Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
For those of you who think that Harry Potter is a fantasy and that “magic” does not exist, consider this: I read an article recently that Daniel Radcliffe is going to be paid $50 million to appear in the next two Harry Potter films, making him the richest teenager in Britain. J.K. Rowling, the book’s author, went from collecting public assistance to being a billionaire after creating the world-renowned wizard. I am starting to think that the last installment in the Harry Potter series is going to end with Harry cashing an enormous royalty cheque and buying the Hogwarts School. He could certainly afford it.
The latest installment in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, made its way into theatres this week to rave reviews and record-breaking box office returns. I watched the film in Sudbury, where there are an unbelievable 14 daily screenings of the film. And, even at that, I almost needed magical powers to secure a ticket because most of the screenings were close to being sold out.
As the legion of fans of the Harry Potter series are aware, this latest film begins where Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ended – with Harry and Professor Dumbledore discovering that the evil Lord Voldemort has returned. As this episode begins, Harry finds himself back in Little Whinging, visiting with his relatives, the Dursleys. After using his magical powers to save his undeserving cousin Dudley from a certain death, Harry finds himself before the Ministry of Magic, defending his right to return to the Hogwarts School to continue his tutoring in the art of wizardry. He succeeds and returns to the school only to discover that the Ministry has sent an uptight new instructor – Dolores Umbridge – to monitor his activities. Ms. Umbridge institutes sweeping changes to the school, which sends Harry and his friends underground to practice their craft. By the film’s end, Harry and Professor Dumbledore have convinced the Ministry of Voldemort’s return, but not before a showdown with Voldemort and the Death Eaters that deprives Harry of a beloved father-figure and mentor.
Now, before I go any further, I have one small confession to make. I have never seen a Harry Potter film, nor have I read any of the Harry Potter books. I make this confession with a certain amount of trepidation, as I suspect that my failure to partake in this cultural phenomenon may be grounds to tar and feather me in some circles. I have nothing against Harry Potter – it is just that most of my reading time is consumed by legal journals, toddler toilet training manuals, Dr. Seuss and the occasional issue of Vanity Fair magazine. I buy a lot of books, and I have every intention of reading every single one of them one day, when I have five minutes to myself. Harry Potter may come to the top of that list sooner than later – I suspect that I will be reading the series with my son, Jack, when he is old enough to understand them.
Prior to attending Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I did do some background research on the story to familiarize myself with the storyline, the characters and the “language” of Harry Potter. I would strongly discourage anyone from stepping into this film without at least some rudimentary knowledge of the backstory (Wikipedia is a decent source) – otherwise, you are going to be spending 2 1/2 hours staring at a film screen with a baffled look on your face. If you don’t know who “He-Who-Must-Not Be-Named” is, you might as well pack up your popcorn and head over to “Die Hard”.
As a freshman to the Harry Potter franchise, I must admit that I was extremely impressed by this film. The special effects were outstanding – the showdown with Lord Voldemort was absolutely jaw-dropping. The costumes, the CGI creatures and the sets were intricate and realistic. The film’s artwork was also stunning. Watching Harry and company fly along the banks of the Thames River made me want to visit London all over again. I may leave my broom at home, though, and take the city by foot.
What places this film in a league of its own is its casting and directing. Every part was thoughtfully considered and is cast perfectly. It is difficult to maintain consistent, high-calibre performances across sequels without a symbiosis between a cohesive script, a focused director and a strong cast. Against all odds, this group has managed to deliver a sequel that could easily have had the flavour of reheated leftovers but instead seems fresh and original. This must have been a particularly daunting task for director David Yates, who is new to the Potter franchise. It cannot be easy to move into the driver’s seat when you know that millions of rabid Harry Potter fans will be calling for a public flogging if you fail to meet their expectations.
While I cannot compare the performances of the principal actors to their prior films, I must say that the performance by Potter newcomer Imelda Staunton (who first came on the radar with her Oscar-nominated performance in “Vera Drake”) in the role of Dolores Umbridge was flawless. She created a deliciously diabolical character that the audience loved to hate. Veteran actors Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman and Ralph Fiennes joined forces with the film’s young stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint to form an ensemble cast that delivers one of the best collective performances in recent memory. This film seems to be a repository for some of the best acting talent in Britain, and I will be curious to see who else will be dropping by for a visit in the final two installments. I am also anxious to see Alan Rickman and Ralph Fiennes spread their wings in the final two films, as their characters become more central to the development of the plot.
As a newcomer to the Harry Potter film franchise, I must say that I was impressed with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry has cast his spell and I, for one, am all too happy to submit to his charms. (8.5 out of 10)
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