Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) [4K UHD]

This is a great movie, lots of fun to watch.

I've been a rabid fan of Harry Potter for years now, ever since the imminent release of the first movie inspired me to start reading the books. That is a telling statement right there, in that I have always been the sort of person who prefers the book to the movie. Yet with this particular movie, I may even have enjoyed the movie more than the book. Of the seven books in the series, OotP is on the low end as far as which books I enjoyed the most. As for the movie version, I found it dazzling.David Yates is the director for which this amazing series has been searching. While Columbus's first two were cute (sometimes too cute) and imaginative, Cuaron's story-driven focus on the third was very well-done, and Newell's streamlined fourth was well acted with poor effects, Yates's vision of the fifth novel was exactly as I imagined everything in my head. His pacing of the story was superb and his use of the rotating Daily Prophet headlines to propel the plot was frankly ingenious. There is a lot of meat to the novel and Yates ensures that the plot is coherent and none of the important details are left out but does so in a very efficient manner. Instead, he saves the lengthier scenes for the heart of the story and Harry's internal conflicts are given just as much play as his external conflicts. Harry sometimes comes across as surly in the book but Yates did a wonderful job of portraying Harry's normal adolescent frustrations coupled with his dangerous position in the wizarding world. Though the ending sequence in the Ministry of Magic was trimmed, it was simply stunning. I can't say enough good things about Yates and I was ecstatic to hear that he will also be directing "Half-Blood Prince". This is a real boon to Rowling as it is such a pivotal novel. She will have a director who will do it right.There is also a great deal to be said about the acting. One of the great strengths of this franchise is that the same actors have been with it all along (with the exception of the late Richard Harris). It's been a thrill to watch the child actors grow and it really helps to keep me into the story given that one of the central themes of the novels is the evolution of these characters. While I have always liked Radcliffe, he is simply phenomenal in this movie. It's almost possible to physically feel Harry's reactions because Radcliffe imbues them with such obvious and yet restrained passion. Another of the phenomenal acting treasures is the wonderful Evanna Lynch who is pitch perfect as Luna Lovegood. Lynch is truly a talent and I loved every moment of watching her bring the character to life. I look very forward to seeing more of her in future Potter films. Alan Rickman is wonderful as usual and always leaves the viewer wanting more of Snape. Imelda Staunton made Umbridge delightfully creepy. Ralph Fiennes is extraordinary as Voldemort and sends a shiver down my spine whenever he's onscreen.The true strength of this movie is that it's character-driven, just as it was always meant by Rowling to be. Yes there is a central plot that is important. But what is really important is Harry's growth and development. Throughout his life he has had to make many tough choices and his decisions aren't always the best but that is the point. Harry learns from his mistakes and it is his choices that shape him as a character. Rather than make a flashy movie about wizards casting lots of cool spells, Yates has let this theme shine through. As in the books, in the end it all comes down to Harry's humanity. The spells and objects and magical creatures are all just frill. The real heart of the story is Harry's coming of age.

The Video: Sizing Up the Picture'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is certainly a flagship next-gen title for Warner. The film is debuting on both Blu-ray and HD DVD day-and-date with the standard DVD version, and though there are some notable differences in terms of audio and extras, the one area where both high-def editions match up is this 1080p/VC-1 encode (framed at the film's original 2.40:1 theatrical aspect ratio). Warner has certainly delivered the goods, and even with the startling number of reference-quality high-def titles I've reviewed in recent weeks, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' easily stands tall, boasting yet another a five-star video presentation.I've often used the term "picture window effect" in my reviews, but right from the film's opening sequence, 'Order of the Phoenix' boasts some of the most three-dimensional images I've yet seen on a next-gen title. This continues throughout the film, with the level of detail and depth to this Blu-ray disc truly fantastic. Sharp, resplendent in fine texture and perfectly balanced in terms of balance and contrast, 'Order of the Phoenix' is absolutely top tier.Of course, any 'Harry Potter' film is one of fantasy, and as such it's clear throughout that we are in a surreal and vibrant world. Colors are pushed to the max of saturation, but always stay one millimeter away from oversaturation. Hues remain rock solid and free of noise or other defects, so despite obvious skews in terms of color (blues and yellows are particularly accentuated), the presentation still feels surprisingly natural. Warner has also done a terrific job with compression, and I had no problems with any artifacts -- no edge enhancement, macroblocking or banding (even in heavily CGI'd sequences). Simply put, 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' is a stunner.The Audio: Rating the SoundWarner has been much better recently with their support of high-res audio on the majority of their next-gen releases, and this Blu-ray edition of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' continues the trend with a stellar uncompressed PCM 5.1 Surround mix (48kHz/24-bit). It's easily on par with the Dolby TrueHD track on the HD DVD -- in fact, any audible differences are so marginal it's a wash. Both rate as a sparkling sonic experience. (Note that the Blu-ray does outgun the HD DVD when it comes to foreign language options. Although the HD DVD contains only English, French and Spanish tracks and subtitles, this Blu-ray edition contains a wealth of additional options -- check out the left sidebar for the complete list.)It's no surprise that Warner spared no expense in bringing the latest Harry Potter adventure to the big screen. This is the best sound design you're likely to hear this year -- bold, highly immersive and unflagging in its sustained aggressiveness. There are so many fantastic sequences that you can just pick a chapter for instant demo material (the film's final 45 minutes in particular are a true aural delight). The rear soundfield is alive throughout, with sounds bounding all around with a transparency that's as close to the movie theater as you're going to get. Minor ambiance is not ignored either, with quieter scenes boasting a palpable surround presence. Even a simple whoosh of Harry's wand is often accompanied by a delightful subtle wisp of sound in the rears.All other aspects of the source are equally excellent. Integration of music, dialogue and effects is pitch-perfect. Even with so many younger actors (and their sometimes thick English accents), I made out every word without ever reaching for my remote's volume controls. The score (by Nicholas Hooper, subbing for John Williams) is also impressively dispersed, with the appropriate majestic quality. And although 'Order of the Phoenix' may not be the subwoofer juggernaut of a film like 'Transformers,' when bass is needed, believe me, you'll feel it. There is not one aspect of this mix that disappoints.

We really enjoy playing the entire series end to end. I had to replace this one as I'd worn out or damaged my older first copy. This copy was an upgrade as my original was a DVD. The 4K simply pops. Its great.