'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' - Potter-rifficly Spell Binding
By: Tim - aurora - Dunn

From the first Patronus spell to the prophecy Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a magical splash hit. Let me be honest though, of the first six books The order of the Phoenix is my least favorite so I was not expecting all that much from the movie. However I do now feel that this is my favorite of the five movies so far. Its not just that the effects have gone up a few notches but the development and treatment of the three main characters has gone up a notch too. Granted we have been extremely attached to Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione as well as the rest of the students and teachers at Hogwarts but in Order of the Phoenix its the Harry, Ron and Hermione's characters that get the most attention.

 

 

Does this mean that the CG magic has been abandoned for a long character movie? Happily no, not even close, even though this is another one of those movies that weighs in at a hefty 138 minutes of runtime. But just like last weeks feast with Transformers and with the previous Potter movies its a fast ride and you definitely get your moneys worth! The CG is used when and were needed and since this is a Harry Potter movie that's a lot with its being full of spells, witchcraft and magic. Not only are there lots and lots of CG shots but they're also better but more on that later.

 

 

Happily once again we stay true to the books, as much as possible, not adding anything in really, yet still not holding 100% concise either, but then what movie ever has been able too? We start off, as always, in the summer prior to Harry starting his fifth year at Hogwarts. Still upset from the death of Cedric and the rise of Voldemort Harry finds himself being taunted by his now not so pudgy cousin Dudley. In his anger and about to lash out against Dudley and his bully gang a storm arises. However this storm is not caused by Harry but is in fact after Harry or more precisely a duo of Dementors riding in the storm. As Harry is once again struck down by the dread Dementors he saves both himself and Dudley by using his now finely honed Patronus spell. Instead of being praised for his quick actions and saving the life of a Muggles, Harry finds himself expelled from Hogwarts for using magic in front of a Muggles.

 

 

Never fear Dumbledore steps in and saves the day by first sending the Order of the Phoenix to bring Harry to the Orders headquarters. He further helps Harry by defending him at his trail at the Ministry of Magic. During this period we learn that the Minister, Cornelius Fudge, is in denial of the existence of Lord Voldemort and is paranoid that Dumbledore is after his position as Minister of Magic.

 

 

School quickly starts for Harry and the gang with Dumbledore 'hiding' from Harry, Hagrid's on leave, really on a mission for the Order, and the new Defense from the Dark Arts is headed by Minister Fudge's left hand, Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge believes that the best defense is denial of the threat so she teaches by theory and not by practical magic. In addition she loves to place anyone and everyone on detention where in she and her magic pens inflict torture upon the students.

 

 

In short order Umbridge, thanks to her influence with the Ministry, has all but placed Hogwarts under marshal law. Harry, Ron and Hermione frustrated by their inability to learn how to defend themselves in the coming war take it upon themselves to form an army, 'Dumbledores Army' (DA). Using Harry's practical knowledge and skills he teaches his fellow students how to defend themselves from the dark magics of Voldemort and the Death Eaters. Adding to this process is the finding of the Room of Requirement by Neville where in they can practice in safety, much to the frustration of both Filch and Umbridge.

 

 

All during this time Harry is beginning to have more and more sever nightmares. He learns from one particularly tragic nightmare that these are not just nightmares but visions through the eyes of Voldemort himself. In fear that Voldemort might use this to his advantage Dumbledore orders Snape to help Harry to learn how to block his mind from mental intrusion. Eventually Harry, although failing to learn to block his mind does manage to penetrate Snapes and learns of how his father used to torment Snape as Malfoy now torments Harry.

 

 

As OWL's Ordinary Wizardry Level, examinations come, we find the Army of Dumbledore found out by Umbridge. George and Fred discover their future lies outside of school and rises up against Umbridge. Hagrid returns with big brother in tow. And most importantly Harry learns that Sirius is in trouble and discovers what Voldemort is searching for. Harry, finally realizing his true strength lies in his friends departs off to London and the Ministry of Magic to find and save Sirius. In the process Harry also finds the prophecy regarding him and Voldemort as well as Lord Voldemort himself and thus starts the war.

 

 

Strangely the thing that makes this movie a success is also what makes it miserable for die-hard Harry fans. Order of the Phoenix, spends a lot of time developing Harry, Hermione and Ron's characters so we grow even more in love with them then we have in the past. This is not done to the sacrifice of the screen play story. However even at almost two and a half hours in length we find we learn almost nothing about the Order of the Phoenix itself. We learn little more about Voldemort and his Death Eaters. We see Harry in detention only the first time and once with Dumbledores Army after their discovery by Umbridge. All we learn of the giants is that Hagrid has a brother and brought him back with him. We see little of Harry and his lessons with Snape and sadly barely get a glimpse of how he feels upon discovering the way his father treated Snape.

 

 

We do see Harry and Cho kinda build their relationship including Harry's first kiss but really can't feel too much from the DA's betrayal by Cho, nor the remorse when they found out why she was the betrayer. We do get a small and incredibly wonderful glimpse at Luna Lovegood. If you enjoyed her bizarre quirkiness in the books you'll love her in this movie. Sadly we just don't see enough of her nor do we get her character fully developed. Neither do we get to see the growth and development of Neville as his character fully deserves. Nor do we get any real further development of the soon to be betrayer, Malfoy. In fact we get almost twice as much time with Lucius Malfoy then Draco.

 

 

If this movie was directed by, say Peter Jackson, it would have been another three to three and half hour movie and would have probably seen all those things we find falling loose from the books story. Is it a bad thing that all of this is missing. Yes if your a Harry fanatic. However from the movies standpoint no not really. The movie maintains a decent pace, never falling slow nor boring. Its also mixed with the magic we have come to expect and love in the Harry Potter movies and that magic is the magic we love most CG.

