Ehh

Rating: 6/10 (11 July 2007)

While this isn't the worst adaptation of the books to movies in my opinion - that goes to PoA - this is a very close second. I think the acting was great, the directing fine & special effects spectacular, except for the dementors: why did we need to change them from their earlier wonderfully-creepy look? Unfortunately, I think the screenplay was abysmal, & I'm ever-so grateful that Steve Kloves is back for HBP! I understand that, this being the longest of the books to date, there were bound to be many omissions. I can (grudgingly) accept that. However, when integral plot points are completely altered (Cho Chang is the snitch?!?) I have a HUGE problem with it.
I'm quite surprised that Michael Goldenberg did such a horrible job on this screenplay, since I've liked all the other movies for which he was screenwriter. I don't know if it's simply that I'm "used" to Steve Kloves' writing personality with these films, or if it was just too much information to condense into a 138 minute movie, but either way, I hope I live to see the day when this movie AND PoA both get redone properly.
I know I'm not the first to say this & won't be the last, but I feel these books should be turned into 3-4 hour movies, akin to the LoTR trilogy. Any of us who read & re-read these books, who spend an entire weekend reading each new book that comes out, would easily accept a movie double in length of the current ones.