Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (12A)

Film

Family films

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Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5
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Time Out says

Mon Jul 9 2007

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

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 4/5 (131 ratings)

  • I thought this film was great, I've watched it several times now and have never got bored watching it again! Yes, obviously it's not as good as the book, but to be honest, how many films have actually lived up to the book? You can't expect them to cram in 766 pages of the book into the film, it's pretty much impossible. It's guaranteed that there will be lots of parts from the book missed out in the film, but you have to accept that. But overall, I think they did a good job with the film and the soundtrack was great, also, there is some awesome fight scenes such as the Department of Mysteries battle and Dumbledore vs. Voldemort. I really enjoyed the film and recommend it to anyone!

    Max About 11 days ago
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • I'm gonna be totally honest - this film was the worst. Extremely bad connection with the characters and I didn't feel the ''magic'' or the ''Harry Potter atmosphere'' in the film. The book was marvellous, but because the shittest director Britain has vere seen directed this it turned out to be a pile of bollocks, The film just felt very empty and and there was not the usual feeling you normally get with the HP franchise. Overall a poor result, and I HOPE the next film will be much better - don't expect anything great though :(

    Jonathan Thu Jul 9 2009
    Rated as: 2/5
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  • the 5th film was shit... it was the best and longest book and the worst and one of the shortest films... too much was focused on the effects and the big scenes but the film was terribley done... if yoo read the book you should hate the film, it missed half the book out, didnt even explain alot of things... the parts with the newspapers was obviously just to fill in what they couldnt be bothered to film... over all, a horrible film, i hope the next one will be much better, but since its the worst director so far and he probably doesnt care much about the books, it will ruin it.

    Dec Sat May 2 2009
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • MOST BRILLIANT FILM EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! TWILIGHT SUCKKKKKS BAD ASSS!!!!!!

    rebecca545 Mon Feb 16 2009
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • Shit. (P.S: Daniel Radcliffe is FITTTT, I definitely would)

    Jonathan Heggie Mon Jan 5 2009
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  • I have actually seen the potter films I have seen the first one and the goblet of fire one time. They were both rubbish. I would much rateher watch a feel good moviw like hairspray than a moviw where everybody zaps each other with their 'magical powers'

    caitlin Mon Oct 13 2008
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  • Caitlin, u r so wrong about Harry Potter. It is one of my fave films ever and the best of all the Harry Potter films out. Just cos u like Hairspray which is terrible doesn't mean Harry Potter was bad. U haven't seen any of Harry Potter never mind just 5 mins

    Hannah Mon Oct 13 2008
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  • I have seen five minutes of this film on DVD. That was five minutes of my life wasted!!! The only reason I watched it in the first place was because my sister loves the films.Plus why is it so long?????? How long can it take to cast spells on peeple????????????

    caitlin Thu Oct 9 2008
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  • Steer clear of this and any thing Potter that is directed by Yates sorry to say but this film stank to the high heavens

    Navin Mon Aug 4 2008
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • i thought that the book was in any case far better then the film. the whole thing was a bit...........if you don't mind me saying so GAY. oh right i know that the 5th book doesn't have as much magic as the other books (and the fact that the film provides that) but it forms an understanding on the whole story, and quite frankly cutting out half the book wasn't the best move. having said that i enjoyed the film it was great....................

    kad Tue Nov 6 2007
    Rated as: 1/5
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