Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixReview by Peter T. Chattaway |
posted 7/11/2007
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Indeed, one of the striking things about Order of the Phoenix is how it brings back so many talented British actors—including Brendan Gleeson (Mad-Eye Moody), Julie Walters (Mrs. Weasley), Maggie Smith (Minerva McGonagall) and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black)—and gives them relatively little to do. And when Helena Bonham-Carter shows up near the end as one of Voldemort's minions, you wonder why her arrival is treated with such fanfare, or why an actress of her stature was hired for what is little more than a cameo. Yes, no doubt we will see more of her in future films, but in this film, she's just one of the many big names doing nothing in particular.
Why does the fifth Harry Potter film show so little feeling for its characters? Possibly because it is directed by David Yates, the fourth director to work on this series and the first with no experience on a Hollywood movie; most of his work so far has been in British television. Perhaps he was too busy learning the ropes of such a technically challenging film to keep his eye on the story's heart and soul.
Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) returns, but Harry can't convince anyone of the truth
But I think the bigger problem is the screenplay, by Michael Goldenberg (whose last film was the live-action adaptation of Peter Pan). The first four movies, all of which were written by Steve Kloves, had to leave out bits of the books, and sometimes the omissions were puzzling, but at least each film held on to the story's central thread. The new film, on the other hand, is written in a much clumsier fashion.
Take Harry's budding romance with Cho Chang (Katie Leung). The build-up to their first kiss is awkward and unconvincing, so much so that it has to be followed by a scene in which Hermione explains to Harry all the emotions that Cho must be feeling. And then, the next time we see Cho, the tone abruptly shifts, and the relationship between these two characters is left without any resolution at all.
In addition, the film introduces significant characters only to ignore their significance to the story later on. We see Sirius's grumpy house-elf, Kreacher (voice of Timothy Bateson), but not the role he plays behind the scenes. We see Dumbledore come to the defense of Sybil Trelawney (Emma Thompson), the Divination teacher, after Umbridge has her fired—it's one of the film's rare touching moments—but the movie never underscores why Dumbledore is so protective of her, nor does it tell us the full significance of the prophecy she once made, and which Voldemort now seeks.
Even more puzzling is the climactic battle between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix—the forces loyal to Voldemort and Dumbledore, respectively—in the underground headquarters of the Ministry of Magic. Good guys and bad guys show up at arbitrarily convenient moments, as though they were waiting to make the most dramatic entrance; and the battle revolves, in part, around an archway with a curtain, the significance of which is never explained—even though it plays a crucial role in what is supposed to be one of the film's most heartbreaking scenes.
At a few points in this film, we get flashbacks to Harry's younger days—to scenes from the earlier movies. It is startling to realize just how much growing up Harry has done since the first film came out six years ago. It is also sobering to think that a series that began with such potential is beginning to show serious signs of sequel fatigue. Let us hope that the franchise gets its second wind, and soon.
Talk About It
Discussion starters
- Sirius Black tells Harry Potter that he's not a bad person, just a good person that bad things have happened to. Do you agree? Have good things happened to Harry? What has he done himself that might make him a good person or a bad person?
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