The Best Potter Movie Yet!

Rating: 7/10 (20 July 2007)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix had a difficult job from the beginning; Harry is an emotional and unhappy boy throughout. He is now 15 years old and the hormones are kicking in. Oh, and it doesn't help that Lord Voldemort has returned and is trying to control his mind, all while a teacher from Hell has taken over Defense Against the Dark Arts... along with a few other things. By the end of this year, Harry and his friends have to take matters into their own hands. Fortunately, the Order of the Phoenix, a society bent on destroying Voldemort, is right behind them.
Director David Yates does a wonderful job with what was probably the most complex book. His vision is very obviously different from the previous three directors, but it just might be the best. As a die-hard fan of the books, I expect a lot out of the movies- Luckily they just keep getting better. This one is the best so far.
One has to give some credit for that to Imelda Staunton playing that teacher from Hell I spoke of: Professor Umbridge. She is absolutely perfect, and her performance is Oscar-worthy. Doubtful she'll have a chance, but I'm definitely rooting for Best Supporting Actress. Her interpretation of this character is so spot on, so evil through fake niceness, she inspires fantastic performances from the returning actors around her. They are all back at the top of their game with this one, in particular Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman as Professors McGonagall and Snape, respectively. The scene between Professor McGonagall and Professor Umbridge is one of the most intense in the movie. The other cast member who shines the brightest is Gary Oldman as Harry's godfather, Sirius Black. He just might have you in tears by the end.
And there are some pretty intense scenes here. The last 30 minutes of the movie will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It's fantastic film-making. The action sequences are done wonderfully, and the dramatic scenes are wonderful, too. The only downfall is that the film starts out pretty slow and can seem long at times. All in all, though, Mr. Yates has done a fine job with the story, and I hope he's back for the next round. I know I'll be there Opening Night. 7/10 stars!
Jay Addison