Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix

REVIEW:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix marks a significant turning point in the wizarding saga, not just in tone but in vision—ushering in director David Yates, who would go on to steer the series through to its conclusion. Right from the opening scene, which paints a bleak and heavy atmosphere with Dementors attacking Harry and Dudley in broad daylight, there’s a sense of foreboding dread. The sunlit, suburban setting tainted by dark magic underscores a frightening truth: the Dark Lord has returned, and the wizarding world is in denial.

Watching this movie while currently reading through the books for the first time is an eye-opening experience. I’m only a few chapters into Order of the Phoenix, but already I’m noting scenes and nuances that feel abbreviated or restructured for the screen. That’s not to say the film lacks depth—but it does feel like there are emotional and narrative beats, particularly around Harry’s inner turmoil and the tension at Hogwarts, that could benefit from a few more pages of exploration. Still, it’s a thrilling companion piece to the books.

One of the most compelling evolutions in the film is Harry himself. His skills have grown enormously since his first year, and it’s immediately clear when he confidently conjures a full Patronus charm to fend off Dementors in the opening minutes. The spell, once a near-impossible feat for a young wizard, now comes naturally to him. It’s a brilliant visual shorthand for how far he’s come—and a crucial reminder that, despite being a student, Harry is already on the frontlines of a war most adults are pretending doesn’t exist.

Speaking of people you’d rather pretend didn’t exist—Dolores Umbridge may very well be the most hateable character in the franchise. There’s a reason Stephen King called her the greatest make-believe villain since Hannibal Lecter. Imelda Staunton plays her with a sugary voice and a sweet smile, but beneath that pastel pink wardrobe is an iron-fisted tyrant. Watching her use cruel punishment techniques on students—particularly the scene where Harry carves words into his own hand—is stomach-churning. Her forced dismissal of Professor Trelawney is a quietly devastating moment, and it’s one of the few times Hogwarts feels truly unsafe.

A plot thread I found especially intriguing—though frustratingly underdeveloped—is Snape’s attempt to teach Harry Occlumency. The film brushes over it with just two short sessions before ending abruptly after Harry accidentally enters Snape’s mind and sees a humiliating memory of his father. It’s a pivotal moment, especially in terms of Harry’s disillusionment with his parents, but I wish we’d had more time spent showing Harry struggling to block out Voldemort. It would have deepened the psychological stakes and reinforced just how vulnerable he truly is.

Helena Bonham Carter makes a bombastic entrance as Bellatrix Lestrange—wild-eyed, volatile, and clearly relishing every second of chaos she brings. She doesn’t have a massive amount of screen time here, but her presence lingers over every scene she’s in, particularly during the showdown in the Department of Mysteries. Her twisted joy and unpredictable outbursts cement her as another fantastic piece of casting in a franchise already brimming with iconic performances.

The film’s third act, set within the echoing, cavernous halls of the Ministry of Magic, is hands down the most exhilarating climax the series has delivered so far. Watching the young Dumbledore’s Army clash with the Death Eaters is gripping, but it’s the arrival of the Order that truly turns the tide. The moment Sirius bellows “Get away from my godson!” before launching a punch at Lucius Malfoy is not only my favourite scene in the movie—it’s one of the most satisfying moments in the entire series. It’s raw, personal, and charged with everything the fight represents.

And then there’s the battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort—pure magical spectacle. The ferocity, speed, and creativity of their duel elevate it beyond a standard wizarding showdown. It’s the first time we really see what two masters of the craft look like when they go head-to-head, and it delivers in every possible way. By the time Voldemort possesses Harry in a last-ditch attempt to break him, the emotional weight of the film lands like a punch to the chest. Order of the Phoenix might not capture every detail from the book, but what it delivers is powerful, dark, and increasingly urgent—a bold new chapter in the franchise’s evolution.