Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint & Emma Watson
Released: July 11th, 2007
Watched: July 13th, 2007
Runtime: 2 hr. 18 min.
Ticket Price: $5.00 Early Matinee
Refreshments: Swedish Fish
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes & Gary Oldman
Director: David Yates
Rating: Worth an Early Matinee
Synopsis: Harry Potter is back at Hogwarts for his fifth year and practically nobody wants to acknowledge the truth of his facing Lord Voldemort. The Ministry sends Professor Dolores Umbridge to be the new teacher of the Defense against the Dark Arts, which leaves the students to pretty much teach themselves as she takes over the school and the curriculum. Harry at the urging of his friends gets a group of students to secretly begin training for what lies ahead.
Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth film in the Harry Potter franchise and is based on the J.K. Rowling book of the same name
Order of the Phoenix was a much more enjoyable experience than Goblet of Fire. This could have been because I had just seen Goblet of Fire and when watching that one had not seen Prisoner of Azkaban
The plot being that the powers that be did not want to acknowledge the truth of the return of Voldemort and the take over of Hogwarts Academy by Dolores Umbridge, played by Imelda Staunton (Freedom Writers, Vera Drake). This take over leads to many comedic moments in the film, as she tries to keep everything prim and proper.
This also leads to Harry forming Dumbledore’s Army, because Professor Umbridge is not teaching them anything and he knows what is out there and what might be in the offing. They meet in secret with Harry teaching many of the other students what he already knows how to do.
This all leads to the Harry Potter character seeming to really grow in this installment. Learning that he is not alone and that his friends are there to help him along this journey, so that he doesn’t have to carry this burden all by himself.
The special effects, as with previous outings, are outstanding. When flying through London on broomsticks or practicing magic, it all looks great on screen. Whether they have done justice to the books, I cannot say, but what they have done is created and continued to build upon a fantastical world of wizards and witches that all ages can enjoy on the big screen.
Overall, it is worth an early matinee. What did you think of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?
New Movie Releases for the Week of Friday, July 13th
Still not quite back to the regularity of Friday movie openings, but I will be glad when we do. There are seven new movies being released this week. Two open wide and five in limited release.
Opening Nationwide on Wednesday, July 11th:
Movie: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (PG-13) (Read Review)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes & Gary Oldman
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Synopsis: Harry Potter is back at Hogwarts for his fifth year and no one knows the truth of his dealings with Lord Voldemort. Professor Umbridge has been tapped to be the new teacher of the Defense against the Dark Arts, which leaves the students to pretty much teach themselves. Harry gets a group of students to begin training for what lies ahead.
First Thoughts: This is the best option this week, but I have yet to see the last three and don’t know if I will get the chance before Friday. We shall see. Also, it will be playing in some IMAX theaters.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, July 13th:
Movie: Captivity (R)
Starring: Elisha Cuthbert and a bunch of other actors
Genre: Horror Thriller
Synopsis: A serial killer terrorizes a fashion model and her chauffeur who are trapped in a small room. While trying to stay alive, they have to rely on each other and they end up falling for each other.
First Thoughts: I have heard of romantic comedies, but a romantic slasher flick?
Movies in Limited Release this Friday:
- Drama/Mex – Three dramatic stories that intertwine and take place over the course of one night in Acapulco Mexico.
- Interview – Siena Miller and Steve Buscemi star in this psychological drama about a political reporter who is sent to interview a vapid soap star.
- My Best Friend – Comedy about a guy who is so busy he doesn’t have any friend until a colleague challenges him to produce one. He finds he actually doesn’t and can’t seem to make any, so he hires a likeable cab driver to show him the way to meet people and develop friends.
- Shortcut to Happiness – A comedy with a big cast that includes Alec Baldwin, Anthony Hopkins, Kim Cattrall, Dan Aykroyd and Jennifer Love Hewitt as the devil. A man sells his soul for fame and fortune and in the end we all find out that there is no shortcut to happiness. Directed by good old Alan Smithee, so that should tell you something.
- Talk to Me – Docudrama starring Don Cheadle as an ex-con who talks his way into a radio DJ gig in the 1960s.
The movies Introducing the Dwights and Rescue Dawn expand to more theaters this week.
For New Movie Friday there are two new movies to see this week. They are Captivity and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. What new movie will you be heading out to see this week?
Movie Review: Transformers - Starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox & Josh Duhamel
Released: July 3rd, 2007
Watched: July 6th, 2007
Runtime: 2 hr. 23 min.
