"We've got something worth fighting for." -Harry Potter
HARRYPOTTER
& the Order of the Phoenix
Fifth time is the charm (too) as actor Daniel Radcliffe carries the film from start to finish with his earnest portrayal of 'Harry Potter', though Imelda Staunton holds her own as the new teacher in town!
3-1/2 stars (out of 4) [HP#5/(2007)UK-US/WB/Rated PG-13] - (2 hrs. 18 min.)
Directed by David Yates
Screenplay by Michael Goldenberg
Source: Novel by J.K. Rowling
(Returning) Cast ... Lead characters:
Daniel Radcliffe ... Harry Potter* (Lord Voldemort's nemesis)
Emma Watson ... Hermione Granger*
Rupert Grint ... Ron Weasley*
The Order of the Phoenix (**Newbies to film series)
Gary Oldman ... Sirius Black (also 'Padfoot' the dog)
Mark Williams ... Arthur Weasley (Ron's dad)
David Thewlis ... Remus Lupin (Part werewolf)
Brendan Gleeson ... Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody (Ex-auror)
Alan Rickman ... Severus Snape (Hogwarts Potions professor)
Natalia Tena ... Nymphadora Tonks** (changes hair color at will)
George Harris ... Kingsley Shacklebolt** (the African auror)
Peter Cartwright ... Elphias Doge**
Bridgette Millar ... Emmeline Vance**
Review (1st viewing, non-IMAX):
"You know, I really hate children." -Dolores Umbridge
Just a few first impressions, I'll have more to say after catching this in 3-D on the IMAX screen, but I would like to comment on how impressed I was with Peter Yates direction (his first big-budget film), and I'm also glad to hear that he has been recruited for Harry Potter #6.
I especially liked the way he included little details and characters in the background that only people who've read the books would get while simplifying the storyline for the muggles watching for the first time.
I should also commend actress Imelda Staunton ("Vera Drake") for making 'Delores Umbridge' even more evil than she was in the book, not only stealing every scene she was in but making them all-the-more uncomfortable for the audience. A hideous woman wrapped in a giggle and a smile, and a possible Oscar nomination for Staunton (I can not tell a lie).
As for the returning cast, I was amazed by the superb acting of Daniel Radcliffe as the title character, that guy has definitely been doing his homework in between movies, including nailing down the supremely difficult role of the horse-blinding stable boy in "Equus" (naked nightly on the London stage as we speak, can Broadway be far off?). It's too bad the Best Actor Oscar is the toughest category to score a nomination, let alone a win. Kudo's to Daniel, nonetheless!
All-in-all this latest chapter in the series was a true delight, and I almost cried more than once (there I said it). Gotta see this one again though, then I'll report back with the final verdict ...
ADDENDUM to review:
HARRY POTTER 5 - THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (w/ 3D finale)
First off, let it be said that IMAX is NOT the best way to experience handheld photography and extremely dark settings, BUT (and it's a big but), it does provide one of the most fantastic wizarding duels of the decade a much worthier visual platform.
Voledemort vs. Dumbledore is indeed the best use of 3D technology so far in the short history of 3D movies. Too bad the rest of the movie didn't lend itself to the format, it sure would be cool to see an entire 3D-Potter movie (maybe for #7, eh Harry?).
So, if you're a diehard Potter-fan within 100 miles of an IMAX theater, and are willing to pay $15 (or less) for 12,000 watts of sound & polarized 3D glasses, then this may be a road trip worth doing.
If only they had this technology when LOTR was out, what a blast that would have been. I can see why Lucas wants to redo the Star Wars trilogies, laser battles are awesome in 3D.
"I suspect the Nargles are behind it." -Luna Lovegood
(NEW) Cast ... Supporting characters:
Imelda Staunton ... Dolores Umbridge (new *DODA teacher)
Helena Bonham Carter ... Bellatrix Lestrange (Askaban prisoner)
Evanna Lynch ... Luna Lovegood* (age 15/new Hogwarts student)
Tony Maudsley ... Grawp (Hagrid's half-brother)
Timothy Bateson ... Kreacher (Sirius' house-elf)
Sam Beazley ... Everard
John Atterbury ... Phineas
Richard Leaf ... Auror Dawlish (Ministry muscle)
Sian Thomas ... Amelia Bones
Apple Brook ... Professor Grubbly-Plank (scenes cut?)
