Back when Daniel Radcliffe’s voice hadn’t broken, Harry Potter meant just a book. Nowadays it means videogames, stamp collections and chess sets amongst other equally pointless cash-in products. However with the new film – Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix – the films certainly don’t feel part of the family franchise.
Trying to keep up with the books, the films have always been lagging behind and with the seventh book on imminent release some skeptics have branded “Order” as a prelude to the main event. At 766 pages, the fifth book is like a large appetizer to the main course, and certainly gives producer David Yates a lot on his plate to work with. The movie to many will be a “brief” (138 minutes) refresh of the fifth installment whilst others will see it as the “slacker-approach” to knowing everyone’s favorite wizarding celebrity turned teenage emotional adolescent.
“Order” itself distinguishes that Harry Potter (Radcliffe) isn’t all about Quidditch and Wizard’s Chess like in its predecessors, but instead brings much darker overtones. Starting with a dementor attack, Yates doesn’t hold back on the mediocre violence, childish swearing or adolescent romance that ensues. The 12A certificate feels hard earned yet being a film aimed at children its also a secret delight to the younger adults.
Nevertheless the film still draws parallels with real-life and though there is less of a focus upon taking O.W.L.’s (wizarding GCSE’s to muggles), there is much more of a focus on extra curricular activities. In fact with the main problem coming from new headmistress Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) who along with the Ministry Of Magic is ready to apply their fascist regime, the movie is able to conjure all sorts of stories delicately inter-twined with each other.
In fact with every scene left to the crème of British acting – Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane all return to their familiar roles – there is definitely strength in depth. Rickman especially plays Snape with the cold heartedness expected of a character perhaps as evil as Lord Voldermort himself. Moreover Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are able to bring a bit of light-hearted relief via a combination of brains and inanity. Additionally with new recruits including the insane Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix LeStrange the cast is growing bigger and bigger for the final two films.
The film itself is a joy to watch whether you have read the book or not. Not only has “Order” marked Harry Potter as not just a very good read but a very good film as well. Entertaining, dark and mysterious the film is more than just an appetizer but more like a second helping of the main course.