It's All About Harry

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" swept into theaters at 12:01 a.m. Wed., July 11, with a compelling portrait of Harry as a burdened, lonely teenager and struggling to face his future.
I was pleased with the movie of the 5th book of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter tale. It was smoother and less disjointed than "Goblet of Fire," and it hit most of the major points of the book.
I was disappointed in the character of Dolores Umbridge. These actresses are just too pretty to portray the unflattering characters from the books. Imelda Staunton was creepy, but her giggle, essential to her character, didn't convey that she was truly enjoying herself, as the book Umbridge did. Dressing her in nearly Muggle clothes didn't help, but you could certainly spot her in her hot pink wardrobe. The shot of Umbridge on a golden thronelike chair in front of an entire hall full of students writing lines in their own blood was great. There Staunton truly looked as if she was enjoying herself, just as the book Umbridge would have.
This film Umbridge wasn't loathsome enough to have us rooting for her defeat, as the truly evil Umbridge Rowling crafted in the book.
Another beautiful actress, Evanna Lynch, was too pretty to portray Luna Lovegood, who should have looked a little weirder. However, the first-time actress was terrifically spacey, with an odd, breathy voice and far-away look in her eyes. I loved the way she skipped off. Watching her, I was able to believe that the focus she learned in Harry's Defense Against the Dark Arts club will help her become the extraordinarily talented witch that her mother once was.
Seeing her interaction with Matt Evans, (Neville Longbottom) adds fuel to the speculation that a closer relationship may develop between them, as evidenced in the Department of Mysteries.
The roles of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were substantially reduced for this movie, as was Ginny Weasley's. Ron and Hermione's movie relationship was not marked by by the squabbling from the book. They were supportive, if somewhat silent, for Harry. But their portrayal of friendship shone.
The movie was all about Harry, his anger and angst, loneliness and love. Many scenes in the movie portrayed Harry physically alone, and Umbridge's treatment and students' reactions to him showed how alone emotionally he was. Luna, herself alone like Harry, offered a piercing observation: If Harry is alone, he is easier to defeat by Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
Daniel Radcliffe shows great range in his emotions on screen, from falling in love with Cho Chang, befriending Loony Lovegood, standing up to Dolores Umbridge, leading his friends into battle, fighting the Death Eaters to staving off Voldemort's assault of his mind and body.
One of my favorite scenes was of Harry dueling Death Eaters by his godfather, Sirius Black's, side. The flashing of the wands, the look of delight on Sirius's face and determination on Harry's, the poignancy of Sirius calling "Nice one, James," when Harry's curse struck home. When Sirius fell through the curtain, dying, and Remus Lupin grabbed Harry in a bear hug to support his agony, I shed a few tears. Since I expected this, I didn't bawl as I had when reading OOTP.
I was impressed with the scene of Dumbledore battling Voldemort and Voldemort possessing Harry. The flashing images of Harry and his friends, parents and Sirius conveyed the love that he has, the "power that the Dark Lord knows not." I was struck once again with the imagery of Satan and Jesus here, of the temptations, especially to kill Bellatrix Lestrange, and the contempt of Voldemort calling Harry weak. As I had just finished the Rebirthing scene in GOF earlier Wednesday afternoon, when Voldemort recalls Harry's mother, dying for her only son, I saw the continuation of this Hero-Evil mythology in Rowling's series.
Several story lines had to be compressed to fit into the movie, spending time at the OOTP headquarters, Harry's romance with Cho and Harry's Occulmency lessons with Snape. Not having more with Cho made it hard to see the connection with the betrayal of Dumbledore's Army, even with the added element of Umbridge's "Inquisitions." But the condensation of Occulmency lessons with Snape was effective, and the urgency of this training was heightened by beginning immediately after Harry's vision of attacking Arthur Weasley, which the book didn't portray as drastically. Snape is creepy, played deliciously by Alan Rickman, although his detestation of Harry wasn't as evident in this movie as in the OOTP book.
At the end, we see Dumbledore again appearing in Harry's dorm room. By telling Harry that he withheld information because he so desperately wanted to protect Harry, helped us see what Rowling described in the book as "an old man's mistake." Perhaps in withholding information from each other with those in our own lives, we too are doing a disservice to them, however kindly meant.
I will probably take my 7-year-old daughter to see this movie. I believe OOTP is not as overtly scary as GOF was. I have already told her that she will see Voldemort much more in this movie, and she assures me she will just cover her eyes. For all the peril that Harry is in, this movie shows little blood and guts. Creepiness, tension and a sense of fighting what may be a losing battle abound, but for a child would matter little, and she could definitely enjoy loathing Professor Umbridge.
OOTP is a transitional book, a growing-up and seeing what the world can really be like. It pulls the veil off Harry's eyes and ours as he finds out the horrible path he must follow. Living his life vicariously makes ours seem much easier.