Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Year: 2007
Director: David Yates
Starring: Ralph Feinnes, Michael Gambon, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, Daniel Radcliffe, Imelda Staunton & Emma Watson
Runtime: 142 mins
BBFC: 12
Published: 16/10/20
Director: David Yates
Starring: Ralph Feinnes, Michael Gambon, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, Daniel Radcliffe, Imelda Staunton & Emma Watson
Runtime: 142 mins
BBFC: 12
Published: 16/10/20
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix marks the point in the series where I have no longer read the books. Yes grab your torches and pitchforks because I’m very clearly a bad person for not having done so but my reasoning is that the book is just too damn long! Clearly I’m not the only one who thinks this as Rowling herself has stated many times she feels she made the book longer than it needed to be. Then again being on the same side as someone who’s currently in hot water about transphobic comments is not exactly a great side to be on, but regardless I have arrived at the fifth film in the Harry Potter series and following the events of Goblet of Fire this is the point in the series where happiness pretty much goes out of the window in favour of a much grimmer good vs. evil plot.
In the summer since the tragic conclusion to the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry has been tormented with nightmares of Voldemort and of Cidric’s death, as well as by his cousin Dudley. Shortly before term is due to start Harry and Dudley are attacked by Dementors, and as a result of using the Patronus charm to scare them off, Harry is expelled from Hogwarts by the Ministry of Magic. In order to help Harry, the Order of the Phoenix swoops in and takes him to London where he awaits a trial conducted by the Minister, Cornelius Fudge. The Order was set up by Dumbledore to combat Voldemort the first time he came to power, and is resurfacing again now for his return. After Dumbledore intervenes during the trial and convinces the jury to let Harry continue studying at Hogwarts, Harry returns to school with his friends but Dumbledore seems intent on keeping his distance. Harry has been made an example of by the Daily Prophet who along with the Ministry claim Harry is lying and that Voldemort has not returned, this impacts his relationships with many of his classmates. As well as this the Ministry has implemented Dolores Umbridge as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in order to keep a close eye at day to day life in Hogwarts and make sure the young witches and wizards are maintaining the Ministry’s standards of conduct. As a result of this Harry, Ron, and Hermione set up Dumbledore’s Army, a small group of students who believe Voldemort has returned and are keen on learning defensive spells to combat those who wish to do them harm.
In the summer since the tragic conclusion to the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry has been tormented with nightmares of Voldemort and of Cidric’s death, as well as by his cousin Dudley. Shortly before term is due to start Harry and Dudley are attacked by Dementors, and as a result of using the Patronus charm to scare them off, Harry is expelled from Hogwarts by the Ministry of Magic. In order to help Harry, the Order of the Phoenix swoops in and takes him to London where he awaits a trial conducted by the Minister, Cornelius Fudge. The Order was set up by Dumbledore to combat Voldemort the first time he came to power, and is resurfacing again now for his return. After Dumbledore intervenes during the trial and convinces the jury to let Harry continue studying at Hogwarts, Harry returns to school with his friends but Dumbledore seems intent on keeping his distance. Harry has been made an example of by the Daily Prophet who along with the Ministry claim Harry is lying and that Voldemort has not returned, this impacts his relationships with many of his classmates. As well as this the Ministry has implemented Dolores Umbridge as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in order to keep a close eye at day to day life in Hogwarts and make sure the young witches and wizards are maintaining the Ministry’s standards of conduct. As a result of this Harry, Ron, and Hermione set up Dumbledore’s Army, a small group of students who believe Voldemort has returned and are keen on learning defensive spells to combat those who wish to do them harm.
Order of the Phoenix is often considered one of the weaker films in the series due to the sheer amount of stuff it cuts from the book, though I can’t attest to that I can say it does feel almost unfinished. Which I suppose is the point, it doesn’t really have an ending because the opening deals with the ending of Goblet of Fire and the ending comes along just as it feel like things start moving. It’s a film that’s very content with staying in one place, and that one place is with the conflict of Dumbledore’s Army training in the Room of Requirement against the wishes of Professor Umbridge who is doing everything she can to put the school under some totalitarian regime. It’s certainly enjoyable, with Umbridge being arguably the best villain in the entire series, but you can’t help but feel like there’s something missing, like a roast dinner without meat and gravy. Nothing wrong with a plate of veg and potatoes but it’s not a roast dinner, you know what I mean?
This is the point in the series where David Yates took over and he has remained the director of the Wizarding World films ever since. So this is the last time we see a significant shift in style over the course of the series. Yates makes Order of the Phoenix incredibly dark aesthetically to fit with the generally moody tone of the film. Add to this his shot composition is on the better end of the spectrum with the series, so visually the film is generally more interesting to look at than some of the other films that have come before it. On top of this I personally feel like Order of the Phoenix has the best score too. To be fair to Yates, he had one hell of a task adapting a children’s book just shy of 800 pages into a single film and whilst a lot feels as though it’s missing it still manages to pull together to create something that is enjoyable in many regards.
So where do I think Order of the Phoenix falls in the series? It’s definitely one of the weaker films, pretty much all of the films from here on out are better, and most of the ones that have already been before are better or on par with this entry. It’s not bad, but it just feels like it’s missing something and that may come from the fact that it doesn’t really have an identity of its own, it’s a continuation of what started in Goblet of Fire but doesn’t finish what it sets up and ultimately leaves that to Half-Blood Prince & Deathly Hallows. It’s just alright really.
This is the point in the series where David Yates took over and he has remained the director of the Wizarding World films ever since. So this is the last time we see a significant shift in style over the course of the series. Yates makes Order of the Phoenix incredibly dark aesthetically to fit with the generally moody tone of the film. Add to this his shot composition is on the better end of the spectrum with the series, so visually the film is generally more interesting to look at than some of the other films that have come before it. On top of this I personally feel like Order of the Phoenix has the best score too. To be fair to Yates, he had one hell of a task adapting a children’s book just shy of 800 pages into a single film and whilst a lot feels as though it’s missing it still manages to pull together to create something that is enjoyable in many regards.
So where do I think Order of the Phoenix falls in the series? It’s definitely one of the weaker films, pretty much all of the films from here on out are better, and most of the ones that have already been before are better or on par with this entry. It’s not bad, but it just feels like it’s missing something and that may come from the fact that it doesn’t really have an identity of its own, it’s a continuation of what started in Goblet of Fire but doesn’t finish what it sets up and ultimately leaves that to Half-Blood Prince & Deathly Hallows. It’s just alright really.