 

 

As I said at the beginning, from the first Patronus spell to the prophecy we see breath taking CG magic at its best. The Dementors themselves have a CG make over making them more ghostly then before. Plus Harry's, and later the other students, Patronus spells have also graduated up a couple of years as well. We spend so much time as of late concentrating of water based fluids dynamics that the other form of CFD's are rarely pushed to new levels. Well Pirates, meet Harry! In Order of the Phoenix gas and particle effects get a boast in quality and performance. We get wonderful glimpses of it all through the movie, then comes the final battle, for this movie, and like the end of Pirates: At Worlds End, the plug is pulled and all the tricks are thrown at you allowing you to sit back staggered at its brilliance.

 

 

Its not just the majorly gorgeous gaseous effects but the extreme detail and complexity of the scenes that stagger the mind. I know my humble machine would crumble up in a ball in sheer fear if I threw all the particles at it that we see in Harry and Dumbledores battle with Voldemort. Beyond even this we do see the fruits of the magic of Peter Jackson very literally in this movie. Namely fireworks and lots of them, wonderful and almost character interactive fireworks. Including not one but a couple firework based dragons which truly does rival that which we saw in 'Fellowship of the Ring'.

 

 

One other major thing must needs be mentioned that I loved in this movie and that's the comp'ing work. My hats off to all the people that worked on Harry and the gang flying through London, whether on brooms or beast, the magic has progressed up yet another notch. Again I also have to mention the wonderful work they did on the fireworks scene created by Fred and George. All the particles from the fireworks meshed in front of, behind, above and below the characters. We have Umbridge running in fear, the students running in celebration, Fred and George flying on their brooms, the dragon flying after Umbridge and amidst all that we see the fireworks in between all those moving layers. Major kudos for that bit of magic.

 

 

Conclusion:
As I said earlier, this book was my least favorite because it dealt more with the characters development then with hocus pocus. Yet, and not withstanding all that was not brought into this movie, it was that part of the story that makes this movie a success. It's both wildly fun and also character engrossing. Sadly for Harry diehards there is much missing from this movie most notably learning all about the Order of the Phoenix. Yet just sitting back and enjoying the movie leaves you all excited and once again addicted to the world of witches, wizards and Muggless. Is this movie a massive advertising scheme to sell yet even more copies of next weeks release of the seventh and last book? Well all I'll say is they have one more book ordered by me thanks to this movie!

Ratings:

IMDB Film Rating: User Rating: 8.2/10 (9,806 votes)

- For a movie going experience I give it: 4 out of 5 stars.
If watching the movie as one who has not read the book, does such a being even exist(?) then this movie is purely wondrous. For the other 99% of the world that will see this movie we do fall short of getting the royal treatment each character and the Order itself deserves. Yet the movie flows at a very nice pace and the visual effects are far better then those seen at other summer blockbusters we have seen this year.

- For a technical piece of CG and VFX work I give it: 5 out of 5 stars.
I'll give this movie a full five stars and if I had a sixth I'd give it just for the higher level of comp'ing work seen in addition to the wondrous gaseous and particle effects that both infuses and even breaths life into this movie.

Credits:

Cast:
Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe
Hermione Granger - Emma Watson
Ron Weasley - Rupert Grint
Draco Malfoy - Tom Felton
Vincent Crabbe - Jamie Waylett
Gregory Goyle - Josh Herdman
Cho Chang - Katie Leung
Neville Longbottom - Matthew Lewis
Fred Weasley - James Phelps
George Weasley - Oliver Phelps
Ginny Weasley - Bonnie Wright
Luna Lovegood - Evanna Lynch
Seamus Finnigan - Devon Murray
Dean Thomas - Alfie Enoch
Padma Patil - Afshan Azad
Parvati Patil - Shefali Chowdhury
Albus Dumbledore - Michael Gambon
Lord Voldemort - Ralph Fiennes
Minerva McGonagall - Maggie Smith
Rubeus Hagrid - Robbie Coltranetab
Severus Snape - Alan Rickman
Dudley Dursley - Harry Melling
Petunia Dursley - Fiona Shaw
Vernon Dursley - Richard Griffiths
James Potter - Adrian Rawlins
Lily Potter - Geraldine Somerville
Cedric Diggory - Robert Pattinson
Nymphadora Tonks - Natalia Tena
Alastor Moody - Brendan Gleesontab
Kingsley Shacklebolt - George Harris
Sirius Black - Gary Oldman
Remus Lupin - David Thewlis
Arthur Weasley - Mark Williams
Mrs. Weasley - Julie Walters
Percy Weasley - Chris Rankin
Cornelius Fudge - Robert Hardy
Lucius Malfoy - Jason Isaacs
Dolores Umbridge - Imelda Staunton
Amelia Bones - Sian Thomas
Argus Filch - David Bradley
Professor Grubbly-Plank - Apple Brook
Sybil Trelawney - Emma Thompson
Filius Flitwick - Warwick Davis
Phineas - John Atterbury
Bellatrix Lestrange - Helena Bonham Carter

Director - David Yates

Writing credits
Novel - J.K. Rowling
Screenplay - Michael Goldenberg

Executive Producer - Lionel Wigram
Producer - David Barron, David Heymantab
Producer (IMAX version) - Lorne Orleans
Associate Producer - Tim Lewis

Original Music - Nicholas Hoopertab tab

Cinematography - Slawomir Idziak(director of photography)

Visual Effects:
Baseblack
Cinesite
Double Negative
Framestore CFC
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
IMAX Corp
Rising Sun Pictures
The Moving Picture Company
Warner Brothers

Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.
Runtime: 138 min