Ryan ChartrandFor the devoted Harry Potter fan, the anticipation leading up to the release of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” the fifth movie in the series, had readers wondering how they could possibly cram 900 pages of a story line into about two hours of film.
Just like each of the former opening scenes, an eerie sensation settles over the audience as 15-year-old Harry Potter is once again tormented by his callous cousin Dudley Dursley and forced to use his magic against the daunting Azkaban Dementors.
Once Harry is allowed to return to Hogwarts, after the threat of suspension, he finds he has become the spectacle of the Daily Prophet press and the topic of many discussions.
Schoolmates doubt Harry’s explanation on the death of Cedric Diggory, who was killed by Lord Voldemort at the end of the fourth film, and the minister of magic, Cornelius Fudge, refuses to believe Lord Voldemort has returned.
It’s another year at Hogwarts with an ongoing stressful series of events as Harry and friends take charge and face-off against the power-hungry ministry of magic and the venomous Dolores Umbridge, sharpen their skills as Dumbledore’s Army, and prepare once again to face “he who must not be named” and his relentless followers.
Things are certainly a lot darker in Harry’s world, yet amidst all the chaos, Harry still finds time to steal his first kiss and experience the first lessons of awkward teenage love.
New director David Yates and screenwriter Michael Goldenberg do a decent job capturing author J.K. Rowling’s concept. Beyond that, the essentials were cut quite short.
Those who haven’t read the book will leave the theater with a different point of view than committed Harry Potter readers. As the shortest film in the series, many intricate details were omitted from the story line.
“The book had such an incredible amount of detail. There was so much the movie barely even touched upon,” said Josh Jacobs, 22, of San Luis Obispo. “Especially how evil professor Umbridge actually was and the lack of development with the Order of the Phoenix.”
Even a character as seemingly insignificant as Kreacher, a house elf, lacked proper development, leaving “non-bookies” wondering why such a character was even introduced.
The book elaborately covers the history of the Black family, loveable Rubeus Hagrid and his journey to the giants, Neville Longbottom’s tragic past and the significance of Luna Lovegood: all details the film leaves untouched.
The production also seemed to add a lot of big names with little roles. Talented British actors Emma Thompson, Richard Griffiths and Maggie Smith all appeared in pointless appearances.
Despite the shortcomings, the overall visual appeal matched the creativity put forth by J.K. Rowling’s imaginative novels.
Spellbinding battles between good and evil kept the excitement and anticipation level high enough to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
Most readers have been disappointed with the release of movies based on their beloved books and this story holds true to that trend. However, fans have watched their adored characters mature both physically and in terms of their acting abilities.
“The Order of the Phoenix” is by far the most intense and dark movie in the series. With its serious tone, this movie appears to be setting viewers up for more tragic events to come.
The movie leaves viewers with a list of questions only the book can explain.
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” might not have been the most entertaining in the series, but for fans who haven’t read the book, the film will have them dashing to the nearest bookstore.