A Little Bit of Magic

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 4/5

Potter 5 arrives on our screens - the least loved and longest of all the books. A director (David Yates) with next to no experience in film, better known for TV fare such as The Girl in the Cafe. How would it work? To date the Potter adaptations have been good enough versions of the books to please fans and good enough films to keep other viewers entertained.

The Order of the Phoenix is a class above this. Cinematically it is a very good film. It doesn't quite stand by itself - trying to cram so much into a shorter running time than the previous films, much is cut and characters are given very little introduction. Several of the books incidents are only present obliquely in the background (such as the divisions within thew Weasley family) and other bits are cut altogether (like the hospital visit and Neville's grandparents (thankfully most of Harry's almost interminable angst from the novel is also absent)). This will no doubt lead to complauints from some fans whose favourite bits have hit the cutting room floor. It shouldn't. What Yates has done is to turn the weakest book into what is by far and away the best film. He keeps the action moving at a fair pace, with the right blend of humour and excitement. His vision for bits like Harry's dreams is also really cinematic.

He is aided by the fact that the young cast continue to develop as actors and are now capable of carrying the film, ably supported by a top-notch adult cast. Of the new additions - Imelda Staunton (Professor Umbridge) and Helena Bonham-Carter (Bellatrix Lastrange) are note perfect castings and give wonderful performances. Although in smaller roles, George Harris (kingsley Shacklebolt) and Natalia Tena (Nymphadora Tonks) are also good additions. I've got to admit that I'm undecided about Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood - I can't quite work out if its really bad acting, or a good performance of somebody who exists half in a world of her own.

On the weaker side, Hagrid's half-brother Grawp has some of the worst special effects and comes across a bit too cutesy to have any genuine sense of terror.

On the plus side, the ministry of magic is wonderfully realised and the final showdown is possibly the most stunning sequence in the whole series so far. As the series gets darker, Yates' assured direction has perfectly balanced the suspense with action and humour to produce a true action thriller of a movie, which should delight fans young and old.