HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (FILM)

'''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix''' is a 2007 fantasy adventure film, based on the novel of the same name, by J. K. Rowling. Directed by David Yates, it is the fifth film in the popular ''Harry Potter'' film series. The story follows Harry Potter entering his fifth year at the magic school Hogwarts. The Ministry of Magic is denying the return of Lord Voldemort and also appoints a new teacher, Dolores Umbridge, a bureaucrat who slowly becomes an authoritarian figure in the school.
The screenplay was written by Michael Goldenberg, who replaced Steve Kloves, writer of the first four films. Screenwriter will sit out one 'Potter' Daniel Fienberg Live action filming started in February 2006 and finished in the end of November, and post-production on the film continued for several months afterwards. 2006: The Year in Harry Potter Film Warner Bros., the distributor of the film, scheduled a UK release date of 12 July 2007, and a U.S. release date of 11 July 2007, both in conventional and IMAX theatres.
It was a critical and commercial success, and was acclaimed by the author, Rowling, who has consistently offered her praise for the film adaptations of her works, Potter Power! New 'Potter' movie sneaks in spoilers for upcoming books Claudia Puig JK 'loves' Goblet Of Fire movie and evaluated ''Order of the Phoenix'' as "the best one yet" in the series.

Contents

Plot

Production

Set design

Visual effects

Filming

Cast

Casting

Distribution

Marketing

Release

Reception

Critical reaction

Box office performance

Awards

DVD

See also

References

External links

Plot

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger enter their fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Much of the wizarding community has shunned Harry and Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts headmaster, who claim that Lord Voldemort has, after 14 years, regained a body and been restored to full power, and are instead influenced by the propaganda of ''The Daily Prophet'' and the ignorance of the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Fudge appoints a new Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge, who begins to take over Hogwarts through the support of the Ministry.
Following the Ministry line, Umbridge refuses to acknowledge that Voldemort has returned, and when Harry insists that he has, she gives him detention during which he is required to write lines with a quill that causes the words to be scratched into the skin of his hand. Umbridge's teaching is inadequate, consisting of memorization of the textbook only instead of any practical instruction in defensive spells. In order to continue practical Defence Against Dark Arts training, twenty-seven students form "Dumbledore's Army" (the D.A.), an underground organization in which Harry teaches defensive magic.
Meanwhile, Harry has been seeing into Voldemort's mind through his dreams. In one, he sees Ron's father Arthur attacked in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry. Harry immediately tells Dumbledore, who believes that Voldemort may have a connection to Harry's mind. Harry begins lessons with Professor Snape to close his mind in the event that Lord Voldemort should become aware of the connection between Harry's mind and his own. During the course of these grueling sessions Harry accidentally enters Snape's mind and has an uncomfortable vision of his own father bullying the loner Snape when they were students at Hogwarts. Enraged, Snape puts an end to the sessions.
Harry begins a relationship with fellow D.A. member Cho Chang, but it comes to an abrupt end when she apparently informs Umbridge of the D.A. Umbridge apprehends Harry and goes after Dumbledore, who tells her and Fudge that the D.A. was formed on his instructions. Upon hearing this, Fudge orders Dumbledore's arrest, but Dumbledore summons his phoenix Fawkes and both vanish in a blaze of light from his office.
When Harry, who is unable to close his mind, has a vision of his godfather Sirius Black being tortured by Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries, he launches a rescue attempt, but are waylaid by Umbridge and taken to her office. Hermione tricks Umbridge into accompanying her and Harry to the Forbidden Forest, where Umbridge is abducted by a centaur herd after insulting them and injuring one of them. Hagrid's half-brother, the giant Grawp, assists Harry and Hermione to escape. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, with D.A. members Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood, fly to the Ministry of Magic. In the Hall of Prophecy, Harry and his friends discover a small glowing orb with Harry's name on it. When Harry retrieves it, he finds that it contains a prophecy about himself and Voldemort. Suddenly, Lucius Malfoy appears with the Death Eaters, Voldemort's followers, and explains that Sirius is not there — the vision was a trick to make Harry retrieve the prophecy, which could only be taken from its resting place by one of the people about whom it was made.
A battle erupts throughout the Ministry. As the shelves holding the prophecies collapse, Harry and his friends flee to another room with a veiled archway in the center. The Death Eaters follow them and manage to capture Harry's friends, which Malfoy threatens to kill if Harry doesn't hand over the prophecy. After a moment of hesitation he gives it to Malfoy. Before Lucius can escape with it, he is confronted by Sirius, who has arrived with members of the Order of the Phoenix, a society dedicated to battling Voldemort and his followers. Lucius drops the prophecy, causing it to smash on the floor. Harry's friends are freed, and the battle continues. Sirius pulls Harry aside and tells him to take his friends and leave, but he refuses and continues to fight. Immediately after, Sirius is hit by a killing curse cast by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange, a Death Eater. He smiles at Harry before falling through the archway and disappearing.
Harry pursues Bellatrix to the Atrium of the Ministry and subdues her by the use of the torture curse. A voice appears in Harry's head, taunting him to kill Lestrange. Moments later, the voice is revealed to be that of Lord Voldemort, who behind Harry. Harry attempts to attack him, but Voldemort disarms him. Before Voldemort can kill Harry, Dumbledore appears. As Bellatrix escapes, they duel and end in a draw. Voldemort attempts to possess Harry, as Dumbledore looks on. After an agonising internal battle, Harry says that it is Voldemort, not he, who is weak and that he will never know love or friendship, and for that Harry feels sorry for him. Voldemort is ultimately forced from Harry's body and mind, prompting him to state that Harry "will lose everything" due to the profound amount of love that resides within him.
Fudge arrives in the Atrium with a squad of Aurors just seconds before Voldemort . The Ministry is forced to acknowledge its error, and Dumbledore and Harry are vindicated. Dumbledore then discusses with Harry the contents of the prophecy Voldemort wanted so badly, which states that "neither can live while the other survives"; therefore, Harry must either kill Voldemort or be killed by Voldemort. The film ends as Harry tells Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Luna, that they can love, something that Voldemort cannot and that they have "something to fight for".

