What Do The Critics Say?

"They probably won't be screaming "Harry, you're so cool" when they see the film. For a start, he is a bundle of adolescent anxieties: conflicted, often isolated and sometimes murderously angry. And that much-anticipated kiss with his fellow pupil Cho might put people off. It lingers just a bit too long and there is not enough chemistry. To dwell on a few weaknesses would be to neglect the obvious point - that Harry Potter is older, bigger and darker than ever. And no one would want to miss his journey." Charles Frederick DAILY TELEGRAPH UK "Order of the Phoenix is still 'dark', but it doesn’t let audiences’ imaginations soar as the previous two films did. Director Yates's talents seem more suited to small-scale dramas than big-budgeted special effects blockbusters. Action scenes are often staged awkwardly while the set designs and special effects often have a humdrum and flat feeling about them. Cinematographer Slawomir Idziak’s colour palettes occasionally seem uninspired and dull. Good, but not great. Fans expecting more than simply 'good' would be disappointed." James O'Ehley Sci-Fi MOVIE PAGE "In a series this good, there's bound to be a mild low point and ..... Order of the Phoenix is it." Bill Clark FROMTHEBALCONY FromTheBalcony "So while Phoenix is a necessary film, it's quite possibly the least enjoyable of the lot so far. There are several eye-catching moments here, some featuring otherworldy creatures, magic duels to the death, a clandestine though illicit wizardry school operated by Harry and rides through nighttime London skies. But the magic; movie magic, that is; is mostly missing in this outing." Kirk Honeycutt HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "Under new director David Yates, Harry’s latest big-screen outing is darker in tone than the previous four but no scarier than The Prisoner Of Azkaban. However, with filming of Harry Potter six already under way and the seventh film in the planning stages, there could be a risk of Potter fatigue. During this film I had to ask myself whether the stories are different enough to make the films stand apart from each other. There is a danger some of the Hogwarts magic could finally be wearing off; but no doubt millions of kids will still fall under its spell. The special effects are excellent and the battles thrilling." Alison Maloney SUN ONLINE

"...the newest installation of the J.K. Rowling created franchise has a speed and a jaunty, even terrifying forward momentum. It is not always to the film’s advantage, and the resulting work sometimes sacrifices character development and suffers a corresponding near absence of the bit player that enlivened some of the previous movies. "The Order of the Phoenix" does not achieve the dizzying heights of its two predecessors." Emanuel Levy EMANUELLEVY.COM "For the first time ever, we have a Harry Potter movie that isn’t an ensemble piece. Unlike any of the films before it, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is focused squarely on Harry. Most distressing about Order of the Phoenix is how poorly constructed it is as a movie. The movie really becomes a mess when it tries to take its characters into different locations. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix represents a depressing step backward for these movies. Harry Potter newcomer David Yates has sucked the life right out of the room and his characters. Radcliffe’s Potter may be kind of a buzzkill, but he’s good at playing it and does a decent job of carrying the movie on his shoulders." Joshua Tyler CINEMABLEND "Whatever happened to the delight and, if you'll excuse the term, the magic in the Harry Potter series?" Roger Ebert CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Chicago Sun-Times "If you didn’t like the others, there’s little point joining the franchise at this stage. But as Potter movies go, this is the most filmic of the lot, suspenseful and action-packed. That last act is the reward here, a series of action set-pieces that easily eclipses any previous showdown in the franchise. Magical strikes and duels whip past in a flurry of physical and mental blows, as the bad guys finally make a concerted effort to kick some Potter ass." Helen OHara EMPIRE MAGAZINE "The metaphors are all implicit and have a lot to do with just growing up and facing unpleasant realities, but they increasingly contribute to the feeling of nervousness and unease creeping into the series. It will be interesting to see if general anticipation for the two remaining films holds fast or tails off once the epic series' conclusion is revealed in the final book." Todd McCarthy VARIETY

