easily one of the best harry potter films yet!

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2007)

well, i just got back from the midnight showing, and overall i was very impressed.
not with the c.g.i. work, though, which on the whole i found quite weak and unrealistic. i found the character developments from the past movies reach their fullest potential.
the title character of harry potter was excellently acted by Radcliffe, and overall he has made the greatest improvements throughout the films.
but what impressed me the most were the three new female roles: Bellatrix Lestrange, Dolores umbridge, and Loona Lovegood. each one was wonderfully cast and perfectly realized on film. and was anyone else strangely finding loona lovegood kinda hot? the only real drawback i had was the over use of filch throughout the movie. he is in no way funny and only detracts from the story every time we see his face for "comic" relief.
this movie could easily overcome my favorite h.p. film (prizoner of azkaban - with its wonderful direction by cuaron and beautiful cinematography by Michael seresin) simply because it creates a new look on the harry potter world. much more dark and sinister, the story is beautifully realized by fast editing that would make Christopher Columbus faint.
and to all you people who find the editing out of certain scenes from the book dumb, think about this: it is not necessary that we see gilderoy Lockhart in st. mungo's or that Reeta skeeter got her interview with harry (too bad, though) the story functions perfectly fine without it! overall a great summer movie, not Oscar caliber in any sense (the closest i can come to see is best supporting actress by umbridge (unlikely)) go and see it - its worth it!!