Review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) by Pauld. — 10 Aug 2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix fails on many levels. To put things simply, shoddy writing is the film's major flaw, but not the only one. Uninspired and ultimately weak (And often awkward) direction is not helped in the task of making up for a lackluster script (More interested in ripping basic ideas from the book than exploring them in any detail) by an uninspired performance by an increasingly useless lead.

Radcliffe's performance is stiff and lifeless, particularly in emotional scenes, such as those where has a go at this friends. Meanwhile, Warner Brothers set design continues their desire to make the mundain extraordinary, by making the Ministry of Magic - a conceivably dull place (Being a Governmental building) perhaps more impressive that Hogwarts itself.

A big no-no. The book's most important scene, one in which Dumbledore shows Harry the Prophecy and tells him "everything", is butchered in a couple of awkward and considerably less well-conceived scenes.

One scene in this set is considerably awkward and difficult to watch, being as it is so clearly out of place. It seems that after the series' superb fourth chapter, things have slipped to previously unheard of lows for Harry Potter.

Even strong appearances from new cast members Imelda Staunton and Evana Lynch cannot rescue this train wreck. Avoid this movie at all costs.