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Can I Change My Order, Please?
By bukkhead | July 27, 2007
FILM REVIEW: ‘HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX’
Written by Michael Goldenberg, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Directed by David Yates
Rated PG-13
138 mins.
I’ve been putting off this review because I just don’t know what to say. And I’m pretty sure no matter what I say, it’s not going to change anyone’s mind. Not that changing minds is what reviews are all about. But if ever there was an apolitical use for the phrase “preaching to the choir,” this is it. Harry Potter, like it or not, has become an institution. 10 years now, and thought the last book’s been written and read, there’s still two films to go, which might take another 5 years or so. There are kids who grew up with stuff. Discussing Harry Potter is more a discussion of the self.
So what does it say about me when I say the movie was, yeah, well, whatever. I don’t begrudge the fans their love. And I’ve been in it since the beginning. But nothing much happened in this movie that wasn’t the same-old same-old. I think the last frontier was crossed when Rowling killed a kid in book/movie 4, and so there’s nothing left for a story America will let its kids read.
The movie had moments of potential, though, and I imagine a very creative director with lots of freedom could take that and turn movies 6 and 7 into something. The scene in the beginning where Harry is sitting on the playground swing, wistfully watching a little boy on the merry-go-round, only to be interrupted by Dudley, only to be further interrupted by an approaching storm: that was some excellent cinema. Shortly after, though, things went back to cartoonish, which is what the fans want, I guess. I’m just finding it difficult to be moved by sweeping shots of Hogwarts from up high.
I’m no longer wowed by kids with wands and bad latin making things float. And pretty much, that was all these movies had going for them. The plots are rudimentary, the character development non-existent. I haven’t seen him in Equus yet (don’t know if I want to), but as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe is just not a brilliant actor. Maybe it’s the role, though I can see Rubert Grint chomping at the bit to move outside of the cardboard cut-out Ron he’s been given to play.
In fact, I resorted to my usual stand-by of paying more attention, and becoming more invested in the tertiary characters. Fred and George Weasley are still favorites, though for me the movie was worth watching just for Luna Lovegood. Last time it was Moaning Myrtle, so maybe I just have a thing for weird chicks. As for the adults, well, you can see how experience is useful for cartoon roles. Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter camp it up big-time, giving you something to enjoy even though their screen time is brief.
Go see Order of the Phoenix if you haven’t yet, unless you weren’t planning to. Fans won’t be disappointed, and the uninitiated aren’t missing anything at all. Those on the fence will end up staying there.
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