Friday 27 July 2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Most quotable line: "Just because you can do magic now doesn't mean to say you have to whip your wands out all the time." (slightly paraphrased, apologies)

Most memorable cameo role: Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange.
Plenty of scope for wild hair, Gothic chic and manic cackling.

Most over-hyped aspect of the film: Harry's budding romance with Oriental beauty Cho Chang, apart from one screen kiss under some fast-growing mistletoe (the plant is more dynamic than the couple) she barely gets a look-in.

Nit-picking niggle: At the beginning of the film, the Pegasus-like winged horses (I think they're called Thestrals?) are visible only to those who have witnessed death. Towards the end of the film, Hermione, Ron et al fly on these horses, apparently unconcerned by the fact that their rides are invisible to them. (I don't think anyone had died in their presence at that point? maybe it's clearer in the book.)

Minor gripe: The film is a little overlong, I suppose the book is long and they were trying to cram it all in, but maybe a bit more judicious pruning could have kept it to the two hour mark.

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