Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson. Warner Bros. Pictures. Fantasy adventure.  Screenplay by Michael Goldenberg, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling.  Directed by David Yates. Opens 7/11/07 

REVIEW:  I object when films such as the Harry Potter series require you to study the novels in order to comprehend their movie counterparts.  A motion picture should stand on its own.  So, if you are a devotee of all things Potter, this is probably a well-told good-vs.-evil parable.  For those whose only exposure to Hogwarts comes every couple of years when a new movie sequel is released, you may find the story and dialogue to be a muddled, bleak mess.  I am in that latter category and must also sit there, content with the wizardry of the Warner Bros.’ special effects department.

The film feels more like a bridge between installments four and six than a stand-alone sequel.  Normally, I would like how the action adventure is subdued in this episode, allowing exposition to take center stage.  That usually leads to character development, where people become more human, less cartoonish.  But there’s not much new in anyone’s development, here, other than everyone is a bit taller.  Though Ron has a few nice moments where he defends both Harry and Hermione, overall, the leads seem cardboard-ish, placed in scenes like props.  The portrayals are one dimensional and the mood throughout is gloomy (but then what would you expect from a community dominated by witchery).  The confusing names, places and theories that must have been more clearly defined in the books, here are muttered too casually by youngsters who talk at 45-rpm while the rest of us remain at 33-speak.  Emma Watson is especially guilty of this quick-blurting.  She needs to slow down and enunciate, because, it would be nice to understand anything she says.

After four previous Potter adventures, the question remains: should we be sending young minds off to see a movie infused with witchcraft?  Revelation 22:15: “…Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”  In both the Old and New Testaments, we are warned to steer clear of witchcraft.   Though sorcery is simply used as a prop to further this film’s narrative, still the entire plot revolves around the subject of kids at a school for wizardry.  Will that cause kids to be interested in the subject?

Arguably, perceptive children can view such material without succumbing to the snare of the occult.  But mysticism shouldn’t be considered just diverting amusement. Ouija boards, psychic readers, and other forms of misleading supernatural entertainment should not be taken lightly.  It would be naïve to think that TV programs and movies containing witchcraft are not aiding the rise of Wicca in our culture.  In Leviticus 19:26 we are instructed, “Do not practice divination or sorcery.”  Well then, if God is instructing us to avoid occult practices, how can we justify using it to entertain ourselves?  God’s Word doesn't apply to just parts of our lives, but to the sum total - including how we entertain ourselves.  

Video Alternatives:

For Little Ones… Adventures from the Book Of Virtues. (1996) Based on the best-selling book by William J. Bennett, this superbly animated series is filled with exciting adventures and inspiring messages for little ones. It has been designed to cultivate the best in human qualities: loyalty, courage, honesty, perseverance, self-discipline, respect, etc.  Two children, Zach and Annie, face everyday challenges and issues with the help of Plato, a wise and friendly buffalo, Aristotle, a feisty but loyal prairie dog, and Aurora, a warm and caring red-tailed hawk. 

For Older Siblings… The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Not since Dorothy landed on the yellow brick road have young and old alike entered such an enchanting world.  Its story and dialogue are witty for adults, its magical look spellbinding for kids. 

PG (Though there is no blood and the filmmakers attempt to avoid excessive brutality, this good vs. evil tale does include violence – from bombs exploding, to a wicked witch slapping a youngster, to wolves attacking, to an all-out Braveheart-like battle.  There are a few jolting scenes and several scary moments; parents should attend with little ones in order to reassure.  The kids learn life lessons, the film is pro-family and the spiritual insights are distinctly biblical).

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is rated PG-13 (a couple of minor expletives, but I caught no harsh language; the opening sequence has Harry under attack by two ghost-like demons (called Dementors); they are frightening to look at and bent on sucking the life out of Harry and another kid; not as chaotic as other installments, but there are several battles between forces of evil and our young heroes; the evil forces are smighted, but so is a supporting character; he is wounded in battle and vaporizes; another man is brutally attacked, left near death; Harry gets kissed; both are supposed to be fifteen, this being their first kiss, yet they seem very knowledgeable; it’s not done awkwardly, but rather with the aptitude and efficiency of one with lots of drive-in theater experience; there are several weird and spooky-looking villains; the visual of these characters may be nightmarish to very young viewers). Running Time: 138 min. Intended Audience: teens and up.

For other free reviews from Phil Boatwright’s perspective, go to: previewonline.org.

(Disclaimer: These are the views of the author and not necessarily the staff of JesusJournal. Given the synopsis and content, concerned parents and moviegoers can decide if the new releases are suitable for viewing.)