Review: ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’

Zac:

HP and OTP is the best film in the series and sets the tables for the thrilling conclusion of the last two films to come. The book and the film both serve as set-ups for the last two plot lines but that doesn’t hurt the material as it is both full of information and adventure.
David Yates is a first time film and Harry Potter director and he knocks it out of the park. Known for great character drama’s on British television he brings that alleged greatness to the series that has been getting stronger ever since Azkaban. Yates also does an excellent job with the action with some major props to his work with ILM.
Harry is dealing with some weird dreams of Voldemort and is a bit of an outcast after his claims of the dark lord’s return fell on many deaf ears. It doesn’t help that he is also being smeared by the Ministry of Magic as a liar along with Dumbledore. And speaking of Dumbledore, the headmaster is avoiding Harry and all this thrown together is making Harry a bit angry. He has one shinning point in his life, his Godfather Sirius Black, and Harry desperately wishes for them to be a proper family and move on to a time where just the two of them can be together.
The story is given a new villain in Dolores Umbridge, played by the amazing Imelda Staunton, which you just want to punch in the face by the third time we see her. She begins to slowly gain power at Hogwarts as she is a not so covert snake for Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, at Hogwarts; keeping an eye on Dumbledore.
The rest I will let you discover for yourself, but just know that the cast is solid, all but a couple shaky moments from Emma Watson as Hermione, with Rupert Grint out acting all of the kids in the movies. All the regulars return on the teaching side, though most of them just make brief appearances and take a backseat to Umbridge.
The movie is dark and not full of a ton of fun, but it allows the material to be taken more seriously and shows the maturation of the series, just as the books grew as they went along. Order of the Phoenix is another great entry into the franchise and I can’t wait to see what Yates and company do with The Half Blood Prince in a year from now.

[rating: 4.5/5]