Rather (Love)Good Film

Rating: 9/10 (12 July 2007)

I've been to a lot of blockbusters lately - Spider-Man 3, Pirates 3, Die Hard 4. But Harry Potter 5 was the first one whose line actually busted a block; going all the way around it by the time the doors opened for the 10:15 show at the Senator. I figured this show wouldn't be as hectic as the midnight showing, but since this was the first day the film was out, I should have known better. This was no ordinary line of moviegoers, either. Nearly half of them were sporting the usual magical garb.
So, the movie. It's odd-numbered, and so, like the first and third movies, I expected it to be good. I can say rather confidently that it was slightly better than good. It did an outstanding job of covering everything crucial to the saga, without feeling rushed or slow. The pace of the movie was very nice. The production design was almost telepathic; I found settings I had conjured in my mind while reading them respectfully recreated in even greater detail than even Rawling could have imagined.
This film could not cover everything in the book, but since I haven't read the book since it came out, nothing stood out as conspicuously missing. The infamous Quidditch World Cup scene from Goblet - where we never get to see a second of quidditch - was so jarring and inexplicable, it basically ruined that fourth film for me. But Phoenix is a much smarter, much more logical movie; it cut what wasn't needed and, like I said, kept what was necessary.
The characters, as usual, are spot on, to borrow a term from the Brits. The main trio is getting older, and they're becoming better actors. I was absolutely smitten with Luna Lovegood, unquestionably my favorite Hogwarts student. The choice of actress was absolutely perfect, as his her portrayal of the spacey yet oddly perceptive girl with striking features. I especially enjoyed the chemistry between her and Potter in particular. Luna's character may be straightforward, but easily the deepest and most intriguing of Harry's friends.
I was also glad Sirius Black had some screen time, although still not as much as he deserved. Of course, he was nothing but a CGI face in a fire in Goblet, so it was good to just see him again.
Dolores Umbridge is also, well, just as I expected her. I'm glad they didn't go with a hideous, toad-like woman with CGI features, that would have more closely followed the illustration of her in the book; the fact that on the surface she actually looks like a sweet, kind woman makes her all the more chilling as she puts the vice-grips to Hogwarts and makes Harry open his veins.
Astonishing how far the film series has grown with these characters, both in mood and style. The first film was light and whimsical, mirroring the characters' youth and innocence. This is the darkest film yet in the franchise, darker even than the fourth. But enough about the fourth movie; this one was far, far better film, if for nothing else, because it was coherent. It covered so much material so well. I'll probably see it again.