HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (2007) **1/2 Every culture has legends and rumours and rituals relating to magic. Of course Harry Potter could only be British, but the genius isn't so much in his cultural placement, I think, as in J. K. Rowling's broad metaphorical strokes to define and underlie the culture. Imelda Staunton isn't really much more than everyland's prototypical amoral and petty bureaucrat, blinded by foolishness and amplified to the point of immolation by her own perceived power. And yet, as a world traveller-as an involuntary connoisseur of such abominations and abnormalities-I can tell you that her performance is a wealth of subtleties heaped upon by an extraordinary perceptional framework of the author. Well perceived, unhappy for the received. And I think you can go down the laundry list of Rowling's devices (secret societies here; family, friends, peers, teachers) and see how she's taken the simple (but far too often elusive) observations that so many of us don't realize that we're making, dressed them up in particularly and thoughtfully British clothing, and Shazam!... quelle export! Easier said than done, my friend, and none of which guarantees a good movie (as several of the predecessors attest). This is a good film. David Yates' calm hand directs actors who have grown up with and into, and are well on their way out of, their celebrated roles. Yates knows that there's not much point in trying to be shocking with this stuff any more (even the Baptists are tired of protesting), but he doesn't shirk responsibility when it comes to a climactic wizard brawl. Arguably even better than the one in Aladdin , and well worthy of the biggest screen. Rowling's names are always appropriate and appealing.what 12 year old worth his ingenuity doesn't want to run with those older Weasleys? My only real criticism is that Alice Cooper's "School's Out" didn't pump out of the speakers during their greatest moment. Appropriate, accordant, particularly British? Nope, nope, nope and that's where the shock of it would have slashed with the greatest smirk.
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