When it comes to the Harry Potter movies, the Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince are two of the darker ones in the entire franchise. They’re the two blockbusters where Lord Voldemort is well and truly in the ascendancy, taking steps to endanger the magical community and plotting in the shadows as the Boy Who Lived and his allies fight to remain alive.
But what would we change about the two films if they were to be remade today? Here are five ideal amendments for each movie.
The Order Of The Phoenix: Percy Weasley Storyline
Percy Weasley makes brief appearances in the first three Harry Potter movies - as well as both the Order the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Yet while the character isn’t significant in any way, it was somewhat confusing that Warner Bros. chose not to show the storyline regarding his falling out with the rest of the Weasley family.
In the source material, Percy’s feud is a way of showing how Lord Voldemort can divide people - even when he’s not explicitly involved. And it would have been great to get this same insight on the big screen. Percy chooses to side with the Ministry of Magic over his own relatives, refusing to believe the Dark Lord is back. But he, like Cornelius Fudge, is forced to backtrack in the end.
The Half Blood Prince: Remus And Tonks' Relationship
Fans of solely the Harry Potter movies could have been forgiven for wondering when Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks coupled up. They don’t say a single word in the fifth movie but, in Half-Blood Prince, they’re shown to be in a romantic relationship. Hence confusion from many.
In the book of the same name, however, there’s plenty of details given out. Lupin spends the whole year rebuffing Tonks’ advances, insisting it would be cruel on her to be partnered with a werewolf. Fortunately he has a change of heart following Albus Dumbledore’s death, although their relationship is hit by many bumps in the road.
The Order Of The Phoenix: Quidditch
Quidditch is at the forefront of things in both The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, with fans getting to see Gryffindor beat Slytherin on two occasions. However, following those two movies, the sport only appeared once more. And it was left out of The Order of the Phoenix blockbuster all together.
The reason the movie needs more Quidditch isn’t just because it’s entertaining to watch. Instead, it’s because plenty happens in the book that isn’t shown in the movie. Harry gets kicked off the team by Dolores Umbridge, Fred Weasley and George Weasley get the same punishment for trying to fight Draco Malfoy, and Ginny Weasley ends up skippering Gryffindor to victory. There’s also lots of vile chants aimed at Ron Weasley but that, in fairness, was shown in the following film instead.
The Half Blood Prince: Scrap The Burrow Scene
In Half Blood Prince, there’s a scene which sees The Burrow burn down. It’s dramatic and emotional, certainly, but shouldn’t have been put into the movie.
That’s because it doesn’t happen in the book, with the building instead remaining unharmed. And, also, because of continuity errors. We next see The Burrow in the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and it looks good as new - or at least the same oddity it was before. We never get any explanation as to how the Weasleys put it back together, because they couldn’t answer that.
The Order Of The Phoenix: St Mungos
We don’t ever get to see St. Mungo's on the big screen. It’s the wizarding hospital situated in London, and it's where everybody goes to get fixed up. Some, such as Gilderoy Lockhart and Neville Longbottom’s parents, end up living there permanently.
Part of the reason it should have been included is because its the setting of a sweet, touching scene involving Neville. He’s there to visit his parents, who have been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, Barty Crouch Jr., and many other Death Eaters many years previously. They keep giving him sweet wrappers and his grandmother tells him to throw them away - but he instead pockets them on the sly. It would also have been great to see Lockhart again, but alas, it wasn’t to be.
The Half Blood Prince: More Voldemort Flashbacks
Voldemort’s past is barely shown in the sixth movie of the Harry Potter franchise. We get to see a scene between the Dark Lord and Albus Dumbledore set in a muggle orphanage, and another including Horace Slughorn and Horcruxes. But that’s it.
In the book, there’s so much more that would have been fascinating to witness. There’s his Defence Against the Dark Arts job interview, the reveal of his family members Morfin, Marvolo and Merope Gaunt, as well as Tom Riddle’s charming of Hepzibah Smith that leads to her death. Unfortunately we never got to see any of this, and that’s a big missed opportunity.
The Order of the Phoenix: More Of Snape’s Memory
In fairness, the Order of the Phoenix movie covers the gist of Severus Snape’s worst memory. Harry sends a spell back at the Potions master and we get to see Snape bullied and embarrassed by Marauders James Potter and Sirius Black - with Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew also present at the time.
Yet it’s far deeper and more interesting in the source material. There is James and Lily Potter’s turbulent relationship, her own attitude towards Snape (which would enhance the love reveal in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) and how Pettigrew and Lupin really were vastly different to the two ringleaders of the group. Instead we got just a fleeting scene, whereas it takes up many pages in the book.
The Half Blood Prince: Hogwarts Battle
Sure, we got a brilliant big battle at Hogwarts in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. But, despite that, it would have been interesting to see another fight take place in the Half Blood Prince.
In the books, it’s students vs. Death Eaters following the shocking death of Albus Dumbledore. Bill Weasley is mauled by Fenrir Greyback, but the majority of the good guys escape unharmed thanks to lucky potion Felix Felicis. However, in the movie, no fight breaks out. The Death Eaters, led by Severus Snape, are able to flee with only Harry managing to muster any resistance. It was cut to avoid stepping on the toes of what was to come but, even so, Warner Bros. could have found a way around that.
The Order Of The Phoenix: More Prophecy Explanation
After Sirius Black’s devastating death, Albus Dumbledore opens up on the prophecy with Harry’s name on it that Lord Voldemort had tried to acquire from the Ministry of Magic. He informs the Boy Who Lived that he or the Dark Lord must finish each other off, and that’s all fans get to find out.
Obviously, that’s the big takeaway from the scene. But the book, again, offers more. Fans of the movie won’t know that the prophecy was created by Sybil Trelawney, had been relayed to Voldemort by Severus Snape, and could easily have referred to Neville Longbottom instead.
The Half Blood Prince: Albus Dumbledore’s Funeral
Albus Dumbledore’s funeral could have been one of the most memorable scenes in the whole of the Harry Potter movies. In the book, it’s where literally everybody we’ve met previously turns up to pay their respects, from friends such as Alastor Mad-Eye Moody and Olympe Maxime, to enemies such as Dolores Umbridge and Rita Skeeter.
It was cut from the movie because Warner Bros. wanted to keep the movie light - which is ironic, considering there’s just one sunny scene in the whole blockbuster.