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HARRY
POTTER AND THE
ORDER OF THE PHOENIX |
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"Average Age???
Yep, You Guessed it --
37 Years Old..." |
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Directed by David Yates
- Written by Michael
Goldenberg
Based on the Best
Selling Series of Novels
by JK Rowling
Starring Daniel
Radcliffe, Rupert Grint,
Emma Watson, Imelda
Staunton
George Harris, Helena
Bonham Carter, Natalia
Tena, Kathryn Hunter
Evanna Lynch, Gary
Oldman, Harry Melling,
Richard Griffiths, Fiona
Shaw
Sian Thomas, Jason Boyd,
Richard Macklin, Charles
Hughes, Susie Shinner
Auror Dawlish, Nick
Shim, Ralph Fiennes,
Apple Brook, James
Walters
James Utechin, Alec
Hopkins, Jason Piper
Distributed by Warner
Bros -
2007 - 138m - Rated PG13 |
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The Harry Potter films have been a mixed bag. On one hand, we have the
colorful, whimsical and hopelessly dull entries by Chris Columbus.
We have the stylish, visually brilliant but slightly heartless entry
by Alfonso Cuaron. Lastly, there’s Mike Newell’s pseudo-political
thriller of a third entry. |
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Now, with the fifth
entry, the series has finally hit it’s stride, delivering a film
that is not only a solid adaptation of the fantastic book, but a
pretty damn effective film in it’s own right.
Director David Yates, whose only prior experience has been with the
BBC, has come out of nowhere and has hit this one out of the park.
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is riveting
entertainment, finally nailing down on celluloid the reason why the
books are popular for millions of men, women and children all over
the globe.
Daniel Radcliffe Getting His Ass
Kicked Again
Following the style of the novel, this is the darkest Harry
Potter film yet, filled with gloom, death and government corruption.
That corruption comes from Professor Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), who
serves as a new foe for young Harry, working directly for the
Ministry of Magic in an attempt to discredit him and his news that
the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned.
It used to be that we watched the Potter films for the supporting
cast full of brilliant British actors (Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman,
Brendan Gleeson, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane…just to name a few),
but Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have evolved into
fine actors and are able to take center stage and carry the film
entirely on their own. Now, the adults serve as icing on a great
cake rather than the cake itself.
Emma Watson Just Found Out Who Dies
in Deathly Hallows
Considering that this was the longest Potter book and this is the
shortest Potter film, it’s amazing that this feels more like it’s
book than any of the longer films managed to. Unless you’re a whiny
fanboy who spends his days eating cheetos and blabbering on message
boards about how so-and-so’s hair is the wrong color, fans will have
much to be pleased with and considering the reasonable length, brisk
pace and really solid acting, non-fans should have a blast as well.
Yates has also signed up for the sixth film…let’s hope lighting
strikes twice.
As the books evolved, the films are evolving as well. What started
as an amusing series with little to offer outside of it’s dedicated
fanbase, the Harry Potter films have become real cinema. I can now
await film six on two levels: as a fan of the books and as a fan of
movies. That’s a nice feeling. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
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