(Returning) Cast ... Hogwarts staff/Students:
Michael Gambon ... Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster)
Maggie Smith ... Minerva McGonagall (Teacher)
Emma Thompson ... Sybil Trelawney (Teacher)
Warwick Davis ... Filius Flitwick (Little person/Teacher)
David Bradley ... Argus Filch (Custodian)
James Phelps ... Fred Weasley* (Ron's brother/twin #1)
Oliver Phelps ... George Weasley* (Ron's brother/twin #2)
Katie Leung ... Cho Chang* (Asian student)
Matthew Lewis ... Neville Longbottom* (clutzy student)
Devon Murray ... Seamus Finnigan* (Scottish Hogwarts student)
Robbie Coltrane ... Rubeus Hagrid (Hogwarts gamekeeper)
Bonnie Wright ... Ginny Weasley* (Ron's sister/student)
William Melling ... Nigel 2nd Year* (smallest student/red-haired kid) Alfie Enoch ... Dean Thomas* (Darkly-complected student)
Afshan Azad ... Padma Patil *(South Asian twin #1/student)
Shefali Chowdhury ... Parvati Patil* (South Asian twin #2/student)
Tom Felton ... Draco Malfoy (student/Lucius' son/Hates Harry)
Jamie Waylett ... Vincent Crabbe (School bully #1/Hates Harry)
Josh Herdman ... Gregory Goyle (School bully #2/Hates Harry)
NOTES:
*DA = Dumbledore's Army (see student cast lists)
DODA = Defense of the Dark Arts
More Returning Cast ... Supporting characters:
Ralph Fiennes ... Lord Voldemort (Leader of the Death Eaters)
Julie Walters ... Mrs. Molly Weasley (Ron's mother)
Fiona Shaw ... Petunia Dursley (Harry's "muggle" Aunt)
Richard Griffiths ... Vernon Dursley (Harry's "muggle" Uncle)
Robert Hardy ... Cornelius Fudge (Ministry chief)
Jason Isaacs ... Lucius Malfoy (Death Eater)
------------------------------------------------------------------
BOXOFFICE records (2007)
--Had the biggest first-day gross of any "Harry Potter" movie.
--Was released in 4,181 US theaters. A record for a Warner Bros. release.
--Had the biggest IMAX opening ever, pulling in $1.9 million.
--Broke the Wednesday opening day record previously held by Spider-Man 2 with a 44.2 million dollar domestic gross.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Key Crew members
Original Music by Nicholas Hooper
Director of photography: Slawomir Idziak
Editor: Mark Day
------------------------------------------------------------------
Flashback/Occlumency sequences:
Adrian Rawlins ... James Potter (Harry's dad)
Geraldine Somerville ... Lily Potter (Harry's mom)
Robert Pattinson ... Cedric Diggory (late Hogwarts student & Cho's boyfriend)
Alec Hopkins ... Young Severus Snape
Robbie Jarvis ... Young James Potter
James Walters ... Young Sirius Black
Charles Hughes ... Young Peter Pettigrew
James Utechin ... Young Remus Lupin
Additional cast (from IMDbPRO.com):
Harry Melling ... Dudley Dursley (Dementor scene only)
Chris Rankin ... Percy Weasley (Ron's estranged brother/Ministry official) Jason Boyd ... Piers
Richard Macklin ... Malcolm
Kathryn Hunter ... Mrs. Arabella Figg (the neighbor/testifies @ trial)
Nicholas Blane ... Bob
Daisy Haggard ... Voice of Lift (voice)
Death Eaters: Richard Cubison, Peter Best, Tav MacDougall, & Richard Trinder
Arben Bajraktaraj ... Azkaban Death Eater C
Centaurs: Jason Piper & Michael Wildman
------------------------------------------------------------------
TRIVIA (courtesy of IMDb.com)
-- Evanna Lynch beat over 15,000 girls for the role of Luna Lovegood.
--The radish earrings worn by Luna Lovegood were actually made by Evanna Lynch (the actress portraying her).
------------------------------------------------------------------
Techie trivia
--The most expensive set was the 200 foot-long hallway in the Ministry of Magic. All of the action scenes were shot using hand held cameras.
--The Hall of Prophecies is entirely computer generated, including all the shelves & every single orb on them.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dog trivia
--Padfoot, Sirius Black's canine alter-ego, was played by a Scottish Deerhound named Cleod.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch the Trailer [from Movies.Yahoo.com]
"Stay in formation everyone.
