Harry Potter And The Order Of the Phoenix, Harry Potter Five, Possible Spoilers

EDIT~07.16.07

Saw Harry Potter 5 today with spouse and son (My mostly picture review  opinion (with pics/poster) follows).

I would've been happier if Imelda Staunton as the Very Mean Dolores Umbridge traded screen time with Helena Bonham Carter because it could've been great fun seeing Bellatrix Lestrange live up to her name.

I would've given Imelda Staunton less screen time. She was too...pink. (I realize Dolores Umbridge was supposed to be annoying and she was.  But more so, it's Imelda Staunton who's not an actress I enjoy seeing perform). *shrug*

 

 

Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Helena Bonham Carter

It was good to see the Weasley's get more face time (except for Mom. What's Julie Walters now, chopped liver? Give her some lines! ).

Great that the underrated Gary Oldman, playing Harry's godfather Sirius Black has quite a bit of screen time. The foreshadowing was pretty heavy-handed at moments but at those times a terrific actor like Oldman can elevate the enjoyment of what would otherwise be typical father-figure-substitute tug-at-your-heart scenes. Luckily, Harry has more than one as Sirius seems to have extremely long runs of bad luck. Repeatedly.

There's been a pervasive gloom in this and in the Potter IV film that feels to me, to borrow from author J.S. Foer, like "heavy boots." I understand that the movies reflect the darkness of the book series. But as a movie-goer the impending doominess does not get me stoked to see things get even more gloomy. Maybe I'm just a happily-ever-after chick. At least in my fantasies.

The triad of Potter, Weasley, and Granger barely have a light moment in Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix and for me--as the viewer not reader of Harry Potter, etc. knowing there is more death almost certainly to come I feel like ugh, let's get it over with then.

Comments

[Cyn]

You say po tay toe I say po ta toe.

[Her Brother]

You got it all wrong. This was by far the best Potter flick *because* it was so gloomy. No more of that smarmy kid stuff. If Staunton doesn't get at least a nomination for Best Supporting, there's no justice. Hell, even Emma Watson was good in this, and she nearly ruined the last one. The only weak spot was, as usual, Gambon's Dumbledore--the man just cannot emote the requisite tenderness.

I'm dreading the next movie, given that book 6 was so weak.