Harry [Radcliffe] faces expulsion, as the Ministry Of Magic tries to quell claims that Voldemort [Ralph Fiennes] is back again.
Original Title:
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
Given that the science of cinema depends on the projection of light, the laws of physics limit how dark a film can be. A franchise that gets gloomier with each instalment, therefore, presents problems. But the darkness of the latest Harry Potter film is tempered by just enough humour - and more than enough action - to make it worth peering through the murk.
This is the first film where Voldemort [Ralph Fiennes] has lurked as a physical threat, tinting everything a darker shade of black. Regular Potterites know that He Who Must Not Be Named [but often is] is reborn, but the magical community refuses to credit Harry’s [Daniel Radcliffe] resurrection claims. So Harry faces isolation when he returns to Hogwarts and falls foul of new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher Dolores Umbridge [Imelda Staunton], all twin-sets and ruthless fanaticism.
From the opening Dementor attack a sense of menace steadily mounts. No sooner has Harry dealt with those soul-sucking monsters than he faces the equally soul-sucking ordeal of a Ministry Of Magic trial; no sooner is he back at Hogwarts than he’s cast adrift by Dumbledore [Michael Gambon], faced with a moody giant [the film’s only CG-failure] and left to Umbridge’s not-so-tender mercies.
Much of the credit for the building tension goes to Staunton’s pathologically cheery bitch, a walking definition of justifiable homicide. But the stellar supporting cast all gleefully compete to steal scenes, to great effect. If the central trio are still locked into a holding pattern they’ll never quite break in these roles - Ron [Rupert Grint] mugging desperately; Hermione [Emma Watson] earnestly emoting and Radcliffe mired in heroic stiffness - the script at least allows them to grow a little. But the lion’s share of the plaudits must go to director David Yates and screenwriter Michael Goldenberg. After all, it takes talented chefs to produce a fresh taste from over-familiar ingredients. Perhaps that’s why the journeyman Chris Columbus, after two faithful but plodding instalments, made way for directors of more élan - Cuarón, Newell and now Yates, who transforms the most bloated and miserable of the novels into a film that retains mood but not petulance and who, vitally, drives the plot towards its conclusion like it’s on rails.
That last act is the reward here, a series of breathtaking magical showdowns. Strikes and duels whip past in a flurry of physical and mental blows, with combatants piling into the fray, and one juicy match-off the franchise equivalent of Yoda’s lightsaber duel. Amid cackling baddies [especially Helena Bonham Carter’s crazy-haired Bellatrix Lestrange] and heroes teetering on the brink, there’s a moment of revelation. Potter isn’t just for kids - this is a proper, grown-up adventure. And that bodes well for the films to come.
It wont win new fans, but as Potter movies go, this is the most filmic of the lot, suspenseful and action-packed.
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Well, we’ve made it through Harry Potter’s fifth year at Hogwarts, and as an adult reader looking in, I must say that this was the most melodramatic book to date! I know that at age 15, Harry and his pals need to experience some growing pains, but since my kids are still in elementary and middle school, I was hoping to keep the drama of Junior High at bay for a few more years [at least]. Alas, J.K. Rowling dragged us all into it, and so we had to enjoy the ride.
The drama of this tale includes Harry’s crushes [and first kiss] as well as difficult teachers, terrifying exams, and adults who just don’t understand these maturing students. But these issues are merely the backdrop to the real tale which extends through the full gamut of books, that the Dark Lord Voldemort truly has returned and wants young Harry Potter dead.
The book begins with an attack by a number of Dementors against Harry and Dudley on Privet Drive. Harry is very nearly expelled for his unauthorized use of magic in the Muggle world, but of course, he also has some great school leaders who come to bat for him. He learns about a secret order of wizards and witches that exists to fight against evil [the Order of the Phoenix], and we’re all surprised to learn that even Professor Snape is part of this team, along with those we’d otherwise expect, like Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin, Mad-Eye Mooney, and Sirius Black.
Once Harry is reinstated and returns to school, he learns that he’s essentially treated by his classmates as a liar and a traitor for his supposedly made-up story about Voldemort’s return and the murder of Cedrick Diggory [from Book Four]. Some of his friends believe him, of course, and they even agree to learn some defensive magic from him in secret, for while all these things have been going on, the Ministry of Magic has also been slowly taking over the school under the heavy palm of the toad-like Professor Umbrage, a wicked witch who’s convinced the ministry to fire Headmaster Dumbledore and to name her the Grand High Inquisitor of the school, a role which makes life absolutely miserable for everyone—except perhaps Draco Malfoy and his thug friends who enjoy every minute of it.
This book seemed extra-long to me, and I found it quite a bit milder than the others. Perhaps “boring” is a better term. But then again, I’m not a Junior High reader, and I don’t pretend to be [though I recently admitted in a book review of Matilda by Roald Dahl that sometimes I am a child at heart]. While I enjoyed the progress of the overarching story, especially the confrontations and battle in the Ministry of Magic in the final chapters, I got lost in the petty experiences and emotions of the students throughout this one.
I look forward to watching the movie with my kids, now that we’ve finished the book. Abnormally, I sort of hope this time that the director takes his licenses and livens the story up a bit, tying it more cogently to the series as a whole and awing us with some spectacular scenes.
Next up is Harry’s Sixth Year in The Half-Blood Prince. We’ll be starting it on audio this week as we drive halfway across the country. It may be that we finish the entire series this coming month! I’m looking forward to it as much as my kids are. My wife, though, probably less so.