Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!
So all-in-all a pretty good movie.
I don't want to do an all-out review, but I think there are a few things that are worth mentioning.
First off, the bad....
I'm really starting to think that Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw and the kid that plays Dudley really can't act -- at least not in the Harry Potter films. I've wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt from film one, but I think Griffiths should stick to stage acting, and Shaw I think doesn't really belong in the comical role she plays in Harry Potter. Overall, I think these actors are too "fine" or "refined" to play the asses the screenwriters have concocted (we all know Rowling's Dursleys do have more depth, even if they are still a bunch of drips).
But honestly, every Dursley scene from the first film until now has been ... well, mediocre at best. I hate comparing it to the book, but seriously, they just don't gel very well with the rest of the film. It's ironic how the parts of the films that are supposed to be based in reality (read the muggle world) are the most artificial. I didn't enjoy the breakfast scene in SS, I didn't buy the dinner party prep scene in CoS, and I didn't laugh during the mayhem of Aunt Marge's inflation in PoA. It was no different in OotP when they attempted to blame Harry for Dudley's dementia.
In addition, there's the sad state of Arabella Figg, whose scene had the potential for being superb and yet, there was no feistiness, no hurried or panicked tone. For goodness sakes, there wasn't even a Mundungus Fletcher!
Let's move on, shall we?
Tonks, you're beautiful. But guess what... your screen time was cut down too much! I know this is Harry's story and with a lengthy film at 2:18, you've gotta squeeze in as much Harry as possible at the risk of snipping other characters. Tonks didn't deserve it, though. And speaking of cut characters... no Firenze, and practically no Centaurs... Also, given the fact that Percy was omitted from GoF, you'd think they would have reintroduced him, or at least given him a speaking line or two. Ehh.. Whatev.
The missing pieces are all over, and pretty well expected. But of all the missing pieces, whether St. Mungos or Harry sneaking a peak in Snape's pensieve, the one I wanted to see most was Mrs. Weasley's woes.
Now then... the good stuff.
I like how they used the art of montage to give us as much information as possible. The thestrals were beautiful. The kids acting was much improved. Hermione was not nearly as annoying as in GoF, Ron was given the opportunity to genuinely smile... something that I really missed, since he's been looking like a cowardly buffoon, terror-stricken and mouth agape for the past three films. And Loony.. Oh GODS!! PERFECT!! I LOVE HER!! She's so amazing! I can't tell you how happy I was with her performance. The dreamy voice, the loopiness. It was perfect. The best role in the film. Clearly.
The kiss. Well, the audience and I missed what he said after "wet" because of our riotous laughter. I'm sorry, but 90% of the females were aflutter during the kiss... and when Harry says it was "wet" ... well, it was just hilarious. Oh god, so much laughter. Haha. Anyway...
One of the most beautiful scenes in the film had to be the Patronus lesson. To me, that was magic. It was just incredibly cool to see all the different patronuses. The final fight, the Dept. of Mysteries, all very amazing. I was miffed that there were no attacking brains or revolving room with dozens of doors. But the fight against the death eaters in the prophecy room, and the destruction of all the prophecies was great. Sirius' death scene was powerful as well, despite the fact that they killed him off with the Avada Kedavra curse. Ugh. Still... it was hard watching him die.
The fight scene between Dumbledore and Voldemort was incredible, though. It really did blow me away, and the possession of Harry was done really well.
So... yeah. Overall, a really good film. And I can't wait to see it again. :D
I don't want to do an all-out review, but I think there are a few things that are worth mentioning.
First off, the bad....
I'm really starting to think that Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw and the kid that plays Dudley really can't act -- at least not in the Harry Potter films. I've wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt from film one, but I think Griffiths should stick to stage acting, and Shaw I think doesn't really belong in the comical role she plays in Harry Potter. Overall, I think these actors are too "fine" or "refined" to play the asses the screenwriters have concocted (we all know Rowling's Dursleys do have more depth, even if they are still a bunch of drips).
But honestly, every Dursley scene from the first film until now has been ... well, mediocre at best. I hate comparing it to the book, but seriously, they just don't gel very well with the rest of the film. It's ironic how the parts of the films that are supposed to be based in reality (read the muggle world) are the most artificial. I didn't enjoy the breakfast scene in SS, I didn't buy the dinner party prep scene in CoS, and I didn't laugh during the mayhem of Aunt Marge's inflation in PoA. It was no different in OotP when they attempted to blame Harry for Dudley's dementia.
In addition, there's the sad state of Arabella Figg, whose scene had the potential for being superb and yet, there was no feistiness, no hurried or panicked tone. For goodness sakes, there wasn't even a Mundungus Fletcher!
Let's move on, shall we?
Tonks, you're beautiful. But guess what... your screen time was cut down too much! I know this is Harry's story and with a lengthy film at 2:18, you've gotta squeeze in as much Harry as possible at the risk of snipping other characters. Tonks didn't deserve it, though. And speaking of cut characters... no Firenze, and practically no Centaurs... Also, given the fact that Percy was omitted from GoF, you'd think they would have reintroduced him, or at least given him a speaking line or two. Ehh.. Whatev.
The missing pieces are all over, and pretty well expected. But of all the missing pieces, whether St. Mungos or Harry sneaking a peak in Snape's pensieve, the one I wanted to see most was Mrs. Weasley's woes.
Now then... the good stuff.
I like how they used the art of montage to give us as much information as possible. The thestrals were beautiful. The kids acting was much improved. Hermione was not nearly as annoying as in GoF, Ron was given the opportunity to genuinely smile... something that I really missed, since he's been looking like a cowardly buffoon, terror-stricken and mouth agape for the past three films. And Loony.. Oh GODS!! PERFECT!! I LOVE HER!! She's so amazing! I can't tell you how happy I was with her performance. The dreamy voice, the loopiness. It was perfect. The best role in the film. Clearly.
The kiss. Well, the audience and I missed what he said after "wet" because of our riotous laughter. I'm sorry, but 90% of the females were aflutter during the kiss... and when Harry says it was "wet" ... well, it was just hilarious. Oh god, so much laughter. Haha. Anyway...
One of the most beautiful scenes in the film had to be the Patronus lesson. To me, that was magic. It was just incredibly cool to see all the different patronuses. The final fight, the Dept. of Mysteries, all very amazing. I was miffed that there were no attacking brains or revolving room with dozens of doors. But the fight against the death eaters in the prophecy room, and the destruction of all the prophecies was great. Sirius' death scene was powerful as well, despite the fact that they killed him off with the Avada Kedavra curse. Ugh. Still... it was hard watching him die.
The fight scene between Dumbledore and Voldemort was incredible, though. It really did blow me away, and the possession of Harry was done really well.
So... yeah. Overall, a really good film. And I can't wait to see it again. :D