Some cool-headed thoughts about The Order of the Phoenix film
I got a lot of thoughts about Harry Potter in these days. The emptiness inside is still big with the seventh book, but today I want to focus on the fifth film: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
In the end I think that this fifth film has been the worst of those produced. Too many things have been left out of the screenplay, too many details have been changed without a specific reason. I will be over critic, but can someone tell me why the second film (Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets) was longer than this one (161 minutes against 138)? I think this has been a wrong move.
I will point out only the negative things in this post. I will NOT praise the good parts, I will not tell what is nice. This review is for the book lovers like me, those who fears every new film release. Personally I would have loved a four hours film for The Order of the Phoenix, but I would have waited longer instead of watching this… thing. This is NOT the book I’ve loved!
Well, I have to admit that this screenplay wasn’t good enough. At least not for me!
What is missing?
Harry’s interview for the Quibbler. Hey! What has happened? In the film Seamus tells Harry he is sorry for his behavior. Why? If there wouldn’t have been an article on the Quibbler, why Harry’s reputation would have changed? It is a very important point that highlight how the news are manipulated by the Ministry of Magic. Luna Lovegood is important also because she is the link to the Quibbler!
The list is not short, however at the top of the list there is Harry’s rage. I don’t think Daniel Radcliffe has been good enough in expressing it. During the final chat between Harry and Dumbledore, the young wizard smashes a lot of things in the headmaster’s office. In the film it is quite different, isn’t it? And talking about the explanations, the film has shrinked it too much.
Obviously, talking about Dumbledore’s explanations… well it is one of the most important points of the book. A lot of things have been disclosed in that moment. Five minutes wouldn’t have hurt anyone!
Do you remember Sirius’s mirror? Not only it is an important object for Harry’s sense of guilt for Sirius death, but it will be an important object in future books.
Ordinary Wizarding Levels. Do you know them? Every Hogwarts student know about them and fear them… in the film they have been minimized too much.
Umbridge: she is a bitch in the film, but it wasn’t able to portrait her well enough. In the book I hated her, for the continuous things she does. The readers get mad at her, wishing her the worst jinxes. In the film she is not bitch enough!
We can go on with Quiddich. Maybe it is not so important in the story, but I missed “Weasly is our King”. Obviously this is also part of the lack of strength in Umbridge’s character: Harry receives a life-ban from quiddich, as well as George and Fred. The entire book is based on angry, of both Harry and the reader, and that was one of the key passages!
The careers advice does not exists. Obviously it is a secondary traits in the film. No one will care, but one of the main friction points between Umbridge and McGonnagal is exactly on that point: “‘Potter,’ she said in ringing tones, ‘I will assist you to become an Auror if it is the last thing I do! If I have to coach you nightly, I will make sure you achieve the required results!’”
What has been changed?
Sirius Black’s psychological status. How could have they missed it? His life in the last two years, his death and Harry’s reaction in the sixth year are all based on Sirius’s psychological status. Blocked in a cage he hates, without the possibility to do anything. He was going mad and for him the death was a relief. Did anyone understand this from the film? By the way: Bellatrix Lestrange DID NOT kill Sirius Black with the killing curse! No “Avada Kedavra“, just the fall through the archway! “…Only one pair was still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix’s jet of red light: he was laughing at her. ‘Come on, you can do better than that!’ he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.” JK Rowling writes of “Red” lights, but we all knew that the Avada Kedavra is green! It is clear that the archway is something dark, but I think that it has been set in the film just to enhance the special effects list.
The second thing that comes through my mind is Chow Chang. The question is: where is Marietta? Where is the real traitor of Dumbledore’s Army? Where s the fantastic curse of Hermione and the writing “SNEAK” on Marietta’s face? IT would have taken few minutes to do it properly.
Fred and George’s exit has been rewritten. In the book there is the triumph of the freedom, you want to have the Ride of the Valkyries (like this one) as background. You laugh when Dolores Umbridge tries to stop their fireworks or when they plant a swamp on the fifth floor. Definitely the film does not give anything like this!
Kreacher is not a character. I bet that those who did not read the book did not understand who he (it?) is. Moreover the Blacks’ house elf is the cause of Sirius Black. Did anyone remember this?
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