Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

For the people who have read the book, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix ought to be a major disappointment. Vague is the word, for the people who saw only the movie. There was so much missing in the movie that I couldnt help sympathizing with the ones who havent read the book.

I went to see the movie with my family and every now and then I had to explain them what was happening. But then I realized that this was the scene almost everywhere. People had come in groups and at least one in the group had read the book.and that one person was explaining the others the flow of sequences. So its safe to say that book scores a lot over the movie.

Coming back to the movie, the plot is certainly darker this time and throughout the movie one keeps on sensing that something bad is going to happen. So its rather difficult to loose the grip. But there is so much less magic in this one. And everything else has been explained in such a vague manner. For instance: The secret room that props up for whomever who needs it has been portrayed in rather nondescript manner. Hagrids half a brother has been shown of little or no relevance in the movie. The Occlumency lessons with professor Snape. The climax fight between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldermort could have been more intense. (Believe you me.this duel in the book is far more interesting and there are many people involved in fighting the Dark Lord) The list continues

The many other main character like Ron, Hermione, Snape , Centaurs etc seemed to have very less to do in the movie (As compared to their parts in the book). The biggest disappointment came in Prof Umbridge. I was looking forward to seeing this particular character come alive on the screen. Dolores Umbridges character is so much more vicious in the book; in the movie she is shown as a mere irritation to the students.

However a movie is a movie and has its limitations. One cannot expect to see everything that is there in the book. But speaking strictly in fantasy movie terms, Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix is not as scintillating as its predecessor. Theres way too many dialogues and way too less action. The first half of the movie is set a pace, the other half a little slower.

The reasons one would not skip this movie at all are as follows:

1) You are a die hard Potter fan (I know I am)

2) You havent read the book but still want to be swept by the Potter mania.

3) The sets, the dark sets and some brilliant visual effects

Daniel Radcliff is a little on the flipper side playing Harry and so is Emma Watson playing Hermione. But the Weasly twins were a treat to watch.

But I am not suggesting that this one is boring. No, the movie isnt boring at all. I just feel that the movie could have been made in a more different manner. I wish all the other characters had a bigger role to play. Hey! But as an out and out Potter fan, I had to see this movie. Its definitely a must watch.