By [Losing My Virginity articles are reviews written by someone who still hasn’t seen an incredibly popular movie after all these years. LMV reviews are interesting in that they can offer the perspective of a person who’s untainted by the cloud of commonness that surrounded a famous film of the past, and also show how well it has stood the test of time.]
I think Harry Potter may be ruining my relationships. I’ve been absent from a few social events, missed a birthday (sorry other Dre) and I’m pretty sure my girlfriend is feeling neglected. Most importantly, I have a copy of Fallout: New Vegas begging to be played. But I’ve been putting these things aside, all for the purpose of watching and critiquing a Harry Potter film each night and providing a fresh perspective from someone who has been unaffected by hype. So close to the end, yet so far.
After the disappointment I experienced watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, hopefully Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will rise from the ashes and reestablish my initial interest in the series.
[Losing My Virginity articles are reviews written by someone who still hasn't seen an incredibly popular movie after all these years. LMV reviews are interesting in that they can offer the perspective of a person who's untainted by the cloud of commonness that surrounded a famous film of the past, and also show how well it has stood the test of time.]
I think Harry Potter may be ruining my relationships. I’ve been absent from a few social events, missed a birthday (sorry other Dre) and I'm pretty sure my girlfriend is feeling neglected. Most importantly, I have a copy of Fallout: New Vegas begging to be played. But I’ve been putting these things aside, all for the purpose of watching and critiquing a Harry Potter film each night and providing a fresh perspective from someone who has been unaffected by hype. So close to the end, yet so far.
After the disappointment I experienced watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, hopefully Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will rise from the ashes and reestablish my initial interest in the series.
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Director David Yates direction vastly improves from Goblet of Fire, as his use of colors, lighting and seasons parallels that of Alfonzo Cuarón’s in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Though not quite as beautiful as Cuarón’s film, it still is visually stimulating. Set pieces are spectacular, namely those outside of Hogwarts like the Order of the Phoenix HQ and the Ministry of Magic.
Plot wise, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix might be the strongest entry in the series (thus far). For the first time I felt a Harry Potter film as a whole was adult, rather than the faint glimmers of dark subject matter I would see in previous films. Themes of rebellion, conspiracy, establishment and even news media are touched upon effortlessly, transforming this Harry Potter film into somewhat of a political thriller; only this film has magic and ginger kids (so many Weasleys, so little time). I was entranced as politics and smear campaigns were thrown back and forth, putting Potter in a position of being the enemy rather than the celebrity boy wizard we have seen in previous entries.
The darker nature of this film lends a little more substance for the kids to show that they’ve grown and their acting has improved. Luckily, everybody in the cast really stepped their game up, showing character and emotion effortlessly. Rather than being filled with angst and fear, Radcliffe really showed strength and courage, making it the first time I actually LIKED Harry as a character. Even secondary players like the Weasley Twins (James and Oliver Phelps) and Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) showed more substance and allowed me to grow attached to their characters. The standout performance had to be Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher from the Ministry of Magic. She manages to channel the passive evilness of Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and delivered a character I absolutely despised but loved.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film front to back. I didn’t think that anything would come close to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, but this film has me considering my stance on my favorite Harry Potter film (thus far, I’ll have an answer in an LMV Afterword when this whole thing is done). It’s a strong, solid film with great depth and interesting themes woven throughout the film.
Overall Score: 8.35 – Great. Movies that score between 8.00 and 8.50 are great representations of their genre that everyone should see in theaters on opening night.
More random thoughts:
- Sirius Black looks like a rejected Black Sabbath band member, what with the handlebar mustache and velvet suit. Sex, Potions & Rock N Roll .
- Speaking of Sirius: his little slave troll thingy = NOT DOBBY!
- Also speaking of Sirius: NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
- Speaking speaking of Sirius: Why the hell is Helena Bonham Carter in this movie as Sirius’s cousin!? I had to check IMDB to make sure Tim Burton had nothing to do with this film. Does that woman have to be in everything?
- Who would have thought an asian woman with a Scottish accent would be my new dream?
- No Quidditch = AWESOME. God I hate that game.
One more film to go! Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, or as I like to call it: Harry Potter and the Somebody Else Dies.
