Imelda Staunton steals the film...a darker than usual Potter...

Rating: 6/10 (13 July 2007)

For a film that has been doing fantastic box-office business, one would hope that HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX would be a much more energized and fascinating movie than it is. Instead, it's like watching a rehash of previous Potter subplots, previous ingredients stirred into a new stew leading to a climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort that ends in a blaze of fireworks.
But the few "big" action scenes, while well staged with all the CGI effects bound to please the Potter fans, are hampered by a rather dull and listless storyline that has Potter looking at the dark center within himself as he plots how to avenge the dark forces trying to destroy him. And even the humor that is usually so much a part of these films is lacking, probably because EMMA WATSON and RUPERT GRINT have so little do do with the main action.
But as a consolation, there are some striking performances, especially IMELDA STAUNTON as the overbearing and strict disciplinarian who injects a lot of humor into her wickedness. The film is fortunate to have her in a key role. Not much can be said for EMMA THOMPSON and MAGGIE SMITH who speak no more than a few lines, but ALAN RICKMAN and GARY OLDMAN at least have much more to do in supporting roles. Even the main villain of the piece, RALPH FIENNES as Lord Voldemort, has little actual screen time.
One big ingredient the film has going for it is the background score by Nicholas Hooper which gives zest to the action scenes and the proper mood to all the dark sequences--of which there are plenty. Some of the sets are richly detailed and atmospheric, but too much of the photography takes place in the dark.
Summing up: A so-so chapter in the Potter series. Hard to see why this one is proving to be such box-office gold when the story is less than satisfying.