The Inside Story Harry's back and with a number of changes including a new director, BAFTA TV Award winner David Yates. "David is a fantastic actors’ director, and he has also shown that he can handle political subject matter in an entertaining way. This is not a political film, per se, but the politics of the magic world are very much at play here. We thought David would handle that brilliantly, and he has. He came in with a great passion for the material and a great sense of the emotional journey of the characters. He understood that, for all the spectacle, what we and the audience connect with are the characters," says producer David Heyman ("Blind Justice" & "The Daytrippers"). "It was really rewarding how the kids embraced him and he them. Like their characters, they are growing up and David treated them as equals. He realized that they know their characters well and was always soliciting their ideas and getting them to bring more of themselves to their roles in ways they hadn’t before. That was exciting for them and for us." "I loved working with David. He is a delightful man, very soft-spoken, and yet I have never been pushed as hard as I was on this film, partly because of the nature of the story and partly because of his directing. He never settled for less; he always wanted me to go deeper, which was exactly what I felt I needed. He is a brilliant director," says Daniel Radcliffe. Actor Rupert Grint agrees. "David is wicked; we got on really well with him. He was quite a bit different from the other directors because he has a more relaxed approach, but he always gave great suggestions." "It was really lovely because David listened to what we had to say about our characters. He was respectful of the fact that we have been playing these people for five films now. He appreciated the history and the special relationship that Dan, Rupert and I share because it adds truth to the friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione. David really looks for truth in all of the characters," says young actress Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger. Another newcomer is screenwriter Michael Goldenberg. It's not hard to guess what his reaction to joining the Potter team was. "I was thrilled when David Heyman called and asked me to be involved," Goldenberg recalls. "The great thing about working on a Harry Potter film is that it’s something bigger than yourself, so there is no question of ego getting in the way. I know it’s a cliché, but it’s a magical thing to be a part of what has become this amazing phenomenon and to have a role in helping to bring it to the screen; I felt a great sense of responsibility in the best sense of the word. David Heyman made it fun, which is what a Harry Potter film should be, and Jo (J.K. Rowling) was incredibly sweet and could not have been more generous in giving us room to make the best film possible. David Yates was intent on keeping every moment of the story grounded in reality, and I think that’s what makes the magic even more magical." So what sort of a story did he come up with? One which stays true to the spirit of the book, evidently. "This story, in particular, is so much about Harry’s journey," Goldenberg observes. "It’s about Harry coming of age and realizing that things aren’t as black and white as they initially appeared, and the adults he idealized are perhaps more flawed and human than he thought. We wanted to examine those themes, not only with Harry but also with Ron and Hermione. All of the kids are dealing with a more complex world than when they first entered Hogwarts." "Poor Harry. After everything he’s been through, he has been shut away in Little Whinging with absolutely no news from anybody, says producer David Barron ("Love's Labour's Lost" & "Sahara") "He thinks everybody is ignoring him; Ron, Hermione, even Dumbledore; and I think, coupled with the normal stresses of being a teenager, it’s just a bit much for him to bear. It’s a side of Harry we haven’t seen before. He doesn’t start out quite as level-headed as he has been in the past; not without justification, though." Gary Oldman, who returns as Sirius Black notes, "Harry is so much like his father, James, who was Sirius’ best friend, and Sirius is Harry’s godfather, which is something he does not take lightly. They share a special relationship, which has progressively gotten stronger." "It’s similar for Harry," says Radcliffe. "Sirius sees a younger version of James in Harry, and Harry gets to know more about his father through his relationship with Sirius." At the