Don't break ranks if one of us is killed." -Mad-Eye Moody
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
HARRYPOTTER
& the Order of the Phoenix
Fifth time is the charm (too) as actor Daniel Radcliffe carries the film from start to finish with his earnest portrayal of 'Harry Potter', though Imelda Staunton holds her own as the new teacher in town!
3-1/2 stars (out of 4) [HP#5/(2007)UK-US/WB/Rated PG-13] - (2 hrs. 18 min.)
Directed by David Yates
Screenplay by Michael Goldenberg
Source: Novel by J.K. Rowling
(Returning) Cast ... Lead characters:
Daniel Radcliffe ... Harry Potter* (Lord Voldemort's nemesis)
Emma Watson ... Hermione Granger*
Rupert Grint ... Ron Weasley*
The Order of the Phoenix (**Newbies to film series)
Gary Oldman ... Sirius Black (also 'Padfoot' the dog)
Mark Williams ... Arthur Weasley (Ron's dad)
David Thewlis ... Remus Lupin (Part werewolf)
Brendan Gleeson ... Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody (Ex-auror)
Alan Rickman ... Severus Snape (Hogwarts Potions professor)
Natalia Tena ... Nymphadora Tonks** (changes hair color at will)
George Harris ... Kingsley Shacklebolt** (the African auror)
Peter Cartwright ... Elphias Doge**
Bridgette Millar ... Emmeline Vance**
Review (1st viewing, non-IMAX):
"You know, I really hate children." -Dolores Umbridge
Just a few first impressions, I'll have more to say after catching this in 3-D on the IMAX screen, but I would like to comment on how impressed I was with Peter Yates direction (his first big-budget film), and I'm also glad to hear that he has been recruited for Harry Potter #6.
I especially liked the way he included little details and characters in the background that only people who've read the books would get while simplifying the storyline for the muggles watching for the first time.
I should also commend actress Imelda Staunton ("Vera Drake") for making 'Delores Umbridge' even more evil than she was in the book, not only stealing every scene she was in but making them all-the-more uncomfortable for the audience. A hideous woman wrapped in a giggle and a smile, and a possible Oscar nomination for Staunton (I can not tell a lie).
As for the returning cast, I was amazed by the superb acting of Daniel Radcliffe as the title character, that guy has definitely been doing his homework in between movies, including nailing down the supremely difficult role of the horse-blinding stable boy in "Equus" (naked nightly on the London stage as we speak, can Broadway be far off?). It's too bad the Best Actor Oscar is the toughest category to score a nomination, let alone a win. Kudo's to Daniel, nonetheless!
All-in-all this latest chapter in the series was a true delight, and I almost cried more than once (there I said it). Gotta see this one again though, then I'll report back with the final verdict ...
ADDENDUM to review:
HARRY POTTER 5 - THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (w/ 3D finale)
First off, let it be said that IMAX is NOT the best way to experience handheld photography and extremely dark settings, BUT (and it's a big but), it does provide one of the most fantastic wizarding duels of the decade a much worthier visual platform.
Voledemort vs. Dumbledore is indeed the best use of 3D technology so far in the short history of 3D movies. Too bad the rest of the movie didn't lend itself to the format, it sure would be cool to see an entire 3D-Potter movie (maybe for #7, eh Harry?).
So, if you're a diehard Potter-fan within 100 miles of an IMAX theater, and are willing to pay $15 (or less) for 12,000 watts of sound & polarized 3D glasses, then this may be a road trip worth doing.
If only they had this technology when LOTR was out, what a blast that would have been. I can see why Lucas wants to redo the Star Wars trilogies, laser battles are awesome in 3D.
"I suspect the Nargles are behind it." -Luna Lovegood
(NEW) Cast ... Supporting characters:
Imelda Staunton ... Dolores Umbridge (new *DODA teacher)
Helena Bonham Carter ... Bellatrix Lestrange (Askaban prisoner)
Evanna Lynch ... Luna Lovegood* (age 15/new Hogwarts student)
Tony Maudsley ... Grawp (Hagrid's half-brother)
Timothy Bateson ... Kreacher (Sirius' house-elf)
Sam Beazley ... Everard
John Atterbury ... Phineas
Richard Leaf ... Auror Dawlish (Ministry muscle)
Sian Thomas ... Amelia Bones
Apple Brook ... Professor Grubbly-Plank (scenes cut?)
