Never Fully Captures The Epic Moments From the Book

Rating: 6/10 (6 March 2017)

Though undoubtedly a bit drawn out, the novel version of "Order of the Phoenix" does contain its share of epic moments. I thought that this movie version would be an improvement, as it would be able to separate the "wheat from the chaff", so to speak, and keep the action flowing. What actually happens, however, is that the movie never slows down enough to savor those great moments, instead pushing forward relentlessly from beginning to end.
For a basic plot summary, "Phoenix" begins with Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) defending himself at the Ministry of Magic after using a Patronus Charm to defeat some Dementors near Privet Drive. Upon returning to Hogwarts, Harry discovers that the school is slowly being turned into a mouthpiece of Cornelius Fudge (Robert Hardy) with the appointment of Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) as a central figure. Soon, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), & Hermoine (Emma Watson) get some first-hand experience dealing with the "politics of magic", so to speak.
The film version of "Phoenix" is basically a class-A example of a movie not living up to the novel. It is just a little odd for this series considering that all the previous movies were very favorably toward their books' source materials. The trouble here is that director David Yates doesn't quite know when to "slow down" and savor the moment (or even what those right moments are).
For example (spoilers ahead)...
-Some very interesting material regarding why Harry must always stay with the Dursleys is completely excised. This was a key portion of the book that really ties up some loose story ends. -Also gone is a very touching "Weasley is our King" Quidditch angle from the book. Instead, Grint's Ron is given nothing to do in this one. -Umbridge is treated with a comical air instead of the malice she should personify. in fact, her first appearances in the Hogwarts halls are set to a sort of music video montage totally unbecoming of what her character should be. -The final climactic battle featuring Dumbledore (Micheal Gambon) and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) carries none of the gravitas of the novel (or even lives up to the Potter/Voldemort scenes at the end of "Goblet of Fire). It just falls flat.
One thing that the movie does get right, however, is spending a least a bit more time (though still far less than the book) rounding out the auxiliary cast. The Weasley Twins (James & Oliver Phelps), Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), & Cho Chang (Katie Lueng) get more screen time than ever before, while newcomer Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) is a great new addition to the cast.
Thus, while "Order of the Phoenix" isn't a terrible movie by any means, it is the first of the Potter movies to significantly be worse than its source-material novel. Too many key moments are missing, while the ones that do show up aren't allowed to be savored like they should.