forefront of Harry's woes is the Ministry of Defense. He gets caught up in a power struggle between Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. "Harry’s view of Dumbledore is that he is Harry’s rock, but he sees his rock is collapsing a bit in this movie. Dumbledore’s power is severely threatened, but that makes him more human, doesn’t it? It also gave me another level of his character to explore, which was an interesting experience," Michael Gambon explained. When Dumbledore turns his back on Harry, the young wizards woes escalate. The Daily Prophet twists Harry’s surname from Potter to 'Plotter', accusing him outright of lying about Lord Voldemort’s return. "He is perhaps being a bit of a martyr, but I think that is part of what’s so appealing about Harry," notes Radcliffe. "He is not perfect. He’s a flawed character; that’s what makes him an incredibly human character. He is a really good person, but one who is mired in self-doubt a great deal of the time, and I think most people can relate to that." "Fudge is paranoid about Dumbledore, who he thinks is after his job, so he places one of his most trusted lieutenants, Dolores Umbridge (played by award winning actress Imelda Staunton), at Hogwarts to act as his eyes and ears," says Yates. "She decides it’s her mission to clear out all the deadwood and conform Hogwarts to a very proper, orthodox way of teaching, staying within the box that the Ministry thinks they should all fit into, which results in a brilliant collision of values." "She’s definitely a wolf in sheep’s clothing," Barron confirms. "She is nowhere near as 'pink' as she appears. I don’t think Fudge realizes quite what he’s doing by sending her there. I’m not sure even he knows what she is truly capable of." "She is all about control; order is paramount," says Heyman. "Anything that veers from her almost fascistic view of the way things should be has no hope of surviving in her world. She doesn’t believe that her students’ minds are vessels to be inspired but rather to be filled with the thoughts and ideas of the Ministry. Her overriding aim is to discredit Dumbledore and seize control of the school in the name of the Ministry. Nothing will stand in her way. And Imelda plays that with a smile." "There are many people like that, who are outwardly charming but there is a lot going on beneath the surface, which is a nice challenge to play. I don’t believe for a moment Dolores thinks she’s doing anything wrong. She believes she is doing what’s best and, of course, those are always the more frightening people because they don’t see any other side," says Staunton. "There is no compromise." "Imelda just ate up this character," Yates declares. "She is an incredibly gifted actress with wonderful comic timing. She was able to make Umbridge a woman of real complexity and not a caricature in any sense." Based on the way the character is described in the book, Staunton might have taken umbrage at being cast as Umbridge. Why? Because as Staunton explained "In the book, she is said to be very ugly and toad-like. But it was great being asked to do this because the role is a gem and it is heaven to be a part of this world." Staunton also worked closely with costume designer Jany Temime to craft Umbridge’s look. "We had a lot of fun creating this sort of little round person, who’s not very nice," Stauntons says. "I didn’t want her to have any hard edges. I thought it was important for her to appear soft and warm because, of course, she is neither." Temime revealed, "We gave Imelda a lot of padding because she’s actually a very thin woman." And Professor Dolores Umbridge isn't hard to miss, because she is always dressed in a shade of Pink. "Every time we see her, she is in a different shade of pink," says Temime. "As she gains power, the color gets stronger and more atrocious until she winds up in the deepest shade of cerise." Umbridges teaching methods leave a lot to be desired. "She believes progress should be discouraged and we should study theory with no practical application, which is ridiculous in a school of magic," notes two time Academy Award winner Emma Watson. Making her 'Potter' and acting debut is young actress Evanna Lynch who plays the ethereal Luna Lovegood. "I loved her immediately," Lynch states. "She is so cool because she is so honest with everyone, including herself. She is funny and free and kind of floats through life so everyone thinks she’s a bit dotty and silly, but she’s not. She’s really clever and wise in her own way, and she has a good insight into things." Synopsis

