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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Director: David Yates

Time Out rating

Average user rating

177 reviews

Synopsis

Harry returns for a fifth year at Hogwarts School and discovers that most of the wizard community is in denial about his recent encounter with Lord Voldemort. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, appoints a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher to watch over the students, as he fears that the Hogwarts headmaster is lying about Voldemort’s return. Unfortunately, the newly appointed teacher’s ministry-approved course leaves the students unprepared and unable to defend themselves, so Harry decides to take matters into his own hands.

Movie review

From Time Out London

A midsummer release seems inappropriate for ‘Harry 5’, with its intriguing aura of new-term blues, as a hormonally distracted Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), having escaped expulsion by the intervention of dear head Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), trudges back for a fifth year at Hogwarts carrying a burdensome weight on his more muscularly defined shoulders. But just because he’s paranoid, it doesn’t mean that they’re not out to get ’im. Irritable but resolute Harry knows by physical injury that evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is gathering a new army, but his every step to recruit a rival one is dogged by the morons at the Ministry and their appointee as new headmistress, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), a smiling villain in pink-knit twinset who nails up more interdicts than a riled Robespierre.

There’s a new director on board, and if Chris Columbus was enjoyable, Alfonso Cuarón dark, and Mike Newell aware that for all school sagas, familiarity breeds content, new helmsman David Yates is serious, almost grave. He swathes swiftly through JK Rowling’s doorstopper text with martial efficacy, clocking a crisp 138 minutes, the shortest of the series. He certainly keeps the scenes and action moving, but his no-nonsense approach leaves no time for games – please sir, can’t we play just a little Quidditch? – and the excision of scenes of lolling chat in study rooms will disappoint fans of Bunter and Tom Brown worldwide.

On the plus side, Harry gets his first, sweet screen kiss – to the warrior the spoils – from one of the increased quota of ethnic faces, cherubic new girl Cho (Katie Leung). Also, Evanna Lynch brings new, if blenched, blood with her endearing loony, Luna Lovegood; the production design is again an eclectic wonder, from the adumbrated Georgian mustiness of the secret Order of the Phoenix house to the Bazalgette-burnished tiles of the Victorian Ministry ‘Headquarters’ where stacked rows of jurors deliberate like Doges for Harry’s inquisition; and there are some spectacular CGI effects. Performances are more mature, the soundtrack (by Nicholas Hooper) less grandiose, and Yates executes some thrilling set-pieces – but, please, Mr Yates, don’t let these winds of modernity sweep too many beloved cobwebs away! Let’s hope he casts some more old-fashioned spells in part six, ‘The Half-Blood Prince’.

Author: Wally Hammond 2007-07-09 15:34:58

Time Out London Issue 1925: July 11-17 2007

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User reviews of this film

Deb said...

Posted on Aug 16 2007 14:34 FANTASTIC - GO SEE IT!
BUT REMEMBER.....the book is over 700pgs long and the film is only 2hrs. So it is NEVER going to be as good as the book, but it is done brilliantly and is a nice refresher if you cant remember what happened in the book or if you've never read the books before. My sister hasn't read any of the books and only seen some of the films and managed to follow it (and enjoy it).
The best thing about the film has to be the person who cast the actress playing "LOONEY" Luna Lovegood - she is FANTASTIC...you couldn't have got closer to JK Rowlings character even if she'd played the character herself.
Not too long for the younger kids, and there aren't too many bits without action scenes or magical creatures etc. If you're taking really small kids just be careful they're not too easily crept-out as Ralph Fiennes plays a fantastic baddie, and Helena Bonham carter is a bit too convincing as a nutter..

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beckye =] said...

Posted on Aug 16 2007 12:45 found the film ok, it was probably one of the best films so far. really good acting by daniel radcliffe in the posession scene. i don't like the way they change things in the films though - why wasnt dobby in it again? and why is there no quidditch? thats supposed to be a main part of the story, ron being keeper!!! i dont see how they can do the last 2 films if they cant even include all the important parts in no.5!! how will they do dumbledore's lessons with harry? but it was better than HP4 anyway. and what they DID actually put in it was really good!!

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AmyBaybeex said...

Posted on Aug 16 2007 10:26 its ok i mean its rubbish dint lyk it wun bit walked out half way thru !!!!!

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d said...

Posted on Aug 16 2007 01:23 waste of tym movieeee

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Rhaegan said...

Posted on Aug 15 2007 12:16 OMG, It Was So Good.
I Love Them All, They Are So Funny (:
I Can't Wait To See The Next One... Will Deffo Be Going To See It =D
XxoxOox

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AMANDA said...

Posted on Aug 14 2007 23:01 Was told this film was dark and not much fun. What a load of rubbish!! It was brilliant and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so I went again two days later with my kids as it wasn't scary at all and they thought it was great to. Lots of action and humour and we look forward to being able to add it to our collection of DVD's. Well do Harry!!!

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bellatrix said...

Posted on Aug 14 2007 19:49 i think this is a great follow up to the goblet of fire, however a lot of detail was missed out from the book which was dissapointing, but i think the film would have been too long otherwise. i think the casting was particularly great in this one. xxxx

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john said...

Posted on Aug 14 2007 16:15 boring

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sarah said...

Posted on Aug 14 2007 14:45 omg im going to see it!!! i cant wait!
all the movies r soooooooooooooo cool lol =)

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Ruthie said...

Posted on Aug 13 2007 13:29 just about to go and see it looks like a great film but been told its a bit scary (AHHHH) lol nm hope everyone enjoys it Ruth x

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Jaelynn..x said...

Posted on Aug 12 2007 12:25 0MFG C4N LYK3Z NY1 SP33|< PR0P44HZ N00W???
Did that chat speak piss anyone off?
Dude. Learn. Your. Grammer.
Your Momma paid for you too go to school, so don't break her heart, m'kay?

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Dani m said...

Posted on Aug 11 2007 17:22 This film was awsome it was definately as good as the adverts made it out to be ever since i seen it ive wanted to go back and i cant wait till it comes out on dvd a great MUST SEE film!!!!!

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laura said...

Posted on Aug 11 2007 12:30 best director by far!

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kal said...

Posted on Aug 10 2007 22:57 tim, u need to blatttes stop bumin dumbldore x

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Jadie said...

Posted on Aug 10 2007 17:30 Harry Potter 5, was a real let down! I was expecting it to be as good as the others! but it was no where near! The story line was VERY basic and I was disapointed when the film finished, because there was nothing to it and i wanted more!! So those of you who are going to see it, DONT expect to much!! It is NO WHERE NEAR as good as the others, and was like a completely different story to the best Harry Potter film, ((the forth one!!)) The graphics were pretty amazing though!!
BY THE WAY THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE FILM AND ARE TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF IT! NOT FOR IF YOUR EXCITED TO SEE IT!!! DUHHhhh!!!!!

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