Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix could easily have slipped into dangerous territory for director David Yates. Yates could have made a derivative film based on the efforts of previous directors Christopher Columbus, Alfonso Curaon, and Mike Newell. After five movies the easy is question is…What is so special about this series? The answer is in the cast. It is remarkable to see Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) , and Hermione (Emma Watson) grow on screen. There is a chemistry in this movie that has not only improved, but has worked itself to near perfection. It is evident that a certain amount of comfort exists between the actors. This credit has to go to Columbus because he is the one who put the cast together even though his “Potter” films are the most maligned. Because of the cast Yates has made a very good movie.
This movie like the book isn’t typical Harry Potter. It is less about magic and wonderment that goes with being a student at Hogwarts. It isn’t about Professor Snape, Dumbledore, or Hagrid. “Phoenix” is about friendship. It is not a stylistic movie friendship, where it is hard to see where the relationship began. It isn’t about “fair weather friends.” No, the friends of Harry in this movie (and book) are fiercely loyal and willing to die for a cause. These are the type of friends that are portrayed in the movie Good Will Hunting. They may take wands to your head instead of bats, but it is all the same. There is something beautiful about watching or reading about relationships based on love and loyalty. It is what we need the most to survive and it is certainly something Harry needs to complete his destiny. Love and loyalty are the only weapons he has to defeat Voldemort.
When we first see Harry he is contemplating life on a swing in the “muggle” world. His cousin Dudley, now bigger than ever and more dangerous, begins picking on Harry once again. Suddenly, the wizard world collides with human existence. A battalion of Dementors are dispatched to suck the life out of Harry. This is a shocking event to everyone in the wizard world because the Dementors do not belong in current day England. This incident spurs Dumbeldore to continue trying to convince The Ministry of Magic that Voldemort is back and mounting an army. The “government” is in complete denial that Voldemort is a threat and has grabbed control of the papers and media to spin everything in their favor. Meanwhile, Professor Dolores Umbridge is “placed” in Hogwarts to keep a close eye on Dumbledore. Umbridge is played amazingly well, by Imelda Staunton. This was probably a “Potterites” biggest fear that she wouldn’t come off mean enough. Fans won’t be disappointed. Umbridge finally takes control of the school and lays out “educational decrees” which are an attempt to control every aspect of Hogwarts. The focus being that the students do not need to learn to defend themselves because there is no real threat. Harry and his mates seem to know better and create a secret club called Dumbledore’s Army. Potter is enlisted has their leader and even though some of the students are apprehensive first, they learn to follow Harry. This is where the movie works best. These are kids taking education into their own hands, not for a test, but for self-preservation. This all leads up to an arousing clash between a bunch of unseasoned kids against the battle tested loyalists to Voldemort. The climax is the best in the movie series so far and it probably would payoff to see the IMAX 3-D version.
This series could have become a commercial. Every year or so we could have been inundated with merchandising from all angles. Yes ,there is Potter merchandise, but not to the extent of some other franchises. The movies have gotten better as the characters have grown more sophisticated. As a fan of the novels it has been pleasure to read Rowling’s books. Her writing has improved with every line and it is clear that the screen writers have done the same with the movies. Like or not Harry Potter has become a mythological icon in literature and now film. I for one, like it.
This movie like the book isn’t typical Harry Potter. It is less about magic and wonderment that goes with being a student at Hogwarts. It isn’t about Professor Snape, Dumbledore, or Hagrid. “Phoenix” is about friendship. It is not a stylistic movie friendship, where it is hard to see where the relationship began. It isn’t about “fair weather friends.” No, the friends of Harry in this movie (and book) are fiercely loyal and willing to die for a cause. These are the type of friends that are portrayed in the movie Good Will Hunting. They may take wands to your head instead of bats, but it is all the same. There is something beautiful about watching or reading about relationships based on love and loyalty. It is what we need the most to survive and it is certainly something Harry needs to complete his destiny. Love and loyalty are the only weapons he has to defeat Voldemort.
When we first see Harry he is contemplating life on a swing in the “muggle” world. His cousin Dudley, now bigger than ever and more dangerous, begins picking on Harry once again. Suddenly, the wizard world collides with human existence. A battalion of Dementors are dispatched to suck the life out of Harry. This is a shocking event to everyone in the wizard world because the Dementors do not belong in current day England. This incident spurs Dumbeldore to continue trying to convince The Ministry of Magic that Voldemort is back and mounting an army. The “government” is in complete denial that Voldemort is a threat and has grabbed control of the papers and media to spin everything in their favor. Meanwhile, Professor Dolores Umbridge is “placed” in Hogwarts to keep a close eye on Dumbledore. Umbridge is played amazingly well, by Imelda Staunton. This was probably a “Potterites” biggest fear that she wouldn’t come off mean enough. Fans won’t be disappointed. Umbridge finally takes control of the school and lays out “educational decrees” which are an attempt to control every aspect of Hogwarts. The focus being that the students do not need to learn to defend themselves because there is no real threat. Harry and his mates seem to know better and create a secret club called Dumbledore’s Army. Potter is enlisted has their leader and even though some of the students are apprehensive first, they learn to follow Harry. This is where the movie works best. These are kids taking education into their own hands, not for a test, but for self-preservation. This all leads up to an arousing clash between a bunch of unseasoned kids against the battle tested loyalists to Voldemort. The climax is the best in the movie series so far and it probably would payoff to see the IMAX 3-D version.
This series could have become a commercial. Every year or so we could have been inundated with merchandising from all angles. Yes ,there is Potter merchandise, but not to the extent of some other franchises. The movies have gotten better as the characters have grown more sophisticated. As a fan of the novels it has been pleasure to read Rowling’s books. Her writing has improved with every line and it is clear that the screen writers have done the same with the movies. Like or not Harry Potter has become a mythological icon in literature and now film. I for one, like it.
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Potter Rules!
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