Yesterday we went to see Order of the Phoenix in 3D IMAX, over in Amsterdam. We also saw Nemo, the science museum, but I think that deserves a separate entry, probably at the other blog. (Short version: only science museum I’ve ever seen with an entire Sex section – aimed at teenagers.)
Lots of people have said that they liked this movie better than previous ones, but I had pretty much the same reaction I’ve been having all along: I liked it, but I’ve very glad I’ve read the books. Things moved along so fast I think I’d have been lost otherwise. In general I think they did a great job deciding what to cut and only added a few more logic discontinuities in, but man, does it all speed by. Further random commentary below the cut.
I’ve delayed this post a day, as I keep thinking of more stuff; I may still add to it, or else post additional comments separately.
Here there be (movie) spoilers:
This movie, like films #3 and 4, is just too dark for me, visually. Everything looks dirtier and dingier than I imagine it. I thought the hallway of !2 Grimmauld Place was just right, but I’d expect the rooms they live in – the kitchen and bedrooms – to have been made a bit nicer. Also, it really bothers me that Molly and Arthur Weasley look just a bit trashy, and Sirius reminds me more than anything of Inigo Montoya in one of his gone-to-seed phases (he has them in the Princess Bride book, just not in the movie).
In terms of thematic darkness, the book’s dark too, but it’s got some very funny bits. I was disappointed that they took most of those out, though they did add in a few I liked – for instance, Harry’s line, “Sorry, Professor but I must not tell lies.” On the other hand, there’s no humor in this Dumbledore and I think that’s a definite lack.
I loved the baby Thestral. I was pretty impressed with Luna Lovegood, too.
Imelda Staunton was superb as Umbridge – I hated and loathed her, which is just right.
Lots of nice visual jokes and effects, from the Weasley twins’ fireworks to Filch nailing memos high up on the walls. One very funny one was the kitten on one of the plates on Umbridge’s wall going trhough a cat door, presumably to warn her that tudents are sneaking into her office. In the book, she just mentions “Stealth Sensoring Spells”.
There was some foreshadowing of a Luna / Neville romance that I disliked, since JKR has said it won’t happen; on the other hand they added in some rections from Ginny to Harry&Cho that foreshadow Book 6 very nicely. The also solidifed some of the Hermione / Ron stuff from the last movie.
Harry seemed a lot less frustrated and angry in the movie than in the book, but that’s a change I definitely don’t mind. He was angry enough to make the point; the rest is just belaboring it. CAPSLOCK!Harry did get tiring for me, in the book.
Two points were left out that I’d think could be a problem for later; Regulus Black is never shown on the Black family tree (and we never see them cleaning out the house, hence no locket sighting) and there is no mention that Mrs. Figg is a squib. We’re left assuming she must be a wizard, in which case why wouldn’t she have helped Harry against the Dementors?
A few things were added that I liked a lot: Luna’s visits to the thestrals. The Trio spontaneously laughing together after Hermione’s line about Ron having “the emotional range of a teaspoon”. Fred and George comforting a younger student who had been tortured by Umbridge – we never really get to see their softer side in the books. Umbridge’s decrees on everything – clothing, anything approaching romance, and so on – her ever-increasing detention sessions and the throne she sits on in front of them.
There were a lot of touches that seemed to be added just to make those of us familiar with the book happy, and I appreciated that; they felt like in-jokes for fans: Andromeda and Uncle Alpheus shown in the Black family tree; the bulbous Mimbulus Mimbletonia Neville is clutching on the train (no Stinksap explosion, though); Susan Bones’ question about a “corporeal Patronus”; Percy’s appearance with Minister Fudge at the end (though I don’t remember him at the trial – was he there?).
Another casualty of the highspeed plotline: there was virtually no denouement. Just battle, wham, ending. I would have liked to wind down a tiny bit more slowly and get a few more things explained or shown.
In general the effects were excellent. However, for anyone watching this movie in ten years or so, Grawp is going to look extremely fakey. Also, I thought it was weird and a little distracting to have just 20 minutes of the IMAX movie in 3D.
I picture the Ministry as looking much more office-like and much less Matrix-set-like.
I thought it mae a lot of sense to have the Weasley’s final prank be the fireworks instead of a swamp in a corridor: much better cinematography.
There is one effect I hate here and in film #4: noseless Voldemort. He just doesn’t seem nearly powerful enough or scary enough, possibly because he reminds me so strongly of the shape changer from Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Or a pig who’s gotten too close to a grinding wheel.