(no subject)
Gobble gobble is the turkey's call
Cute but evil.
Disappointing. The fifth Harry Potter film opens with great promise and ominous climate, but the rest of the movie doesn't quite follow through.
The plot and pacing are its chief problems: there are long, tiresome stretches of dialogue, and still the story feels aimless and confusing. Plot developments that occur more naturally in the novel are clumsily introduced here to fulfill obvious narrative needs (the Room of Requirement, Grawp, the jailbreak). The big quest item around which the movie revolves is little more than a perplexing MacGuffin -- it's not even clear what it is or why it is significant. Admittedly, adapting a lengthy novel into a feature film is a challenge, but the narrative problems are still glaring.
The Order of the Phoenix lacks a strong villain to anchor the piece: Voldemort is mostly relegated to psychic vapour this time around, and the Malfoys are almost nonexistent. This leaves us with Umbridge, whose fascist rule of Hogwarts is farcical when it should be chilling. Her dictatorial declarations are nailed to the school walls - each time accompanied by lively sitcom music. She is evil in a stupid, ineffectual way, and her character is simplistic like many others in the film, characterized in big, broad strokes.
A lot of attention has clearly been paid to the film's visuals, which are splendid. Orwellian imagery and dynamic, live-action newspaper composites convey a lot of the tension that the writing lacks. The effects of magic are often thrilling and dramatic, and that's due in large part to the CG design.
Despite its visual flourishes and a somber atmosphere (as long as Umbridge isn't around), the storytelling is messy enough to significantly hamper the film. Those familiar with the novel may find the changes too drastic, and those who aren't may be lost in the complications. Harry Potter's story grows in scope and ambition with every instalment, and it's ever more disheartening when the adaptation falls short.
(TWO out of five)
Whew, longest blurb yet. It took me six hours to write, no kidding.
I can't even go discuss this movie with anybody on the Internet in fear of having the seventh book spoiled for me. The world is full of miserable assholes.
Cute but evil.
Disappointing. The fifth Harry Potter film opens with great promise and ominous climate, but the rest of the movie doesn't quite follow through.
The plot and pacing are its chief problems: there are long, tiresome stretches of dialogue, and still the story feels aimless and confusing. Plot developments that occur more naturally in the novel are clumsily introduced here to fulfill obvious narrative needs (the Room of Requirement, Grawp, the jailbreak). The big quest item around which the movie revolves is little more than a perplexing MacGuffin -- it's not even clear what it is or why it is significant. Admittedly, adapting a lengthy novel into a feature film is a challenge, but the narrative problems are still glaring.
The Order of the Phoenix lacks a strong villain to anchor the piece: Voldemort is mostly relegated to psychic vapour this time around, and the Malfoys are almost nonexistent. This leaves us with Umbridge, whose fascist rule of Hogwarts is farcical when it should be chilling. Her dictatorial declarations are nailed to the school walls - each time accompanied by lively sitcom music. She is evil in a stupid, ineffectual way, and her character is simplistic like many others in the film, characterized in big, broad strokes.
A lot of attention has clearly been paid to the film's visuals, which are splendid. Orwellian imagery and dynamic, live-action newspaper composites convey a lot of the tension that the writing lacks. The effects of magic are often thrilling and dramatic, and that's due in large part to the CG design.
Despite its visual flourishes and a somber atmosphere (as long as Umbridge isn't around), the storytelling is messy enough to significantly hamper the film. Those familiar with the novel may find the changes too drastic, and those who aren't may be lost in the complications. Harry Potter's story grows in scope and ambition with every instalment, and it's ever more disheartening when the adaptation falls short.
(TWO out of five)
Whew, longest blurb yet. It took me six hours to write, no kidding.
I can't even go discuss this movie with anybody on the Internet in fear of having the seventh book spoiled for me. The world is full of miserable assholes.