Production

David Yates was chosen to direct the film after ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' director Mike Newell turned it down. Mira Nair was offered the project, but also turned it down.^[1] Yates thinks he was approached because of one of his previous projects, the television drama ''Sex Traffic'', and because the studio saw him fit to handle an "edgy and emotional" film with a "political backstory".^[2] Steve Kloves, the screenwriter of the first four ''Potter'' films, had other commitments, and thus Michael Goldenberg wrote the script for the film; however, Kloves will return for the next film, ''Half-Blood Prince''. Screenwriter will sit out one 'Potter' Daniel Fienberg
Rehearsals for ''Order of the Phoenix'' began on 27 January 2006. Order of the Phoenix Movie Rehearsals Starting Filming began on 6 February, and finished in the end of November 2006. Filming was put on a two-month hiatus starting in May 2006 so that Radcliffe could sit his A/S Levels and Watson could sit her GCSE exams.^[3] The film's budget was reportedly between GB£75 and 100 million (US$150 and 200 million). Oscars signal boom (except for Scots) Tim Cornwell ^[4]
Nicholas Hooper was the composer for the soundtrack of the film, following John Williams, who scored the first three films, and Patrick Doyle, who did the fourth. In the new score, Hooper has incorporated variations on "Hedwig's Theme", the series' theme originally written by Williams for the first film and heard in all subsequent ones. Hooper writes new themes for Potter, , Mikael, Carlsson, Film Music Weekly, In March and April of 2007, Hooper and the London Chamber Orchestra recorded nearly two hours of music at Abbey Road Studios in London. The score, like the film and book, is darker than previous instalments in the series. To emphasise this, the two new main themes reflect the sinister new character Dolores Umbridge, and Lord Voldemort's invasion of Harry's mind. A Japanese Taiko drum was used for a deeper sound in the percussion. The soundtrack was released on 10 July 2007, the eve of the film's release. "Order of the Phoenix" Soundtrack Due July 10
Mark Day was the film editor, Sławomir Idziak was the cinematographer, and Jany Temime was the costume designer. Choreographer Paul Harris, who has also worked with David Yates several times, created a physical language for wand combat to choreograph the wand fighting scenes.^[5]

