Seen: July 27th
Format: Theater
Rating: 7
Making films out of books is always a dubious proposition. The problem often lies in the fact that there's generally much more material in the book than can be practically put on the screen in the time which a feature usually runs. One solution to this is to make a series, one which can do the book real justice. But more frequently, the book must be deconstructed, and the elements culled to a set which really represents the story.
This is particularly difficult when the book is exceptionally popular (though unpopular books aren't as frequently made into films). Every element that's left on the floor is one that fans of the book will miss. One that they may personally find significant. This can leave them feeling short changed, disenfranchised.
And when the franchise is Harry Potter, this could be a problem.
Rowling's books have become more and more complex as this series has evolved. She's matured as a writer, and her novels have evolved along with her. The concepts have gotten larger. The sub-plots interesting places to explore all sorts of ideas and the relationships between her characters. Potter's world isn't a simple one anymore.
There's a lot that's missing from this film. Whole sub-plots simply vanish. Plot points are condensed and some characters de-emphasized. But it does work, and work well. It's a testament to the strength of her story that it can be so effectively reduced to its core.
As the story has progressed through the novels, the characters have aged and the story become much more serious. Gone are the cute little juxtapositions between the Muggle and Magic world. In their place are conspiracies and creeping fascism.
This film is a dark one. There is real danger here. As the dark times begin to coalesce, our characters are challenged, forced to grow into young adults. They're given responsibilities beyond their years, and are required to use their own initiative to not only preserve themselves, but contribute to the greater good.
I'm impressed by this shift. This film is hardly just for children. At it's core this film is about life, and the things we must learn to be able to truly value it. There's a depth here that's not quite so completely surfaced before.
There's a great use of effects here. Previous films have wowed us with them, here they're used very appropriately to impose the scene on us. Whether in the grand scale of the Department of Mysteries or the simple horror of the Dementors' attack, the effects serve the scene instead of becoming it. The only possible exception is Fred and George's fireworks display.
The look of the film is dark and dank, befitting it's subject matter. Even Hogwarts is not longer the festive place it has been before. The somber and ominous tones do a great deal to convey the tension of the times.
I particularly enjoyed the use of the newspaper as a literary device. Again, it contributes to the tone, particularly that of the populace. The jab at the media is obvious, but also reflect certain tendencies in the government, which plays nicely into the Ministry's attempt to control it's subjects via propaganda and ultimately quasi-fascist decrees.
If there's anything bad in this film, it's the same lack of completeness which I alluded to earlier. Because it's been compressed, certain aspects still seem a bit thin, a bit fleshless. There are times that we feel short changed because we know some random tidbit is important, but it's not explained or explored at all.
While I could go on, let me just re-iterate that, given the challenge, Order of the Phoenix does very nicely. While not magnificent, it's a solid and compelling work which drives the series forward and in very good style.
The Good: Things get serious
The Bad: Meglomaniacal Administrators
The Ugly: Losing your family
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