Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

David Yates

Writers (WGA):

Michael Goldenberg (screenplay)
J.K. Rowling (novel)

Release Date:

11 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

Evil Must Be Confronted.

Plot:

With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Magic | Wizard | School | Witchcraft

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 10 wins & 27 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 4	9:45 AM	HBO
Thur. July 9	12:00 PM	HBO

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe	...	Harry Potter
Harry Melling	...	Dudley Dursley
Jason Boyd	...	Piers
Richard Macklin	...	Malcolm
Kathryn Hunter	...	Mrs. Arabella Figg
Miles Jupp	...	TV Weatherman
Fiona Shaw	...	Aunt Petunia Dursley
Richard Griffiths	...	Uncle Vernon Dursley
Jessica Hynes	...	Mafalda Hopkirk (voice) (as Jessica Stevenson)
Adrian Rawlins	...	James Potter
Geraldine Somerville	...	Lily Potter
Robert Pattinson	...	Cedric Diggory
Ralph Fiennes	...	Lord Voldemort
Natalia Tena	...	Nymphadora Tonks
Brendan Gleeson	...	Alastor 'Mad-­Eye' Moody

Also Known As:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)
The Order of the Phoenix (USA) (short title)
Tip Top (UK) (fake working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence and frightening images.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Sonics-DDP (IMAX version) | Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | South Africa:10M | Sweden:11 | Denmark:11 | South Korea:All | Canada:G (Quebec) | Brazil:Livre | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:13 (re-rating on appeal) | Argentina:16 | Slovakia:12 | Taiwan:PG-12 (original rating) | Malaysia:U | New Zealand:M | Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Since this film would include wand dueling at an elite level, a specific "wand choreographer" (Paul Harris, who is actually a professional dance choreographer) was brought in to design the style and technique of this highly unorthodox way of fighting. The result consists of five basic spell-casting moves, which each of the actors were then allowed to adapt slightly to fit their own character. So, for instance, Lucius Malfoy would have a very formal and somewhat 'stiff' fighting style, while Sirius Black uses a snappy and more spontaneous 'street fight' style.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Harry and Mr Weasley are descending into the Ministry, using the visitors' entrance, only the inside of the phone box in the street moves. When the scene cuts to the interior of the Ministry, they're in a complete phone box.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Radio announcer: I don't know about you, it's just too hot today, isn't it? And it's going to get even worse. Temperatures up in the mid 30's Celsius, that's the mid 90's Fahrenheit, tomorrow maybe even hitting 100. So please, remember to cover up and stay cool with the hottest hits on your FM dial.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in J.K. Rowling: A Year in the Life (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Hedwig's Theme

A great improvement on the book

I was very pleased with this movie; in contrast to the other books, I found Order of the Phoenix as a book pretty dull and forgettable. But I felt the movie really brought it to life and narrowed it down into a much more succinct story. Some people would see this as a negative and others will think it is a positive.

Emma Watson's acting, as previously mentioned, is a little forced, but at the same time it does suit the type of character she is playing, and overall it can be forgiven. I think the special effects used in the Department of Mysteries and the battle scene were fabulous, and the screenplay was excellent, particularly when you look at the screenplays from the first couple of films.

I know I really enjoyed this film and it far exceeded my expectations. While the movies will never match up to the sheer brilliance of the books, I think the Harry Potter films are 'bloody brilliant' as an additional outlet for fans and a great way to enjoy the stories in a new medium.