Logito and I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix this afternoon. We both thought it was very good, perhaps as good as The Prisoner of Azkaban. I've read several critical reviews, and frankly don't know why these people bother.
One complaint I've seen is that the script is disjointed. Maybe that reviewer fell asleep partway through and lost the storyline, but it didn't seem at all difficult to follow to me. Perhaps he was expecting it to follow the book more closely, like the first film did. Anyway, the original scriptwriter, who was not involved in this film, will be back for the final two.
Another complaint is that there is too much emphasis on the students in this film and not enough of the adult roles. Well, this series is primarily about the students, isn't it? The adults are key, but not the central characters. This book in particular is almost all about Harry. I also read one person griping about how, by the time the series is complete, the actors playing students in their late teens would look like thirty-year-olds. Clearly this is a person who needs to get out more. If Glenn Close and Robert Redford playing teenagers in The Natural wasn't a problem, why should a twenty-year-old playing an eighteen-year-old be any kind of issue at all?
Finally, the biggest gripe is that so much from the book has been left out. This book was some 850 pages long, what would you expect? If you want details, read the book. Did anyone read The Godfather? That was 450 pages (paperback) and TWO movies didn't include nearly all the detail of the book. So, for those crybabies whining about everything that was left out - shut up already.
Of the five movies, this one is definitely the darkest. Harry and Dumbledore know that Voldemort has returned, but few believe them, including those in charge of the Ministry of Magic. There is isolation and betrayal, but also friendship and love. The scenes between Harry and Sirius are particularly touching. Gary Oldman is wonderful as Sirius. We learn a little about Snape's background and gain a bit of understanding about why he resents Harry so much. I wish another ten minutes had been added to explain the prophecy in more detail, and how Neville and Professor Trelawney are tied into it, but perhaps they'll get to that in the next film. It would have been fun to see Ron's first foray into Quidditch, too, but that would have added at least 15-20 minutes to the movie.
Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it worth seeing. Yes. I may see it in a theater again. But that's just me.
Wabbs, it sounds from your review as if you had actually read the Potter books and seen all the films. What a Potter Resource you are! I've entertained picking up volume one and giving the style a go, but have yet to do so. I caught portions at the theater of a couple of the movie adaptations, including Azhkeban (sic), and I'm curious but not sold. I assume it's unnecessary to read and see the episodes seriatim, so I'll go to the Big Cinema and check out the latest release per your recommendation. Tell me more if it's more I need to know, Harry-Potter-wise.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read the books, you won't miss what was left out, and I think the movies are easy enough to follow. It's like any other series of movies, it helps to see them all, but it isn't necessary.
ReplyDeleteThe books are written for a young audience, so the style is simplistic, but it isn't pandering. Rowling refused to dumb down the language or change names like Hermione so that American kids would have an easier time understanding. Let them learn, she said, and that alone would sell me on the books. They are a quick read. I got through books 4 and 5 in one day - I was in Jeffersonville, the weather was lousy, and I started reading early in the morning. By the time I was ready to go to sleep, I had read two of the longer books. You'll tear through them.
If you want the paperbacks, Amazon is selling vols 1-6 at a good price. I just ordered them myself, since my hardcovers are all in storage.
The hardcovers are so much easier on the eyes... You can borrow Logito's if you want to. He has said he should really reread a couple to brush up before the next one.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, but I don't have to worry about being careful with the paperbacks. The first-edition hardcovers are, I hope, a good investment.
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