Ticket Price: $5.00 Early Matinee
Refreshments: Swedish Fish
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Anthony Anderson, John Voight and John Turturro
Director: Michael Bay
Rating: Worth a Full Price Ticket
Synopsis: Live action version of the cartoon classic about evil robots, Decepticons, that come to Earth to destroy while trying to acquire their former world’s great power source and the Autobots who try to protect the planet from that destruction.
Review: Transformers is awesome, to use a popular idiom of the day in which I grew up watching the cartoon that inspired the film. It is the quintessential popcorn summer blockbuster. It is big, it is loud and it is a whole lot of fun.
Some may criticize Transformers of being very thin in the plot department. That it isn’t substantial. But, you have to remember, it is based on a children’s cartoon from the ‘80s that was basically created to sell Hasbro toys, some of which I still have somewhere. There wasn’t a whole lot of plot to work with, without creating something completely new. And, if they had done that, then everyone would be talking about how they messed up Transformers. Besides, if you were going to see Transformers expecting some deep and meaningful or insightful plot, then you shouldn’t have even been allowed to enter the theater to begin with. Although, for those of us who grew up with the cartoon series, there is plenty of meaning that makes it onscreen.
Transformers is about bringing a cartoon to life. It is about special effects, car chases, giant robots fighting, gun battles, babes, and for this reviewer, harkening back to your childhood. Which is what the movie did very well. It had the transforming sound effect right. It had the original voice (Peter Cullen) of Optimus Prime. They took a lot of what made the original series great and ran it through the Industrial Light & Magic shop, giving you a visually impressive updated interpretation of a cartoon classic. Your eyes will be glued to the screen.
There were a few changes, like Bumblebee being a Camaro instead of a Beetle. But, even those types of changes are referenced visually, as when Sam, played by Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia, TV’s Even Stevens), is taken to the used car lot by his dad and there is an old yellow Beetle sitting next to the Camaro he ends up with.
That is also an example of the movie’s humor. Transformers has a great sense of humor, which includes a shot at Michael Bay’s previous works. There are a lot of funny scenes in the movie and not of the accidental variety. It looks as though a lot of care was given to keeping both fans of the cartoon and those who love big budget actioners happy.
One thing that was missing from the film was an updated rendition of the Transformers cartoon theme song, ala Mission: Impossible
Overall, if you have fond memories of the original cartoon series
New Movies Opening the Week of Friday, July 6th
I will be glad when we can get back to movies opening on Fridays and none of this early debut nonsense with changing premiere dates. I have just gotten all turned around. I mean pick a day already and stick to it. There are six new movies that come out this week. Two open wide and four in limited release.
Opened Nationwide on Tuesday, July 3rd:
Movie: License to Wed (PG-13)
Starring: Robin Williams, Mandy Moore and John Krasinski
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Synopsis: A couple wants to get married. She wants to do it at her family church, but to do so they have to past the pastor’s marriage course. He unfortunately for the groom, is not your average reverend and puts them through some of the most outrageous exercises and test to see if they should unite. Things don’t go well. Will they end up walking down the isle?
First Thoughts: It looked pretty funny upon first viewing of the trailer, but after much repetition in commercials and else where, it seems less so now. Will see it someday.
Movie: Transformers (PG-13) (Read Review)
Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Anthony Anderson, John Voight and John Turturro.
Genre: Sci-Fi Action
Synopsis: Live action version of the cartoon classic about evil robots, Decepticons, that come to Earth to destroy while acquiring Energon, which they need for power and the Autobots who try and protect the planet from that destruction.
First Thoughts: I grew up watching the Transformer cartoons and even have some of the old action figures around somewhere. A little worried about the Michael Bay-ification of the series, but that won’t stop me from going.
Movies in Limited Release this Friday:
- Dynamite Warrior – Set in 1920s Thailand a man sets out to avenge the death of his parents.
- Introducing the Dwights – Romantic comedy about a guy with a lack of experience with women who meets a nice young woman and his mother becomes jealous of their relationship.
- Joshua – A couple’s son starts to show his dark evil side when they bring home his new baby sister.
- Rescue Dawn – Christian Bale and Steve Zahn in this Vietnam War story about a pilot who is captured and his fight to escape.
For New Movie Friday there are two new movies to see this week. They are License to Wed and Transformers. What new movie will you be heading out to see this 4th of July week?
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