The Dark Side of Magic: Harry Potter 5 Movie Review

Last night at midnight, thousands of people across the United States lined up outside movie theaters in hopes of being the first ones to see the newest adaptation of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. And just like the books, the Harry Potter movies are growing up. Harry's latest outing finds the boy wizard a much darker, more troubled youth, riddled with the angst of young adulthood in a world where not only he is changing, but the society of wizards is changing, too. A truly misunderstood and ostracized boy, Harry Potter (an always-improving Daniel Radcliffe) must convince the wizarding world that the Dark Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has returned. The problem is, the magical world's government doesn't want to believe it.

As with the book, the fifth Potter movie is quite possibly the most story-centric of Rowling's works. Gone is the sweet innocence of youth, where Quidditch games and House points were our protagonists' biggest concerns, where fighting off a three-headed dog and a gigantic spider were grand adventures to be sought out. Voldemort has been rebirthed, and he wants Harry dead. But as Harry was the only one to see Voldemort return (besides the Dark Lord's followers, the Death Eaters), he has a hard time convincing anyone that he isn't lying. Enter the Order of the Phoenix, a secret band of wizards and witches founded by Dumbledore fourteen years prior to fight the Death Eaters. While the Order's ranks have swelled with a new generation of wizards, the world around them is woefully ignorant to their cause, thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Magic. The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy, in his most active role since taking the part in 2002's Chamber of Secrets) believes that Dumbledore, who supports Harry's claims, is lying to take his job as Minister. He launches, through the wizarding paper the Daily Prophet, a smear campaign against Harry and Dumbledore, which convinces most of the wizarding world that Harry's a lunatic and Dumbledore is a doddering old fool.

What's worse, the Ministry has begun to interfere at Hogwarts, sending Fudge's assistant, Dolores Umbridge, to take the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. British actress Imelda Staunton takes the role of Umbridge, in the most perfectly-cast part in the Potter series. Staunton's portrayal of Umbridge, from her annoying mannerisms to her sugary-sweet voice, all of course cloaking her totalitarian personality, shines on screen, and she is by far the most enjoyable antagonist the Potter movies have produced since Kenneth Branagh's Gilderoy Lockhart in Chamber of Secrets. Umbridge's archaic thoughts on magic lead her to teach a theory-based course, and for those of the Hogwarts' student body and staff who believe that Voldemort is once again at large know that Umbridge's refusal to teach the children defensive spells in a practical way may be catastrophic. Harry and friends decide something must be done.

Emma Watson and Rupert Grint return as Harry's friends Hermione and Ron, both of whom are at the short end of Harry's ire through much of the film. Rounding out the children's cast are Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), Katie Leung (Cho Chang) and Potter newcomer Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), who join Dumbledore's Army, the secret student group formed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione to teach the Hogwarts' students defensive magic.

For a 800-plus page book, it is incredible how much of the story was put into the film, moreso because the pace never once drags. Yes, there are slower, more introspective moments, but Phoenix lives on a plane higher than its predecessors, where political intrigue and the woes of adolescence have replaced the petty quarrelling between Harry and his nemesis, Draco Malfoy (the barely-seen Tom Felton). Congratulations is due to two newcomers to the series, director David Yates and screenwriter Michael Goldberg, both of whom have admirably handled the monumental task of translating this gigantic book into a two hour and eighteen minute movie. It's a mark of both Warner Bros.' and J.K. Rowling's happiness with the film that Yates will be the first director since Chris Colombus helmed Potters one and two to direct back-to-back Potter films (next up is the Half-Blood Prince, already in pre-production).

While most of the film is lent to Harry's internal struggle, there are some amazing action moments in the film, capped by the incredible wizard duel between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix. And production designer Stuart Craig, who has had the immense responsibility of bringing the world of Rowling's creation to life on screen, again succeeds with the new set pieces, most notably the Ministry of Magic, the superbly-designed and breathtaking underground headquarters for the British magical government.

It's also nice to see series regulars on screen, if only for a short time. Robbie Coltrane's Hagrid, Maggie Smith's Professor McGonagall, and Alan Rickman's Professor Snape barely catch breath on screen, but they are fantastic as always. And the extended roles for Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Harry's godfather Sirius (Gary Oldman) lighten the darker moments of the film, providing the orphaned Harry with the kind of guidance and support he so rarely recieves.

While younger Potter fans may be bored with the more introspective moments of the film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is by far the most well-scripted and well-directed of the franchise, and hopefully shows us what direction the series will be heading in: a shadowy, murky world where you don't know who's on your side and who's against you.

Script: It's incredible how much of the book fit into the film without weighing it down. 8.5/10
Score: Newcomer Nicholas Hooper has taken John William's original score and created his own world with it. 9.5/10
Cinematography: Gorgeous, though it doesn't reach the level of Prisoner of Azkaban. 7.5/10
Production Design: Stuart Craig is a genius. 10/10
Special and Visual Effects: The magic is sparser here than previous outings, but where wands wave in this film, the results are awe-inspiring, especially the broomstick flight over the Thames and the giant Grawp. The wizard duel at the end is particularly satisfying and unlike anything ever shown on film before. 9.5/10
Editing: Cut by Mark Day, Phoenix blends multiple storylines almost seamlessly. 9/10
Acting: Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint are growing up on screen, in life, and as actors, and it shows. 8/10
Direction: David Yates has helmed the best Potter film to date. 9.5/10
Final Grade: 9/10

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Hello everyone, this is my new blog. I will probably use it mostly to review movies, books, and video games...and occasionally vent. Enjoy!