Where do I begin? First of all, I was utterly disappointed that the fifth Harry Potter movie is helmed by a rookie movie director, David Yates whose works thus far has been in British Television, mainly for BBC. Only award to date was an Emmy for Best Direction in a Made for Television Movie for 'The Girl in the Café' (2006). To be entrusted with a movie of epic proportions on his MOVIE directorial debut must have been a great leap of faith by the film producers and JK Rowling for that matter. More bad news, Yates has been confirmed to film the sixth film 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' slated to start filming in September 2007. While the director succeed in telling the story but he left out the WOW factor present in every Potter films. Usually I give my movie ratings at the end of the review but this time it's a stinker with 2.5 wands out of 5!
My second displeasure is about the screenplay - The screenwriter this time round is Michael Goldenberg who replaced Steve Kloves, writer of the first four Harry Potter films. Therefore, it does seem a little disjointed for us to see the vision of another screenwriter at this crucial part of the movie franchise. But there is much reprieve as Kloves will return for movie No. 6 - Phew! Let me get another two more things out of the way. Thirdly, 'Order of the Phoenix' refers to a secret society formed by Dumbledore who uses their magical forces to combat Lord Voldemort. Fourth and most disappointing! The much anticipated kissing scene of Harry and Cho was downright SLOPPY and CRINGING! The scene should make it to the this year's MTV nomination for 'Best Kiss' but for all the wrong reasons though. My only surpise is Evanna Lynch, whose potrayal of the quirky Luna Lovegood is absolutely marvellous! Alright now, let us focus on the movie plot - Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley returns for their fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Heavily influenced by the propaganda of 'The Daily Prophet', the mass wizard community has shunned Harry and Albus Dumbledore's claims that Lord Voldemort has return after a 14 year hiatus. Unknown to the rest, the dark lord has regained his body and been restored to full power! A blatant ignorance of the facts by Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge led to appointment of a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge who begins to take reins of Hogwarts through the support of the Ministry. 
In defiance to Umbridge's inadequate, textbook lessons which is devoid of actual magic, Harry founded "Dumbledore's Army" (DA), an underground organization made of 27 schoolmates that Harry teaches magic to defend themselves in case a battle with Voldemort ever happens. At the same time, Harry starts having telepathic dreams about what Voldemort is doing and saves Ron's dad, after seeing him being attacked in the Department of Mysteries by Nagini, Voldemort's pet snake. To prevent Harry from being driven to madness, Dumbledore immediately instructs Harry to take Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape in order to fight the Dark Lord's mind penetrations should Voldemort learns about the connection between Harry and himself. 
During one of their underground meetings, Neville reveals to Harry that his parents were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, a prisoner who had recently escaped from Azkaban. Harry assures Neville that they will make his parents proud and avenge their deaths. Umbridge soon uncovers the secret organization after finding out from Cho who was forced to take Veritaserum, a truth potion. To throw Umbrigde off their track, Harry and Hermione lure her into the Forbidden Forest, where she is taken away by a centaur herd after insulting them with assistance from Hagrid's giant half-brother, Grawp. The vision of Sirius Black being tortured by Lord Voldemort in the bowels of the Department of Mysteries prompts Harry to launch an immediate rescue. Harry and his friends then flies to the Ministry of Magic on Thestral entering the Department of Mysteries in the fabled Hall of Prophecy, where his friends discover a small glowing ball with Harry's name on it. 
When Harry retrieves it, it recites a prophecy concerning him and Voldemort, a ploy set by Lucius Malfoy to reveal the destiny of Voldemort and Harry. A fierce battle ensued between DA and Voldemort's Death Eaters (DE), their spells cause the shelves of prophecies to collapse resulting Harry and the others to run through the door and falling into the Death Chamber. The DE capture Harry's friends and Lucius Malfoy appears, threatening to kill them if Harry doesn't hand over the prophecy. Sirius and the rest of the Order arrived in the nick of time to foil Lucius's plans and unwittingly, smashed the prophecy into smithereens. Harry tags-team with Sirius to duel Malfoy and his DE but in the end, Bellatrix Lestrange's sudden appearance to cast the Avada Kedavra, a killing curse upon Sirius. He smiles at Harry before falling into the archway and disappearing. Harry pursues Sirius's muderer to the Atrium of the Ministry stunning her with the Cruciatus Curse. 
Harry then hears a voice telling him to kill her, it was Voldemort who swiftly appears and disarms him. Just before Voldemort was about to kill Harry, Dumbledore comes to his resue and a climatic duel erupts between the two while Bellatrix escapes. The battle ends in a draw while Harry falls to the ground. Lord Voldemort attempts to possess him failed after an agonising internal battle. Voldemort is ultimately forced from Harry's body and mind, prompting him to state that Harry "will lose everything" due to the profound amount of love that resides within him. Fudge arrives just seconds before Voldemort vanishes, shocked at who he had just witnessed. The Ministry is forced to acknowledge its error and vindicate Dumbledore and Harry! Finally, Harry revealed to Dumbledore the contents of the prophecy which Voldemort wanted so badly....."Either must die by the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives."
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