Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007 • 138 minutes

About this movie

A summer has passed since Harry's encounter with the Dark Lord, andHarry returns to learn that the wizarding community remains in denial about Voldemort's return; the minister of magic believes that Headmaster Dumbledore is lying; and a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has been assigned. Now, with the entire wizard community in peril, the future of magic may depend on Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.When the new professor, Dolores Umbridge's (Imelda Staunton--Nanny McPhee, Vera Drake), Ministry-approved course of defensive magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to protect themselves against the dark forces threatening them and the entire wizarding community,Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) urge Harry (DanielRadcliffe) to act. Meeting secretly with a small group of students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army," Harry teaches them how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts.

Ratings and reviews

DO NOT WATCH THIS! IT TOTALLY SUCKS! IF YOU LIKE HARRY POTTER AT ALL, YOU WILL NOT DISHONNOR THE GREAT Serie! BY WATCHING THIS MOVIE!!!! THIS MOVIE TEBBLS YOU NOTHING! IT LEAVES OUT ALL THE IMPORTANT DETAILS! IT IS TOTAL TRASH! YOU WON't KNOW A THING ABOUT THE SERIES IF YOU WATCH THIS! DO YOURSELF A MATOR FAVOR AND GO GO FIND THE BOOKS, READ UP ON WHAT THE OTHER MORIES LEFT OUT, AND DON'T BOTHER WITH ANY OF THE MOVIES!

I'm not one who believes that films adapted from books need to be completely and utterly faithful, but for an adaptation, this film is weak. Granted, the fifth is the longest book in the Potter series, but the amount that Steve Kloves and David Yates cut out of the book when writing the screenplay is atrocious. Well, it's not really the amount as much as it is what exactly they cut out. Sure, the house elf subplot was bound to be cut out, but the St. Mungo's sequence? It is vital to character-building, not to mention able to clear up Arthur Weasley's attack and that he was actually okay. And the final sequence in the Ministry? Really rushed and choppy and just completely botched. That said, the cast of this film produced some of their best work in the series. Imelda Staunton was the true star of the whole thing, and her portrayal of Umbridge was absolutely flawless. Helena Bonham Carter also made a fantastic series debut as the sadistic Belatrix Lestrange. This was by far my least favorite of the Potter films. It had much more potential than was used. That said, it is still worth watching. It has its exciting moments.

Order of the Phoenix is one of the shortest movies in the series but it sure doesn't feel like it. Phoenix is a good teen film with a heartwarming ending and great performances from the teen cast once again.