It has been a long, lonely summer for Harry as he awaits his fifth year of study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even worse, he hasn’t even received a note from his classmates and closest friends, Ron and Hermione. And there has not been any word from anyone in the aftermath of his confrontation with the evil Lord Voldemort. Then a letter arrives pronouncing that Harry is about to be expelled from Hogwarts for illegally using magic outside of school and in the presence of a Muggle. It doesn't matter that Harry was acting in defense against an unprovoked and inexplicable attack by two Dementors on his cousin Dudley. Luckily, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore intervenes and at the hearing Harry is acquitted. Feeling ostracized and alone, Harry is beset by nightmares that seem to foretell sinister events. Worse, the one person whose counsel he needs most, Professor Dumbledore, is suddenly acting strangely distant from the confused and hurt young wizard. And now, Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge has sent the duplicitous Professor Dolores Umbridge to the school. At the prompting of Hermione and Ron, Harry decides to take matters into his own hands, meeting secretly with a group of enthusiastic and loyal students who name themselves "Dumbledore's Army".

The Verdict "With the exception of twins Fred and George Weasley, Harry looks to old for the kids at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and one must wonder why they, the filmmakers, didn't do something to at least correct his image a little. In fact all the boyish charm is now gone. Virtually nothing of what made Harry so popular, especially to young viewers, remains. This 'new' Harry is indeed grownup and looks way beyond his years. He is the centre of the new film "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", the darkest version of the young wizard in trainings cinematic adventures. Having won me over with the last two films, I personally found it far less enjoyable this time round. As what about the much anticipated 'kiss'? Well it's a minor distraction that's not pulled off very well and totally lacks any chemistry, it didn't even raise a response from the audience at the special screening I attended. What does make Harry's latest adventure watchable is the way in which Daniel Radcliffe carries his role. I must applaud his endevour, which I hope will lead to bigger and better things in the future. Always a good watch is actor Alan Rickman who, considering the miniscual screentime he gets, is larger than life as Severus Snape. Back again and adding lustre to this lack lustre edition are: the inimitable Brendan Gleeson as Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody; the irrepressible Gary Oldman as Sirius Black; a much too short appearance by Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange; Michael Gambon as respected headmaster Albus Dumbledore; Dame Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall and, recent newspaper headliner Ralph Fiennes as the evil protagonist, Lord Voldemort. With the exception of a spectacular battle between Potter, Dumbledore and Voldemort near the end, the film belongs to 2006 International EMMY Award and 2004 Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup Best Actress award winner Imelda Staunton. The powerhouse Oscar nominee and British Independent Film Best Actress Award winner for "Vera Drake" is both sensational and loathable as the scheming Professor Dolores Umbridge who certainly keeps Argus Filch (Father Gionetti in "Exorcist: The Beginning") busy. I'm sure 'Potter' fans will relish this latest adventure, even if younger fans don't really get the picture. If you've seen the previous films you'll 'have' to see this one, if only for the fact that you may feel a bit guilty if you didn't. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is recommended. 3 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX" stars .......
2001 Golden Apple Youth Male Discovery of the Year Award winner Daniel Radcliffe ["The Tailor of Panama" and "The December Boys"]; 1998 Alexander Korda Award BAFTA Best British Film & 1987 Evening Standard British Film Best Newcomer Awards winner Gary Oldman ["The Fifth Element", "Air Force One", "Hannibal" and "Batman Begins"]; 1992 BAFTA Film Award, 1996 Emmy Award & 1997 Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman ["Die Hard", "Galaxy Quest", "Love Actually" and "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer"]; 2005 BAFTA Film Best Actress Award winner Imelda Staunton ["Bright Young Things", "Vera Drake" and "Nanny McPhee"]; 1999 Irish Film and Television Award winner Brendan Gleeson ["Cold Mountain", "The Village" and "Breakfast on Pluto"]; 1993 &1996 Academy Award winner Emma Thompson ["Howards End", "Sense and Sensibility", "Love Actually" and "Nanny McPhee"]; 1987, 2000, 2001 & 2002 BAFTA TV Award winner Michael Gambon [TV'S "The Singing Detective", "Wives and Daughters", "Longitude" and "Perfect Strangers"] and 1994 BAFTA Film Award & 2005 British Independent Film Best Actor Award winner Ralph Fiennes ["Schindler's List", "Maid in Manhattan", "The Constant Gardener" and "The White Countess"] as Lord Voldemort.
"HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX" was .......
directed by 2002 & 2005 BAFTA TV Award and 2003 Directors Guild of Great Britain (DGGB) Award winner David Yates ["When I Was a Girl", "The Weaver's Wife", "The Tichborne Claimant" and TV'S "The Way We Live Now" and "Sex Traffic"]; screenplay by Michael Goldenberg ["Contact" and "Bed of Roses"]; casting by Fiona Weir ["Love Actually", "Enduring Love" and "Venus"]; costume design by 1998 BAFTA Cymru Best Costume Award winner Jany Temime ["Gangster No. 1", "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" and "Children Of Men"]; production design by 1983, 1989, 1997 Academy Award winner and 2004 Hollywood Film Festival Production Designer of the Year Award winner Stuart Craig ["Gandhi", "Dangerous Liaisons" and "The English Patient"]; edited by 1987, 2004 & 2005 BAFTA TV Award winner Mark Day ["The Insurance Man ", "State Of Play" and "Sex Traffic"]; director of photography 1993 Venice and Polish Film Festival Best Cinematography Award winner Slawomir Idziak ["Three Colors: Blue", "" and "Black Hawk Down"]; original music by 2004 & 2007 BAFTA TV Award winner Nicholas Hooper ["Good Looks", "The Tichborne Claimant" and "The Heart of Me"]; set decoration by 1997 Academy Award winner Stephanie McMillan ["A Fish Called Wanda", "The Secret Garden", "The English Patient", "Notting Hill" and "Chocolat"]. Who's Who?

Daniel Radcliffe Michael Gambon Imelda Staunton James Phelps Oliver Phelps Brendan Gleeson Alan Rickman Emma Thompson Emma Watson Ralph Fiennes Rupert Grint Gary Oldman Harry Mellingy Richard Griffiths Fiona Shaw Natalia Tena Maggie Smith Julie Walters Helena Bonham Carter Robbie Coltrane

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Harry Potter Albus Dumbledore Dolores Umbridge Fred Weasley George Weasley Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody Severus Snape Sybil Trelawney Hermione Granger Lord Voldemort Ron Weasley Sirius Black Dudley Dursley Vernon Dursley Petunia Dursley Nymphadora Tonks Minerva McGonagall Mrs Weasley Bellatrix Lestrange Rubeus Hagrid

Run Time 138 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Warner Bros - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.