Video/DVD Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that even kids who can't read know
about Harry Potter, and some kids who are too young for the
content will want to see this fifth Potter movie (which is
especially well timed, since the seventh -- and final! -- book
hits bookstores July 21). As has been the case with each
succeeding movie, as the central characters have gotten older
and taken on bigger challenges, the themes darken, the danger
becomes more intense, and the climatic battle scenes with "You
Know Who" and his minions are downright frightening. Spoiler
alert: There's a very upsetting (but bloodless) death of
someone near and dear to Harry. As a result, he grows even more
introspective and angry. At the very least, he does enjoy his
first kiss (no spoiler to Potterheads), and Ron and Hermione
continue their flirtatious bickering.
Families can talk about the movies' increasingly mature themes
as Harry grows into a full-blown adolescent. Why is Harry so
angry? Do you think Harry and his friends act and feel like
real teenagers? Also, even though this movie and the last one
are rated PG-13, they're heavily marketed to younger kids -- do
you think that's OK, or are the later movies too scary for
little kids? Potterheads: What parts of the book were best
depicted in the film? What got left out that you would have
included? What scenes included heavy foreshadowing of things to
come?
From the opening scene in which Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and portly dolt Dudley (Harry Melling) are attacked by Dementors, our courageous young hero has an ever-heightened awareness -- and acceptance -- of how his destiny is entwined with You Know Who's. In THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, the fifth installment of J.K. Rowling's seven-volume phenomenon, Harry, who survived his last confrontation with Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) but watched school favorite Cedric Diggory perish, is no longer a popular wizard genius. The Ministry of Magic mounts a smear attack against him and Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), he is nearly expelled, Dumbledore avoids him, and new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) tries to squash the idea that the Dark Lord is back. Sweetly odious Umbridge refuses to teach any defensive spells, so Hermione (Emma Watson) convinces Harry to hold secret classes in combat magic. Meanwhile, Umbridge, a child-hating, Ministry-approved enforcer, installs herself as dictator and launches a fascist campaign. In a climactic battle, Harry and friends face Voldemort's fearsome Death Eaters -- like Azkaban escapee Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and wicked Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs). There's a tragic (albeit expected) death and an even more tragic moment when Harry thinks he's alone and defeated. But Potter lovers know that Harry isn't ever alone: He has an entire world of devotees on his side.
There's no longer a doubt that, with the advent of THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, Harry Potter -- the character, as well as the film series -- has grown up. In this dark (even by Potter standards) and captivating new adventure, the kids face increasing peril, and the thrills intensify right up to the explosive ending. The gravity of the situation takes a front seat, with bureaucratic intrigue and boot-camp magic lessons overshadowing the brief romantic interest between Harry and Cho (Katie Leung). Sure, Harry finally enjoys his first kiss, but the infatuation doesn't last.
And forget about Quidditch, because director David Yates doesn't include any game sequences -- or much of the Hogwarts social scene, for that matter, outside of the clandestine magic lessons. Those who haven't read the novels might hope for a Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione hook-up, but apparently that's just not in the books ... yet, anyway.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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