Set design

Stuart Craig returned as set designer, having also designed the first four films' sets. New Interactive OotP Set Preview Photos on MSNBC The atrium in the Ministry of Magic is over 200 feet in length, making it the largest and most expensive set yet built for the ''Potter'' film series. Craig's design was inspired by early London Underground stations, where architects "tried to imitate classical architecture but they used ceramic tile", as well as a Burger King on Tottenham Court Road in London, where "there's a fantastic Victorian façade which just embodies the age".^[6] Harry Potter 5 Set Visit - Production Designer Stuart Craig Heather Newgen
The set used for Igor Karkaroff's trial scene in ''Goblet of Fire'' was doubled in size for Harry's trial in this film, while still protecting its symmetry. The set of Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place contains the Black family tapestry spread across three walls; when the producers told Rowling they wanted to visualise the details of each name and birthyear, she faxed them a complete copy of the entire tree.^[7] The set of the Hall of Prophecies is entirely digitally built. This is because, during a fight scene which occurs there, prophecies crash to the ground and break. Had it been an actual physical set, the reset time would have been weeks.^[8]

Visual effects

Tim Burke was the visual effects supervisor, John Richardson was the special effects supervisor, and Nick Dudman was the creatures special effects supervisor. The film required over 1,400 visual effects shots, and the London-based company Double Negative created more than 950 of them. Working for six months on previsualization starting in September 2005, Double Negative was largely responsible for sequences in the Room of Requirement, the Forbidden Forest, the Hall of Prophecies, and the Death Chamber. Order of the Phoenix: Escalating Potter VFX -- Part 1 Alain Bielik
A new character in the film, Grawp, Hagrid's giant half-brother, came to life by a new technology called Soul Capturing, developed by Image Metrics. Instead of building the character from scratch, the movements and facial expressions of actor Tony Maudsley were used to model Grawp's actions. Cyberface: New Technology That Captures the Soul Sharon Waxman

Filming

Though the producers explored options to film outside of the UK, Leavesden Studios in Watford was again the location on which many of the interior scenes, including the Great Hall, Privet Drive and Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place were shot. Sunrise Behind the Scenes of Order of the Phoenix New Privet Drive Set Photos from OotP Leaky Mug: Order of the Phoenix Set Report
Locations in England included the River Thames, for when the Order of the Phoenix fly to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, Yates comments on OOTP hold-up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Film Locations a sequence also including landmarks such as the London Eye, Canary Wharf, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the HMS Belfast. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Trailer Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix HBO sneak peek. Filming at Platform 9¾ took place at King's Cross Station, as it has in the past. Kings Cross, Sunday Sept 3rd A telephone booth near Scotland Yard was used as Harry and Arthur Weasley enter the Ministry, New images from 'Order of the Phoenix' while the crew closed the Westminster tube station on 22 October 2006 to allow for filming of Arthur Weasley accompanying Harry to his trial at the Ministry of Magic. Harry Potter rides on London Tube Other scenes were filmed in and around Oxford, OOTP filming at Oxford's Christ Church College specifically at nearby Blenheim Palace in Woodstock. Harry Potter pops into palace
Various locations around Scotland were used for exterior shots. Fort William was used to show 'snow-capped mountains and glens' vital for the opening sequence of the film. Ski Sunday as snow blankets Scotland Emily Twinch In Glenfinnan, the Hogwarts Express crosses a viaduct, as it has in the past films. Harry Potter 5 Filming in the West Highlands Aerial scenes were shot in Glen Coe, in Clachaig Gully, and Glen Etive, which, at the time of filming, was one of the few places in Scotland without snow, making it ideal for a backdrop.
Several locations were used which do not appear in the final cut of the film. In Virginia Water, scenes were shot where Professor McGonagall recovers from Stunning Spells, Order of the Phoenix Filming and Burnham Beeches was used for filming the scene where Hagrid introduces his fifth-year Care of Magical Creatures class to Thestrals. Order of the Phoenix August Set Report and Pictures Harry skips stones in front of Bonnie Prince Charlie's Monument in Glenfinnan in another cut scene.

