It's not easy to take the longest Harry Potter book and streamline it into the shortest HP movie, but director David Yates does a bang up job of it, creating an Order of the Phoenix that's entertaining and action-packed.
Traditional drama is usually a three-act deal: set-up, conflict, resolution. But this is the three-act deal every two minutes. Danger, baddie, magic. Danger, baddie, magic. Danger, baddie, magic. It's as tired as it is tiresome.
Read full articleBy focussing the story on Harry (a leaner and slightly meaner Daniel Radcliffe) and his exploits, Yates dispenses with many of the novel's subplots and is able to push the story forward, ominously foreshadowing the dark times to come.
Read full articlePerformances are more mature, the soundtrack (by Nicholas Hooper) less grandiose, and Yates executes some thrilling set-pieces.
Read full articleBrought me straight back to one of the most enduring of childhood feelings: boredom.
Read full articleInstallment five boosts his [Harry's] rebellion to enjoyable levels of British pique.
Read full articleWe do get terrific work from the all-star British cast, and the special effects are as seamless as ever.
I found this incredibly redundant and the pacing was painfully slow at times. I wish this was more visually enthralling.
Read full articleThe CGI doesn't hold up well but the performances of Rickman and Staunton are great. It's one of the better Harry Potter films.
Read full articleHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a great example of some of the series' strongest elements, especially its cast and visual effects.
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