Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Updates:

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

Bookmark

User reviews of this film

Tim said...

Posted on Aug 10 2007 15:53 If there was ever a film to steer clear of its this one. Important information cut out, some incredibly stupid scenes and rubbish acting curtesy of Dumbledore make this one of the most disappointing films I've ever seen. It showes Tonks change her appearance at will but doesn't explain that shes a metamorphmagus, the duel at the end is wrecked by people flying round as vapour instead of using wands and the irratable Dumbledore is just plain annoying, since when has Dumbledore walked around snapping at innocent students out of pure irritation? Stick to the books to enjoy the world of Harry Potter, stick to the films to enjoy a poor, washed up imitation of Harry Potter. The only rays of light from this film are great acting from Luna Lovegood, Dolores Umbridge and Nymphadora Tonks but unfortunately they aren't nearly enough to turn a dire film around.

Report as inappropriate
harry h8r said...

Posted on Aug 09 2007 21:24 this film is the worst film ever i hate harry hes just like oo letas get on my broomstick and not follow the book whoeva sedhes cute needs to get there iyesite cheked 6/6 not

Report as inappropriate
badger said...

Posted on Aug 09 2007 17:50 omg barry trotter wules! why is it b & w?

Report as inappropriate
abi said...

Posted on Aug 08 2007 07:40 i think it was the best so far . i love luna lovegood

Report as inappropriate
Ash said...

Posted on Aug 07 2007 11:32 Its brilliant you got to watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Report as inappropriate
matthew said...

Posted on Aug 06 2007 15:15 brilliant i wish all that for anyonstuff could be for real it would be a dream come true i have read the last book but i'm not going to spoil the ending e who hasnt read it, definately worth while, recommended to everyone.
everything about harry potter is just the best ever!!!!

Report as inappropriate
Sue said...

Posted on Aug 06 2007 12:53 This was an excellent film. Good effects and storyline. I cant help but feel that if people had entered their star ratings to match their comments then this would be a
6* film!!

Report as inappropriate
steve said...

Posted on Aug 06 2007 08:39 wow it was amazing really good loved every second of it ;D

Report as inappropriate
rocky said...

Posted on Aug 05 2007 22:46 THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS I HAVE EVER SEEN . EVEN THOUGH I HAVE READ THE SEVENTH BOOK I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW THE FILM IS DIFFERENT TO THE BOOK

Report as inappropriate
sam said...

Posted on Aug 05 2007 20:02 cool

Report as inappropriate
Jemma said...

Posted on Aug 03 2007 18:02 ithink it was alrite but could have been btter cant wait for the next one though

Report as inappropriate
kal said...

Posted on Aug 03 2007 16:48 Wag1 rudeeee.
when me nd ma mandems went 2 eye dis flick, i didn't no dat ma bby galdem ws der wiv sum wasteman, so i merked him up on d spot standard.
harry potter is sickkkkk sweardown holdtyt hilltopMans peace.

Report as inappropriate
Anon said...

Posted on Aug 03 2007 12:34 I'm GOING to see it.....COME ON HARRY!!!

Report as inappropriate
Hannah Summers said...

Posted on Aug 03 2007 09:43 i watched this film last nyt wid a few frends nd i took my sister along with me nd i sat bak in the chair nd watched the hole film without talking it was amazin . . . i will defo buy this on dvd wen it comes out nd i advise eny1 hu hasnt watched it to do so xxxx

Report as inappropriate
Alcina said...

Posted on Aug 02 2007 18:36 Possibly the best HP film to date. The tone has really darkened; there is a real air of gathering menace. The Dementor attack is possibly the most frightening bit of cinema I've ever seen. The only thing I do have a problem with: Helena Bonham Carter's performance. If Bellatrix is to be a credible threat, she ought at least to be coherent...and sane enough to remember how to use a hairbrush.

Report as inappropriate