instaling Harry Potter and the Order of the Pho…

I also love this sequence’s sound design.

It's also much more thrilling to watch than the usual back-and-fourth of electric lights shooting out of wands. From snakes made of fire to shards of flying glass to Dumbledore’s roaring sphere of water, this scene is full of creative visuals. But it’s the final duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore that’s truly fantastic, and my vote for the best action sequence of the series. It's a great lead-in to the Department of Mysteries battle where the Order of the Phoenix arrive to take the reins from the kids. The fight against the Death Eaters is a beautifully photographed sequence that gives Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna a chance to show off their defensive skills. The real gem of The Order of the Phoenix is the final three battle scenes. We watched him play a dangerous chess game and fight a giant snake – the things of fantasy – but here he becomes a relatable human being who’s dealing with grief and PTSD. It was easier not to notice that shift from the playfulness of the early movies into the heavier themes of the latter ones when watching these films over the course of 11 years, but as I’ve revisited them back-to-back, I found a new appreciation for how Goblet director Mike Newell and Yates crafted that transition. It was just a few weeks ago that I revisited Harry’s first trip to Hogwarts, a kid so full of eagerness and wonder, and now this week while watching The Order of the Phoenix again, Harry felt much like much more of an adult dealing with real issues. Harry, feeling the gravity of Voldemort’s return after processing the events of Goblet, asks Sirius ( Gary Oldman) in this movie, “Is there really going to be a war?” Watching that scene again this week, I started to realize how much change takes place over the course of the eight movies.

Instaling Harry Potter and the Order of the Pho…