Cast

★ 'Daniel Radcliffe' as 'Harry Potter', the protagonist. He has to battle with much of the Wizarding world's denial over Harry's encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort at the end of the previous year. He teaches his friends to defend themselves in duels.

★ 'Rupert Grint' as 'Ron Weasley', one of Harry's best friends. He helps Harry found Dumbledore's Army and accompanies Harry to the Department of Mysteries in the climax of the film.

★ 'Emma Watson' as 'Hermione Granger', one of Harry's best friends. She helps Harry found Dumbledore's Army and accompanies Harry to the Department of Mysteries in the climax of the film.

★ 'Ralph Fiennes' as 'Lord Voldemort', the antagonist, who lures Harry to the Ministry of Magic and nearly kills him.

★ 'Michael Gambon' as 'Albus Dumbledore', the Hogwarts headmaster. He upsets Harry by remaining distant from him throughout the year, but explains at the end of the film why he isolated himself. He also explains the meaning of the prophecy to Harry.

★ 'Gary Oldman' as 'Sirius Black', Harry's godfather who, during the battle at the Department of Mysteries, is killed by his cousin Bellatrix Lestrange, causing Harry great emotional damage.

★ 'Imelda Staunton' as 'Dolores Umbridge', the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, a plant from the Ministry of Magic who prevents Harry and his friends from learning practical magic, and refuses to allow Harry to claim that Lord Voldemort has returned.

★ 'Alan Rickman' as 'Severus Snape', the Potions master. He helps teach Harry to block his mind's connection to Lord Voldemort's. He holds a grudge against Harry because he and Harry's father hated each other while they were at school together.

★ 'Matthew Lewis' as 'Neville Longbottom', a classmate of Harry's who accompanies him to the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Evanna Lynch' as 'Luna Lovegood', a classmate of Harry's who explains the Thestrals to him and accompanies him to the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Bonnie Wright' as 'Ginny Weasley', Ron's sister who accompanies Harry to the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Katie Leung' as 'Cho Chang', Harry's love interest.

★ 'Robbie Coltrane' as 'Rubeus Hagrid', the regular Care of Magical Creatures professor, and close friend of Harry, Ron and Hermione. He is absent for the first half of the year on a mission for the Order of the Phoenix.

★ 'Maggie Smith' as 'Minerva McGonagall', the Transfiguration teacher and deputy headmistress.

★ 'Emma Thompson' as 'Sybill Trelawney', the Divination teacher who Umbridge fires for not being able to correctly divine the future.

★ 'David Thewlis' as 'Remus Lupin', a former Hogwarts teacher and mentor of Harry. He is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and participates in the battle at the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Brendan Gleeson' as 'Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody', a retired Auror. He is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and participates in the battle at the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'George Harris' as 'Kingsley Shacklebolt', an Auror and a member of the Order of the Phoenix who participates in the battle at the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Natalia Tena' as 'Nymphadora Tonks', an Auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix who participates in the battle at the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Julie Walters' as 'Molly Weasley', Ron's mother who acts as a maternal figure to Harry.

★ 'Mark Williams' as 'Arthur Weasley', Ron's father who acts as a paternal figure to Harry. Harry saves him from death when he sees a vision of Arthur being attacked.

★ 'Robert Hardy' as 'Cornelius Fudge', the Minister for Magic, who refuses to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned.

