Ever since the films started way back in 2001, I have been a massive Harry Potter fan. I remember taking a keen interest in it when we did a mini project on witches and wizards in Year three, having the novel of the Philosopher’s Stone read to us. Now we join Harry and his friends on yet another journey at Hogwarts…
***** Harry Potter had no idea that he was a wizard, until he was eleven. His parents died when he was just a baby, murdered by the atrocious and unbelievable Lord Voldemort. Harry lived with his muggle Aunt and Uncle, and his rather ‘large’ cousin, Dudley Dursley. None of them liked Harry, and he was badly punished for simply being around, for instance he was made to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. Harry thought he was an ordinary boy, with an ordinary scar on his forehead, and it was a mere coincidence that it was in the shape of a lightening bolt. This all changed when Harry got a letter through the post, but was not allowed to open it. So another was sent. And another. And another. There was nothing Mr Dursley could do in his home to prevent Harry from reading these tons of letters, so he evacuated the family and Harry, and sailed them out to a house surrounded by water. In this damp and dark ‘house’, it was the night of Harry’s birthday and everybody but Harry was snoring away. Then a ‘giant’ who went by the name of Hagrid barged in and rescued Harry, taking him to Hogwarts School For Witches And Wizards, where Harry learned of his backround, and which evil He Who Should Not Be Named caused his parents’ death. With the help of his friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Harry fought off the greatest of enemies and ‘bad guys’, and became well known as the heroic and talented young wizard, as well as being the Gryffindor Seeker in Quiddich! Harry Potter really was the boy who lived.
***** Now in his fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry has had many encounters with Lord Voldemort in his past four years at the school. He was after the stone in The Philosophers Stone, he was in the form of Tom Riddle in The Chamber Of Secrets, and he was face to face in battle with young Mr Potter in The Goblet Of Fire. Now, taken from the novel, The Order Of The Phoenix, written by J. K Rowling, we find Lord Voldemort messing with Harry’s mind, and he’s not giving up.
Right from the beginning of the film, Harry is in trouble. He receives a letter from the Ministry Of Magic, announcing that he has been expelled from Hogwarts, after using magic out with school grounds, and in the presence of a muggle. Harry only did this to protect himself and Dudley from the Dementers, and was given a trial at the Ministry to stand his case and be allowed to attend the school again. Fortunately, he won.
Back at Hogwarts with his friends, Harry was still not safe. Yet another Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher had been sent in to replace the last. Dolores Umbridge was at Harry’s trial, and had now been sent by the Ministry Of Magic, in order to stir things up. No sooner had she begun to teach, when she gave Harry Potter a detention. After writing out “I Must Not Tell Lies”, these words were somehow inscribed onto the back of his hand. This was only the beginning of her torture.
Umbridge was not the only new character we met. Luna Lovegood had also experienced her parents’ death, and like Harry, could also witness voices that the others couldn’t. We also see the return of Cho Chang, who has a certain love interest with Harry.
But Umbridge was not Harry’s only problem. It was said that a war was approaching, as Voldemort was walking again. It was clear he wanted Harry, so something had to be done. After the encouragement of Hermione and Ron, Harry took charge in a secret room and trained many of his friends up, ready to fight. Once found out, they were in big trouble!
Harry still had more to worry about. HE had been having recurring nightmares based upon Voldemort, and one involving the death of Arthur Weasley really hit the last straw. He was rushed to Dumbledore when it was explained that Voldemort was trying to infiltrate into Harry’s brain and control is thoughts and actions. It was up to Professor Snape to train Harry to learn to rebel to Voldemort’s warping, and to concentrate. But was there enough time?
The return of Hagrid got rid of one of Harry’s problems at least. With him, Hagrid brought back a giant, which lived in the Forbidden Forest, along with the Centaurs. These two creatures helped to get rid of Umbridge, leaving the fireplace in her office free for teleportation. After a nightmare involving Sirius, Voldemort, Harry followed this along with some of his friends to fight off Voldemort and rescue his Godfather. Things were going reasonably well, until Harry was face to face with Voldemort. Fortunately for Harry, Sirius was there to help him, and leapt to his rescue. Sirius was killed in this battle, but distraught Harry was not on his own for long, as Dumbledore was soon to appear. And when the time comes for Harry to fight off Voldemort’s mind-controlling powers, can he do it?***Main Cast: Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe Ron Weasley - Rupert Grint Hermione Granger - Emma Watson Dumbledore - Michael Gambon Umbridge - Imelda Staunton Cho Chang - Katie Leung Luna Lovegood - Evanna Lynch Voldemort - Ralph Fiennes Sirius Black - Gary Oldman
*-*Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix was superbly directed by David Yates.
****My Opinion**** When I heard that this film was coming out, I was so excited, I could not wait! I loved the past four Harry Potter films, and I was certain this was going to be equally as thrilling! Well, I was not one hundred percent correct. Yes, this film was entertaining, providing mild amusement. But I feel this is only because of the other films, as if I was forcing myself to like it. The time seemed to pass quite quick though. Not a lot happened, I think I can say. I do not read the books, so I found it quite hard to follow. Quite often I had to ask my friend sitting next to me, who reads the books, what was going on! New characters were not explained clearly, and the Death Eaters were all new to me, I cannot remember them from the last film!
Umbridge irritated me so much! That woman has killed the colour pink! And why did she have cats all over her walls in plates? I thought it was students she had ‘sorted out’, like Cho, but my friend says it is not! I stand by what I think though! Ooh, her voice was just so irritating!
Harry’s kiss with Cho was so unexpected. Well, saying that, I was told it was going to happen! But when I was told, I was shocked! And surprised how long it lasted when I saw it! They would have made a great pair!
I love Luna! She is amazing! She speaks in such a simple tone, that even the most bland of things she says are humorous! I love Evanna’s accent, and helps add to the ‘eary’ effect of her character! It would be nice to see more of her in the next film (is she in the next book?)
I was disappointed with the big war at the end. We saw very little of Voldemort, which was not good at all! I thought he and Harry would have to battle alone, Harry had too much help! And I cannot believe what happened to Sirius! I am not too pleased with the end of this film, not at all!
*****
I think this film is good to see if you have seen the rest, and have a reasonable knowledge of what is going on, but if it were an introduction to Harry Potter, it would not be a success!
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Unmemorable
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