair cut, finished puberty, and seems to have been exercising more than just his magic skills. Puberty has been good to Potter (Daniel Radcliff) and we see how the once boy wizard is becoming a young man wizard as he goes up against Lord Voldemort and his “Death-eater” minions. Also on Harry’s agenda is trying to out-wit and out-maneuver the recently appointed, overbearing, fascist, new “Defense Against the Dark Arts” instructor, Professor Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton giving her best Nurse Ratchet with a wand), who wants nothing more than the job of the school headmaster. All this, while at the same time helping to train his schoolmates to be young wizard warriors. Seems like an excellent equation for a fast-paced magic filled adventure right? Wrong! Director David Yates (picking up where Mike Newell left off) seems to lose sight of the action and excitement amongst a series of pacing problems led by constant scenes of Harry feeling sorry for himself and showing the audience the barbarousness of the new Professor Umbridge. Yates seems to really want to make sure the audience understands just how bad things are for Harry and his friends, and ends up doing so ad nauseum. And with the exception of Umbridge, Dumbledore and, perhaps Ron Weasley - there is very little "acting" going on here. It is one of those movies where everybody is one dimensional, lines are spoken, costumes are worn, and special effects are supposed to carry the film. There is absolutely no evidence of internal conflict or character development.

Despite the pacing problems the movie can be a fun entertaining magical adventure, with characters we've grown to love. As it should be the movie is not short on gags and its delightful British humor. But aside from that and a riveting third act leading up to a (way to short) climactic battle between good and evil (that can only be described as “Saving Private Ryan” with magic) the movie falls a little flat and could have left about 30 or so minutes on the cutting room floor. Also with all the magic, mayhem, and disasters that befall this school and magic, along with the constant turnover of teaching staff a question could easily be raised; are the kids at the school actually learning anything?

People might also find the relationship between Harry and Lord Voldemort, which unfortunately feels reminiscent of something seen before. Harry’s angst about this close connection and possible affinity for Voldemort’s evil leaves him succumbing too much to his powerful feelings which only makes him easier to control and manipulate by the dark lord. He is thrust into a situation where he must control his feelings and is eventually confronted with the decision to follow the path of the dark side or the light side of the forc---I mean magic.

For a non-reader of the series, there are many things that seem out of place. There were many times where something was presented on screen that seemed to have only been placed there for the benefit of those people enthralled enough to read through all the books. Characters and particular situations that, for an avid reader, made perfect sense, an avid film goer isn’t given the background the appreciate what’s being shown in screen. For those viewers who don’t understand those little winks at the devoted readers it just seems like a tease. The film would have been much more enthralling if such gaps and lapses of information were more fleshed out and given weight and depth to have the whole audience, not just the devoted ones, care.

Despite a slow pace, the film is visually engaging. Magic never looked so real, nor so worthy of jealousy. Within the first 10 minutes of a fun, broom flight through London I was cursing my “muggle” (non-wizard) heritage and wishing I could fly on a broom and teleport across town through a fireplace, while at the same time fighting off a series of baddies with a magic wand. The visuals are fun and the action scenes are well choreographed but too short and we really aren’t given a sense of the skill it takes to actually be a good wizard. It seems that all you have to do is flick your wand around and say a magic word. Anyone can do that right?