+ Best Adaptation of the Year + Best Fantasy Movie of the Year + Best Blockbuster of the Year (939.8 mil. $ world gross) + Most Profitable Movie of the Year (minimum 175.92 mil. $ range)
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| Harry and his teenage wizard allies are poised for rebellion on this dark poster for David Yates' Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix |
A minister of magic in dangerous denial sends a new teacher to Hogwarts, who spreads a regime of terror across the premises. Meanwhile the Order of the Phoenix and the affiliated students' group Dumbledore Army work towards a rebellion in secret.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the 5th original Harry Potter movie (out of 8.) It is written by Michael Goldenberg (Contact (1997)), based on the same-titled 2003 novel by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997), and directed by great English filmmaker David Yates (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)). Dealing with the series' longest book (UK/US versions range from 766 to 870 pages, respectively), Goldenberg and Yates succeeds with a leaner film, (Phoenix is the next to shortest of the often overlong 8 films, only beat by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (2011) at 130 minutes), which only employs few clichés, (a storm comes to mind.)
The well-known characters have had their hair cut, and the tone is more brusque in the fifth chapter of the Potter saga, likely the best of the entire franchise. It features the Potter-universe's first fully-fledged fantastic villain, Dolores Umbridge, who comes in the guise of a terrific Imelda Staunton (Big and Small (2008-09)). The film's strict focus on its dark story of impending war makes it, however, in my eyes wholly unfit for children at this point.
- But it is a really good and well-paced fantasy adventure, and an extremely handsome production with a spectacular finale.
Related posts:
David Yates/The Harry Potter franchise: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) - Harry's abysmally dour and long penultimate chapter 2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) or, The Anemic British Teen Wizards Fly Again!
2007 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2007 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Watch a trailer for the film here
Cost:150-200 mil. $ (different reports)
Box office: 939.8 mil. $
= Big to huge hit (4.69 - 6.26 times the cost)
[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix premiered 28 June (Tokyo, Japan) and runs 138 minutes. Dobby the house elf was taken into the script only after Rowling's advice. Shooting took place in the UK, including London and Scotland, and in Italy from February - December 2006. The film opened #1 to a 77.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed in the top 5 for another 3 weeks (#2-#3-#5) and grossed huge 292 mil. $ (31 % of the total gross). It was the 5th highest-grossing film in North America of the year and the 2nd highest grossing film of the year globally, behind Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End with 963 mil. $. The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 101.3 mil. $ (10.8 %), where it was the highest-grossing film of the year, and Japan with 80.5 mil. $ (8.6 %). A leaked financial sheet from Warner Bros. showed how their 'phony baloney accounting' made even this major seller incur an incredible 167 mil. $ deficit! - This practice ensures that no-one ever receives the net profits promised them in their contracts, since the film never officially breaks even. But even figuring in a gigantic 200 mil. $ marketing budget for the film, Phoenix should break even with its massive home video and auxiliary market sales (rights, merchandise etc.). Roger Ebert gave the film a 2.5/4 star review, translating to two notches harder than this review. The film was nominated for 2 BAFTAs, won an AFI award, a European Film award and many other honors. It was the year's 7th most sold home video release with more than 10 mil. sold units in North America. Yates returned with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), the following Potter movie, and also made the last two. He is now the filmmaker behind the Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) and is hired for the 4 slated sequels to it. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)), Potter himself, returned in December Boys (2007) and TV movie My Boy Jack (2007) before the Half-Blood Prince. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is certified fresh at 78 % with a 6.9/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes - ironically the lowest-rated of the franchise.]
What do you think of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?
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