"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
Yet another original, spoiler-free Urban Docent movie review
With only days to go before the release of what is expected to be the final Harry Potter book, fans of the wizard franchise are treated to a yet another on-screen installment of their favorite series. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" has raked in millions during its initial week, and much more is expected to come in just a short amount of time.
As with any movie, especially sequels, you're bound to start to see some fraying around the edges. It doesn't matter how great the first ones were, how good is this one?
Summary: Harry is the subject of much public ridicule for claiming that "You Know Who" is back and out for revenge, or really just to finish what he started oh so many years ago. Potter's supportive adult wizard and witch community reorganizes the Order of the Phoenix, a special society of heroes dedicated to defeating the sect of evildoers — known as Deatheaters — and their maniacal leader.
Potter must come to terms with new information about his personal background, life at school and humanity in general as the "boy who lived" becomes the teenager caught in the middle of a life-or-death battle.
Why You Should See It: "The Order of the Phoenix" is a fine companion to the other titles in the series. If you've seen the first four and plan to watch the others later, you have to watch this one as well.
True to much of what occurs in the book, magical happenings and humor help easy some of the tension from the mounting trauma spilling over from the "Goblet of Fire." There is plenty of action, magic and memorable moments to keep you entertained and make the two-hour movie pass nearly too quickly.
Why You Should Avoid It: There is a slight "compression" factor that detracts from some of the finer points of the book. "The Order of the Phoenix" was, to date, the longest title in the series, and it's only natural to expect that some of the fat has to be trimmed to avoid a burdensomely long production. But what you find is some key details — particularly about the end of the adventure — that are omitted or simply glossed over.
Some of the cast members are no longer believable as young teens. There is just a little of the luster missing with young adults now trying to pretend they're not as old as they appear. It's not a deal breaker, but some of the cinematography hurts the illusion.
The Bottom Line: This movie is not as good as the last two, but it is much better than most of the box office offerings you're bound to run across this summer. And it's a great way to scratch your Harry Potter itch prior to the grand finale — "The Deathly Hallows."
"The Order of the Phoenix" gets a C + for its overall standing in the series and a solid B compared to the rest of the field. You'll enjoy it — trust me.
5 > 3 > 1 > 4 > 2
Reply to this