MAIN Harry Potter Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie

The long awaited movie version of the fifth Harry Potter adventure lived up to the publicity in some ways, but missed the mark set by the previous four films. The movie version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be a bit frustrating for those who have read the book and a bit confusing for those who haven't.

If you don't walk out asking, "What, no quidditch!?" — you are not a real Harry Potter fan.

The movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, focuses on Harry and his friends and the emotional side of being in the fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, Hermione, Ron and their classmates are getting older and more mature.

One focus of the film is the turmoil of young adults ready to face adult responsibility and emotions, but still being treated as children by the adults in their lives.

The relationship between Cho Chang (Katie Leung) and Harry is filled with teenage angst and confusion complicated by loss and danger. The romance is hinted at several times, but not developed to the point that Harry's first kiss flows naturally. While Potter fans may swoon at the kiss, it seems out of place given the time spent on the relationship. Harry and his godfather, Sirius Black, are reunited, but very little of the tension in that complex relationship makes it into the movie.

Uneven Acting

The "Loony" Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) and sadistic Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), two new characters introduced in this movie, are excellent. The special effects are on par with the previous Harry Potter films and the wizardly action scenes are thrilling.

Helena Bonham Carter in the role of one of the most evil of the followers of Lord Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, failed to impress. As the Death Eater who is Sirius Black 's cousin and one of The Dark Lord's favorites, she just seemed deranged. She missed the venomous evil that is the core of this character.

Harry and company are caught in a battle for power between the forces of good, the forces of evil and the forces of bureaucracy run amok. In order to join the battle against the evil Lord Voldemort, they must rebel against a political appointee, Professor Umbridge, who has managed to become the head of their school.

The Book is Better

Adapting a book of more than 800 pages to fit into a 2 hour movie is no easy task. The print version weaves a multitude of subplots together with astounding skill. Interpersonal action, teenage uncertainty, rebellion, wizard wars and the pressures in the daily life of the teens all flow together to a climatic end. Including all of the details in one movie is impossible, but unlike the previous Harry Potter films, this screen version suffered from what was cut... and what wasn't.

There are many sections of the movie that seem disjointed. Unless you've read the book, the herd of centaurs carrying off Dolores Umbridge is puzzling. That Sirius calls Harry by his father's name in an important scene should add clarity to the relationship, but instead it just seems odd. The furious giant who causes such mayhem in the book is reduced to a sweet, oafish, incredibly overgrown child.

In the first four movies, the young Hogwarts students impressed many with their range of acting ability. In the fifth Harry Potter movie the acting comes off as almost soap opera-ish in many emotionally charged scenes. Perhaps this is due to the director's decision to splice together many events without providing background, depth and explanation. Perhaps it is due to the director's background in TV or his choice to allow the actors to "emote."

One scene, where Harry is first reunited with Ron and Hermione at 12 Grimmauld Place stands out as a good example.

Harry is furious and hurt at having being excluded from the action all summer while he was abused by the Dursleys. This was more or less cut from the movie. When he gets a chance to lash out at the friends who spent the summer in the thick of the action — without so much as an owl to let him know what was going on — he reacts with venom and anger. As he screams at the top of his lungs at his friends, the Weasley twins pop into the room tomake a sarcastic comment about his shouting. SHOUTING!!!

In the movie we skip the first three chapters of the book, an entire summer that creates unbearable frustration and anger in Harry. The only piece of this that makes it through to the film is a brief dementor scene before Harry is brought to 12 Grimmauld Place. When the friends are brought together, instead of hot, exploding rage that's been building with no outlet for months...we get politely controlled anger. None of the main characters seem comfortable with their parts in these scenes. Rather than shouts we get intense pouts. Then the Weasley twins apparate ino the room, popping up next to Harry, and make their comment about all the loud shouting... What shouting? it's just confusing.

Until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released, each movie in the series was stand-alone, top entertainment. For fans, the movies followed the books closely and included, or at least touched on, all of the important moments. This movie suffers from having a director who leaves behind much of the brilliant work the film is based on. He creates a moody, dark, introspective drama... a study of unfair political systems and interpersonal struggles.

Yes, these are a part of the picture painted by the book, but there is so much more. The result is a Harry Potter movie with not a mention of Quidditch. Like watching a drama about Manchester United or the Yankess that explores the interpersonal relationships and the struggles between players and management...with no mention of the sport. It leaves the viewer disappointed. The movie is not awful, but it is not up to the standards that have been set by the previous four films.

The movie premiered to mixed reviews. One, in the New York Times said, "...not a great movie ...a pretty good one." That about sums it up.

The first four movies created new Harry Potter fans. This one provides those who are already fans with another adventure, but it's doubtful that anyone seeing it as a first Harry Potter experience will be converted. It is a shame, because the book version was excellent.

Let's hope that the director will read some of the reviews and the next movie in the Harry Potter series will fare better under the same director. In the meantime...read the book.

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