Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

My Rating: 8/10

Director: David Yates
Screenplay: Michael Goldenberg 
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Family, Action & Adventure
Runtime: 138 minutes

Most people consider this the worst in the series which is agreeable to an extent. So here we are 5 years into the series and if you’re not a Potter fan then the series doesn’t do much for you from this point. All the innocence and delight in which we known Hogwarts and the magical Potter universe is now gone as the story takes us into more serious matters through it’s complex plot and twists that will give you a run for your money. Many dislike the idea of The film’s darkness after the 4^th film, but as the characters grow, the story evolves. Although the magical Hogwarts world was all magically innocent, I think the conversion of the story of Voldemort is terrific and Voldemort is simply the persona of evil and hate.

It is time for next term at the school of Hogwarts, but this time it isn’t fun and games, and laughter. We first see Harry with his bullying cousin Dudley and moments later, Dementors attack and Harry is forced to use magic. When he returns home a letter arrives telling him he is expelled from Hogwarts and the matter is soon looked in to. Not long after the death of Cedrick Diggory Harry returns to Hogwarts only to find that the magical community seems to be in a curious state of denial about his recent encounter with the sinister Lord Voldemort. Rumour has it that the dreaded Lord Voldemort has returned, but Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy) isn't so sure what to make of all the hearsay currently floating around the campus of Hogwarts. Suspecting that Headmaster Albus Dumbledore may be fuelling the rumours regarding Voldemort's return in order to undermine his authority and lay claim to his job, Fudge entrusts newly arrived ‘Defence Against the Dark Arts’ professor Dolores Umbridge with the task of tracking Dumbledore and keeping a protective watch over the nervous student body.

The Army.

For new characters this term let’s start with Dolores Umbridge in her pink innocent exterior of niceness, which inside is truly evil, controlling and sinister. Umbridge is played deviously by Imelda Staunton and her character is truly sinister. Rowling is a genius with the concept of the innocent and happy exterior whereas inside this person is truly evil and wicked. And the character is brought to the screen wonderfully by Staunton’s playful performance. At this point in the story things have gotten very complex with a cast of characters spanning around 50 and the thing is, most of these characters have personalities and do have more than just one line. From the Dursley’s to Cornelius Fudge, the film is packed out with names that are cleverly memorable with the use of alliteration and names that slip off the tongue. An example is the newly introduced character Luna (or Looney some people say) Lovegood, played by Evanna Lynch like a saint. Her character does not play much part in the film, but her performance is wonderfully eccentric and is a nice little character in the film.

Dolores Umbridge in her office.

The thing I loved about Potter 5 was the return of many things from the third film. The order of the Phoenix is a group that was set up 14 years ago to stop you-know-who and they group together once more. In the group we have returning cast from Prisoner of Azkaban Sirius black, Potter’s only remaining family, Remis Lupin. Mad-eye Moody from Goblet of Fire is also back which is nice and new to the group is Nymphadora Tonks, who has mood colour changing hair and Kingsley Shacklebolt. This time Harry’s mind is being toyed with and we finally discover about Harry’s mind being sort of intertwined with Voldemort’s. After Goblet of Fire Harry has been having nightmares and because of the use of Harry’s blood to bring back Voldemort, Voldemort can read Harry’s mind. Harry’s psychological state drives him insane but all that can be done is done to help Harry with the use of one of Snape’s spells.

At this stage it is an ultimate conquest of 'good V.S evil' and is when things get very serious, very dark, and very suspenseful as we approach the final confrontation. Between harry and Voldemort, only one can live. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix may not be the best Potter film, but drives the drama of the story and complex as it may be, it holds out as a great film to the Potter fan.

Ratings:
Story/Screenplay: 7.9/10
Characters: 8.2/10
Emotion: 8.4/10
Visuals & Editing: 8.8/10
Direction & Cinematography: 8/10
Music: 8.4/10
Overall: 8.1/10