(Returning) Cast ... Hogwarts staff/Students:
Michael Gambon ... Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster)
Maggie Smith ... Minerva McGonagall (Teacher)
Emma Thompson ... Sybil Trelawney (Teacher)
Warwick Davis ... Filius Flitwick (Little person/Teacher)
David Bradley ... Argus Filch (Custodian)
James Phelps ... Fred Weasley* (Ron's brother/twin #1)
Oliver Phelps ... George Weasley* (Ron's brother/twin #2)
Katie Leung ... Cho Chang* (Asian student)
Matthew Lewis ... Neville Longbottom* (clutzy student)
Devon Murray ... Seamus Finnigan* (Scottish Hogwarts student)
Robbie Coltrane ... Rubeus Hagrid (Hogwarts gamekeeper)
Bonnie Wright ... Ginny Weasley* (Ron's sister/student)
William Melling ... Nigel 2nd Year* (smallest student/red-haired kid) Alfie Enoch ... Dean Thomas* (Darkly-complected student)
Afshan Azad ... Padma Patil *(South Asian twin #1/student)
Shefali Chowdhury ... Parvati Patil* (South Asian twin #2/student)
Tom Felton ... Draco Malfoy (student/Lucius' son/Hates Harry)
Jamie Waylett ... Vincent Crabbe (School bully #1/Hates Harry)
Josh Herdman ... Gregory Goyle (School bully #2/Hates Harry)
NOTES:
*DA = Dumbledore's Army (see student cast lists)
DODA = Defense of the Dark Arts
More Returning Cast ... Supporting characters:
Ralph Fiennes ... Lord Voldemort (Leader of the Death Eaters)
Julie Walters ... Mrs. Molly Weasley (Ron's mother)
Fiona Shaw ... Petunia Dursley (Harry's "muggle" Aunt)
Richard Griffiths ... Vernon Dursley (Harry's "muggle" Uncle)
Robert Hardy ... Cornelius Fudge (Ministry chief)
Jason Isaacs ... Lucius Malfoy (Death Eater)
------------------------------------------------------------------
BOXOFFICE records (2007)
--Had the biggest first-day gross of any "Harry Potter" movie.
--Was released in 4,181 US theaters. A record for a Warner Bros. release.
--Had the biggest IMAX opening ever, pulling in $1.9 million.
--Broke the Wednesday opening day record previously held by Spider-Man 2 with a 44.2 million dollar domestic gross.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Key Crew members
Original Music by Nicholas Hooper
Director of photography: Slawomir Idziak
Editor: Mark Day
------------------------------------------------------------------
Flashback/Occlumency sequences:
Adrian Rawlins ... James Potter (Harry's dad)
Geraldine Somerville ... Lily Potter (Harry's mom)
Robert Pattinson ... Cedric Diggory (late Hogwarts student & Cho's boyfriend)
Alec Hopkins ... Young Severus Snape
Robbie Jarvis ... Young James Potter
James Walters ... Young Sirius Black
Charles Hughes ... Young Peter Pettigrew
James Utechin ... Young Remus Lupin
Additional cast (from IMDbPRO.com):
Harry Melling ... Dudley Dursley (Dementor scene only)
Chris Rankin ... Percy Weasley (Ron's estranged brother/Ministry official) Jason Boyd ... Piers
Richard Macklin ... Malcolm
Kathryn Hunter ... Mrs. Arabella Figg (the neighbor/testifies @ trial)
Nicholas Blane ... Bob
Daisy Haggard ... Voice of Lift (voice)
Death Eaters: Richard Cubison, Peter Best, Tav MacDougall, & Richard Trinder
Arben Bajraktaraj ... Azkaban Death Eater C
Centaurs: Jason Piper & Michael Wildman
------------------------------------------------------------------
TRIVIA (courtesy of IMDb.com)
-- Evanna Lynch beat over 15,000 girls for the role of Luna Lovegood.
--The radish earrings worn by Luna Lovegood were actually made by Evanna Lynch (the actress portraying her).
------------------------------------------------------------------
Techie trivia
--The most expensive set was the 200 foot-long hallway in the Ministry of Magic. All of the action scenes were shot using hand held cameras.
--The Hall of Prophecies is entirely computer generated, including all the shelves & every single orb on them.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dog trivia
--Padfoot, Sirius Black's canine alter-ego, was played by a Scottish Deerhound named Cleod.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Watch the Trailer [from Movies.Yahoo.com]
"Stay in formation everyone.
Don't break ranks if one of us is killed." -Mad-Eye Moody
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++