★ 'Helena Bonham Carter' as 'Bellatrix Lestrange', one of Lord Voldemort's right-hand Death Eaters who leads the battle at the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Jason Isaacs' as 'Lucius Malfoy', one of Lord Voldemort's right-hand Death Eaters who leads the battle at the Department of Mysteries.

★ 'Tom Felton' as 'Draco Malfoy', Harry's rival. He supports Umbridge and helps her capture Dumbledore's Army.

★ 'James and Oliver Phelps' as 'Fred and George Weasley', respectively, Ron's twin brothers who leave Hogwarts on broomstick amidst fireworks in defiance of Umbridge.

★ 'Harry Melling' as 'Dudley Dursley', Harry's cousin who bullies him and is attacked by Dementors.

★ 'Richard Griffiths' as 'Vernon Dursley' and 'Fiona Shaw' as 'Petunia Dursley', Harry's uncle and aunt who dote on their son.

★ 'Timothy Bateson' as the voice of 'Kreacher', the disgruntled house-elf of the Black family.

Casting

Casting began as early as May 2005, when Radcliffe announced he would reprise his role as Harry. There's no looking back Claudia Puig Across the media frenzy that took place during the release of ''Goblet of Fire'' (2005), most of the main returning actors announced their return to the series, including Grint, Watson, Lewis, Wright, Leung, and Fiennes. NR chats to GOF's Rupert Grint NR chats to GOF's Emma Watson Matthew Lewis: Online Q&A session Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley in ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' What Katie did Ralph Fiennes on Lord Voldemort
A number of characters new to the series appear in the film. Staunton announced she would be playing the major new role of Dolores Umbridge in October 2005, Top actress 'will play Umbridge' and the announcements of the casting of the rest of the new characters to the series was spanned across 2006. Lynch won the role of Luna Lovegood over 15,000 other girls who attended the open casting call, Filming Begins for ''Harry Potter 5'' waiting in a line of hopefuls that stretched a mile long. Lizo reports from the Luna casting A bulk of other casting news was made in the same report, including that Helen McCrory would play Bellatrix Lestrange. Luna Lovegood role has been cast On 1 April 2006, McCrory announced that she was three months' pregnant and had to withdraw from the film. On 25 May the BBC reported that Helena Bonham Carter would play the role instead. Potter exclusive: New Bellatrix
The inclusion or cutting of some characters sparked speculation from fans as to the importance of the characters in the final book of the series. In April 2006, representatives of Jim McManus said he would be playing Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus' brother and the barman of the Hog's Head, in which Harry and his friends found the D.A. A week later WB announced that the role was "very minor", allaying some of the speculation to the significance of the role, which, before the final book, was not even a speaking part.^[9] MTV reported in October 2006 that Dobby, a house-elf who appeared in the second film, ''Chamber of Secrets'' (2002), and in the fifth book, would be cut, opening up "plot questions" as to how the role of the elf would be filled. Elf's Absence From Next 'Harry Potter' Flick Opens Up Plot Questions MTV also reported about a month before the release of the final book that Kreacher, the Black family's house-elf, was cut from the film in one draft of the script. However, after Rowling prodded the filmmakers to include him, saying, "You know, I wouldn't [cut him] if I were you. Or you can, but if you get to make a seventh film, you’ll be tied in knots", he was added back into the script. Kreacher Comfort: MTV Solves A ‘Harry Potter’ Mystery Jennifer Vineyard
Other more minor roles, were cut with subsequent drafts of the script. At the U.S. premiere of ''Goblet of Fire'', series producer David Heyman said that former Hogwarts professor Gilderoy Lockhart, played by Kenneth Branagh in ''Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' (2002), was in the first draft of the script for ''Phoenix''. However, neither Branagh nor the character of Lockhart appears in the final version. Tiana Benjamin was scheduled to return for the film in the role of Angelina Johnson, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but she had to withdraw due to a commitment to playing Chelsea Fox in ''EastEnders''. The character, as well as the entire Quidditch subplot, was ultimately cut from the film. She did, however, record sound clips for the ''Order of the Phoenix'' video game.^[10]
The family of footballer Theo Walcott made a cameo role in the film. Theo himself was due to appear as well, though his commitments to Arsenal forced him to pull out. Football Shorts: Theo misses out on Harry Potter film

Distribution

Marketing

A London bus, adorned with an advertisement for film.

