Harry’s back and this time Hogwarts has a new headmistress. Don’t let her sweet demeanor fool you – she’s definitely the witchest of witches. He who must not be named is after something and Harry holds the key.
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) have returned to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their fifth year of training.
However, things are not right with the world as Harry has been attached by Dementors in the human world and been put on trial for using magic in the presence of a muggle (Dudley specifically, saving the dullard’s skin). Headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) rises to the defense of Harry.
“He Who Must Not be Named” (aka Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) – there I said it!) has returned, but the Ministry of Magic is in full denial and the show trial of Harry for this trumped up offense fails to distract the wizarding public from rumors of his return. Harry is cleared of all charges and returns to Hogwarts, but the long arm of the law succeeds in getting one of their own, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
However, she has other things in mind and only sets the students to study such matters theoretically and in books only. This does not set well with Harry and his friends and they set out to secretly train for the upcoming war against you know who and call themselves Dumbledore’s Army.
When their secret society is later discovered their name only convinces Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy) that Dumbledore is attempting to overthrown the ministry and Dumbledore barely escapes the grasp of the ministry and Umbridge is appointed as headmistress of Hogwarts.
She sees Harry as public enemy number one and treats him accordingly, but she also makes extremely drastic changes to the school (and none for the better).
Order of the Phoenix is ironically based on one of the longest books in the series, but turns out to be one of the shortest in the film series (so far that is – two more to go). That being said the film is really pretty good and doesn’t suffer too much in comparison (although serious Potter-philes will most likely disagree with me on that one).
Imelda Staunton captures the pink-wearing villain to perfection, even if the character has the personality that can be described as cyanide-laced honey. I know that I loved to hate her as much in the film as I did in the book - although she seemed much more wicked in the book (might have to give the Potter-philes that one).
Since the film has been compressed from the novel some subplots have been jettisoned (Quidditch has been removed completely) and other scenes condensed. The final battle in the Ministry of Magic seems a bit short as compared to the battle royale that it was in the book.
Although these changes may rankle the extremely devoted, but I found that they didn’t take too much away from the film. If you filmed the novel as is then you’d have a five or six hour film and nobody wants to sit in a theater for that long. All in all I found it a very good adaptation of the book.
Order of the Phoenix is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. A fullscreen version is available separately. M&C was sent the single disc version for review and it is basically featureless. So if you go the single disc route you’ll only get the film only.
A two-disc edition is available separately and features a second disc of documentaries, deleted scenes, and much more.
The diehard fan may be disappointed that every last word was not put on film, but I thought that the filmmakers did a serviceable job with adapting the book. Harry continues to inspire and I eagerly await the next film in the series.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Two-Disc Special Edition) is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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