Village Voice
In narrative terms, not that much happens, but as for Harry's emotional journey--well, that's nearly epic...
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In this, Harry Potter 5, trouble brews as Harry returns for another year at Hogwarts. Harry (Radcliffe) and Headmaster Dumbledore (Gambon) warn that the evil Lord Voldemort (Fiennes) is set to return, but the news is met with disdain by the authorities. Fearing his power in being undermined by these rumours, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, ousts Dumbledore from Hogwarts and appoints a new witch to take charge of the school. Meanwhile, it’s up to the titular Order of freedom fighters – including Sirius Black (Oldman)– to prepare to fight the Dark Lord’s army (which includes Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange).
As well as Harry’s first kiss, ‘Order Of The Phoenix’ is promised as the darkest and most complex Potter film yet. Says Radcliffe: “This is the most overtly political of the films”, and virgin Potter-director Yates: “it’ll be edgier, a little more complicated, emotionally”.
2007Rating: PG, Moderate fantasy themes and violence138 minsUK, USA
- Director:
- David Yates (TV's 'State of Play', 'The Bill')
- Writer:
- Michael Goldenberg
- Cast:
- Daniel RadcliffeRupert GrintEmma WatsonHelena Bonham CarterRobbie ColtraneRalph FiennesMichael GambonBrendan GleesonRichard GriffithsGary OldmanMaggie SmithAlan Rickman
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix / Reviews
Los Angeles Times
It finally can't transcend the limitations inherent in being no more than a way station in an epic journey, a journey whose cinematic conclusion is several years away...
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Hollywood Reporter
"Phoenix" might go down as the problematic film, full of plot but little fun...
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Empire Magazine
If you didn’t like the others, there’s little point joining the franchise at this stage. But as Potter movies go, this is the most filmic of the lot, suspenseful and action-packed...
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Christchurch Press
While plenty of the book's detail is compressed or jettisoned, and parts of the film seem disjointed, what we really miss is the magic, which has been banned by the cruel Dolores Umbridge. In turn the movie seems less obviously enchanting than the last few - some would accuse it of being deadly Sirius - yet it still manages to be entertaining and action-packed enough to enchant the family for the full 138-minutes. Yes, Order of the Phoenix is the weakest in the franchise so far, but that's still quite a compliment among a strong fistful of bewitching films...
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BBC
Order of the Phoenix is entertaining enough, but it feels like a stopgap, a stepping stone to later, greater thrills. It takes an awfully long time to get going, but fans will be rewarded with an action-packed final third full of duelling wizards, portentous prophecies and Helena Bonham Carter giving plenty of loony as Bellatrix Lestrange...
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