The first trailer was released on November 17 2006, attached to another WB film, ''Happy Feet''. It was made available online on November 20 2006, on the ''Happy Feet'' website. Order of the Phoenix Trailer to Show on Happy Feet Website Monday November 20 at 3:00pm (EST) The international trailer debuted online on April 22 2007 at 14:00 UTC.^[11] On May 4 2007, the domestic trailer was shown before ''Spider-Man 3''.^[12]
Two posters released on the Internet that showed Harry accompanied by six classmates, including Hermione Granger, generated some controversy by the media. They were essentially the same picture, though one advertised the IMAX release. In one poster, the profile of Hermione, played by Emma Watson, was made curvier as the outline of her breasts was enhanced. Melissa Anelli, webmistress of noted fan site The Leaky Cauldron, wrote:^[13]
Representatives for WB later wrote about the poster under fire, "This is not an official poster. Unfortunately this image was accidentally posted on the IMAX website".^[14]
The video game version, designed by EA UK, was released June 25 2007, about two weeks before the film was released.^[15]

Release

The film was the third ''Harry Potter'' film to be given a simultaneous release in conventional theatres and IMAX. The IMAX release featured the full movie in 2-D and the final 20 minutes of the film in 3-D. According to estimates in March 2007, by Warner Bros., the film would debut on over 10,000 theatre screens during the summer. Big hopes for a summer abroad Dave McNary
The film was released in most countries in a two-week period starting 11 July 2007. WB has tried to stick with day-and-date releases for most countries "except in the Middle East and a few minor markets, because most are going to be in holidays at that point". The set of summer releases, even though the films are typically released in the winter, "really maximizes our opportunity," said a representative for WB.
Previews of the film began in March 2007 in the Chicago area.^[16] Under tight security to prevent piracy, WB had security guards patrol the aisles, looking for cell phone cameras or small recording devices, at a preview in Japan.^[17] The world premiere took place in Tokyo, Japan on 28 June 2007.^[18] MySpace users could bring copies of their online profiles to gain free admission to sneak previews in eight different cities across the country on 28 June 2007.^[19] The UK premiere took place on 3 July 2007 in London's Odeon Leicester Square, during which author J. K. Rowling made a public appearance.^[20] The U.S. premiere took place on 8 July in Los Angeles.^[21] After the premiere, the three young stars of the film series, Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson, were honoured with a ceremony where their handprints, footprints, and "wandprints" were placed in the cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.^[22]
The film was released on the following dates in these major English-speaking countries: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – Worldwide Release Dates

★ Malaysia, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Philippines, United States — 11 July

★ Puerto Rico, Singapore, United Kingdom — 12 July

★ Republic of Ireland — 13 July
Originally, Warner Bros. set the Australian release date as 6 September 2007, nearly two months after the majority of other release dates. However, after complaints from the Australian community, including a petition garnering 2,000 signatures, the date was pulled back to 11 July 2007. 'Order of the Phoenix' release date changed in Australia The release dates of the film in the UK and U.S. were also moved back, both from 13 July, to the 12th and 11th, respectively. Change to UK "OotP" Date: Now July 12 Confirmed: Change to US "Order of the Phoenix" Release Date, Now July 11
Even though the book is the longest in the series, the film is 138 minutes long, the shortest in the entire film series.^[23] In the motion picture rating system, it was rated the equivalent of the U.S.'s PG-13, the UK's 12A, and Australia's M. Reasons for the ratings were variations on "fantasy violence" and "dark themes". Potter's M is not for magic Michael Bodey

