Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Review By J. David

After Goblet of Fire introduced Potter fans to Harry's arch nemesis Lord Voldemort for the first time, it was inevitable that the franchise would only grow darker still. Once again however, a new director needed to be found to bring Harry back to the screen.

Eventually chosen was television director David Yates. Unlike Columbus, Cuaron, and Newell before him, Yates took the franchise in an entirely different direction. He focused more on the tone of the original story, ensuring it be as dark as the novel. Like Goblet of Fire before it, Phoenix was and still is the longest book in the series at 870 pages. However, it is the shortest film, running just under two hours and twenty minutes. I know many fans, including many of my fellow reviewers here on MovieWeb, feel that bogs the film down significantly and in one or two areas I agree. Screenwriter Steve Kloves was busy at the time of production and was unable to pen a script. Instead, Michael Goldenberg (Peter Pan) was hired to write the film. While Goldenberg fails to reach the brilliance that Steve Kloves brought to the earlier films, his script is still perfectly satisfactory if not slightly underwhelming. Yes, the film does at times favor its action over its characters and it does occasionally feel a bit disjointed, but Order of the Phoenix captures the essence of the story well and serves as a welcome bridge between the heat and intensity of the Goblet of Fire and the emotional complexity of the Half-Blood Prince.

Lord Voldemort has returned. Yet, only Harry knows the truth. The Ministry of Magic refuses to believe the horrible news and begins to interfere with the actions taking place at Hogwarts School. Even worse, Harry is haunted in his dreams every night by visions of a door at the end of a long corridor, behind which contains something of significant value to the Dark Lord.

Like each film before hand, the actors improve themselves even more so. Daniel Radcliffe brings Harry to life as never before and nearly flawlessly portrays Harry's inner and outer struggle with his enemy. Rupert Grint unfortunately seems to have been left by the wayside. Here, Ron serves mainly as comic relief rather than being a true aid to Harry and rarely contributes to the plot. However, it's the fault of the screenplay, not Grint. Emma Watson is given a much more significant role here and Hermione begins to grow out of her old bookworm self into the fearless fighter she will eventually become. Welcome additions to the cast include Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Staunton steals every scene she is in and succeeds in making Umbridge the teacher no student ever wants. Also new, but painfully underused, is Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange. As Lord Voldemort's pet, Carter brilliantly brings to life the madness and villainy of her character.

Yates' direction also really serves the film well. The film moves at a nice pace and never drags. He at times struggles to maintain the steady narrative flow that Cuaron executed so perfectly, but he more than makes up for it in the action scenes, especially the exceptionally well shot finale in the Department of Mysteries. The cinematography is beautiful as well, with each shot cramming in as much emotion and excitement as possible. The wand work on the other hand, is utterly brilliant. For the first time in the series history, we are treated with the true intensity of a wizard battle.

Yes, Order of the Phoenix is considered by many to be a lesser Potter film. Personally, I only feel that's true when comparing it to the franchise's best. It does ever so slightly favor its action over its characters and it at times feels a bit unfocused, but Harry's fifth year effectively sets into motion the primary conflict that will make up the remainder of the series and remains a solid if not electrifying installment that is not to be missed.