Reception

Critical reaction

Reviews of the film are generally positive. The film currently holds a 76% "certified fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While this is indeed a positive score, it is the least favourably reviewed of the five Harry Potter films on the site.^[24] ''The Telegraph'' headlined their review "Potter film is the best and darkest yet". Potter film is the best and darkest yet Charles Frederick The ''New York Daily News'' gave the film four out of four stars, calling it the best ''Potter'' film yet and wrote that "die-hard Potter addicts will rejoice that Yates has distilled J.K. Rowling's broad universe with care and reverence." 'Phoenix' hot for Harry Colin Bertram ''The Sunday Mirror'', giving the film four out of five stars, called it "a dark and delicious delight [and] a must-see movie". Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Mark Adams ''The Miami Herald'' gave the film three stars out of four and wrote that the film "is the first installment in the soon-to-be series-of-seven that doesn't seem like just another spinoff capitalising on the money-minting Harry Potter brand name. Instead, Phoenix feels like a real 'movie'."^[25]
Imelda Staunton's performance as Dolores Umbridge and Helena Bonham Carter's as Bellatrix Lestrange were widely acclaimed; Staunton was described as the "perfect choice for the part" and "one of the film's greatest pleasures", "com[ing] close to stealing the show".^[26] Bonham Carter was said to be a "shining but underused talent". Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: the first review Leo Lewis ''Variety'' praised Alan Rickman's portrayal of Severus Snape, writing that he "may have outdone himself; seldom has an actor done more with less than he does here". Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Todd McCarthy Newcomer Evanna Lynch, playing Luna Lovegood, also received good word from a number of reviewers including the ''New York Times'' who declared her "spellbinding". Hogwarts Under Siege A. O. Scott
''Rolling Stone'' also lauded the three principal actors' achievements, especially Radcliffe: "One of the joys of this film is watching Daniel Radcliffe grow so impressively into the role of Harry. He digs deep into the character and into Harry's nightmares. It's a sensational performance, touching all the bases from tender to fearful." ''Rolling Stone's review also classified the film as better than the previous four installments in the series, by losing the "candy-ass aspect" of the first two and "raising the bar" from the "heat and resonance" of the third and fourth. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Peter Travers
''The Times'' (London) expressed disappointment that the three main actors were not able to fully advance the emotional sides of their respective characters, weakening the film. The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' complained about a "lousy" storyline, alleging that the first twenty minutes of the film, when Harry is put on trial for performing magic outside of school and threatened with expulsion, but is cleared of all charges, did not advance the plot. Harried Harry: In his fifth outing, the wizard matures -- and faces plenty of grown-up problems Mick LaSalle ''The Hollywood Reporter'' wrote that ''Phoenix'' is "quite possibly the least enjoyable of the [series] so far," and that despite "several eye-catching moments", "the magic – movie magic, that is – is mostly missing." The review also criticised the underuse of the "cream of British acting", noting the brief appearances of Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, David Thewlis, Richard Griffiths, and Julie Walters. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Kirk McCarthy

Box office performance

In the US, tickets for hundreds of midnight showings of the film, bought from online ticket-seller Fandango, were sold out, making up approximately 90% of the site's weekly ticket sales.^[22] In the United States and Canada, midnight screenings - July 10th and 11th - brought in $12 million ^[28] from 2,311 midnight exhibitions making the showings "the most successful batch of midnight exhibitions ever."^[29] ''Phoenix'' is behind only '' (2007) in one-night earnings, which had debuted four hours earlier on its date.^[30]
''Phoenix'' earned an additional $32.2 million on Wednesday, post-midnight showings, making it the biggest Wednesday single-day gross in box office history with a total of $44.2 million.^[31] That amount tops Sony Pictures' ''Spider-Man 2'', which had held the record since 2004 with its $40.4 million take on a Wednesday. It is also the fifth-biggest opening day for a movie in history, surpassing ''Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End's'' $42.9 million. It earned $1.9 million from a record-breaking 91 IMAX screens, the highest opening day ever for any IMAX day of the week, beating ''Spider-Man 3's'' $1.8 million. In the U.K. the result was similar. The film made £22 million on the day of release, including the £6 million made from midnight screenings that began on July 10, 2007, breaking U.K. box office records for the biggest 4-day opening weekend.^[32]
''Phoenix's domestic gross is at $288.2 million in the U.S. and at $95 million in the U.K. It currently ranks as the third-highest grossing ''Potter'' film in the U.S. so far, and the highest in the U.K. Overseas, it has grossed $627.8 million, the sixth highest-grosser outside the US, for a worldwide total of $915 million so far, making it the second-highest grossing ''Potter'' film worldwide,^[33] the second ''Potter'' film to break the $900 million mark,^[34] and the ninth-highest grossing film of all time.

Awards

Before it was released, ''Order of the Phoenix'' was nominated in a new category at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, "Best Summer Movie You Haven't Seen Yet". However, that award was won by ''Transformers''.^[35] On 26 August 2007, the film won the award for "Choice Summer Movie – Drama/Action Adventure" at the Teen Choice Awards.^[36]
The film was also nominated for several awards at the 2007 Scream Awards presented by Spike TV, in the categories of "The Ultimate Scream", "Best Fantasy Movie", and "Best Sequel". Radcliffe and Fiennes were nominated in the "Fantasy Hero" and "Most Vile Villain" categories, respectively.^[22]
Nicholas Hooper received a nomination for a World Soundtrack Discovery Award for his score to the film.^[38]

DVD

A 2-disc special edition DVD, as well as a fullscreen and a widescreen edition of the movie will be released on 11 December 2007. It will also be available on HD DVD and Blu-ray disc on the same date.^[39]

See also

★ Differences between book and film versions of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

References

1. 'Phoenix' Rising, , Steve, Daly, Entertainment Weekly,
2. How I raised Potter's bar
3. Exclusive: Order of the Phoenix News
4. Harry the Fifth Harry Haun
5. About Paul Harris
6. Pottering about
7. "Empire" Magazine Feature on OotP
8. Harry Potter 5 Set Visit - The Sets Heather Newgen
9. WB: McManus as Aberforth, "Very Minor Role"
10. Tiana Benjamin Kris Green
11. New International Trailer for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
12. 'Phoenix' is born again in new trailer Claudia Puig
13. Ch-ch-changes on the OotP Posters Melissa Anelli
14. Harry Potter and the mystery of Hermione's curves James Tapper
15. "Trick Out Your Broom" at OotP Video Game Preview Events
16. First review of 'Order of the Phoenix'
17. Security tight as Japan fans get first look at new 'Harry Potter' movie Chris Betros
18. Japanese debut for Potter movie
19. Free, early 'Potter' screenings for MySpace members
20. Fans brave rain for Potter stars
21. 'Order of the Phoenix' US premiere confirmed
22.
23. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix rated 12A by the BBFC
24. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) .
25. Like Harry, movie has matured Rene Rodriguez
26. Japan goes wild about Harry Justin McCurry
27.
28. "Harry Potter" works box office magic in debut
29. Daily Box Office Analysis for July 11, 2007 David Mumpower
30. Harry Potter 5 Opens to Million
31. Harry Potter works magic at box office
32. Harry Potter 5 makes £22 million
33. HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
34. 'Order of the Phoenix' second most successful film in franchise
35. Transformers beats Harry Potter at MTV Awards
36. 'Order of the Phoenix' wins 'Teen Choice' award
37.
38. Nicholas Hooper nominated for 'World Soundtrack Discovery Award'
39. Harry Potter 5 on DVD, Blu-ray & HD DVD Dec. 11

External links

★ Official WB Harry Potter web site, including trailers and links

★ Official WB Order of the Phoenix film web site, including trailer and links

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