Hope for more out of the next two movies from the new director

Rating: Null/10 (10 August 2007)

When I heard that the Harry Potter movies had taken on a new director because the last did not wish to proceed further, I approached the newest movie- Order of the Pheonix with hesitation. When I heard that the new director had not read the books I almost waited for it to come to video.
I did not start out a Harry Potter fan. I hadn't even opened the first book until after the third movie came out. I've caught up since. I was thoroughly impressed with the first movies as they were pretty close to the books; given the lengths of the books and expectations for movies. I was most impressed with the Goblet of Fire because I feared the movie would be too complicated- however they managed to at least make the movie worth watching for book fans.
The Order of the Phoenix was everything the last movies were- dramatic and exciting with wonderful imagery on camera. However the goal to make this "the shortest Harry Potter movie yet" (a quote from the new director in an Entertainment interview) was disappointing. Not because my favorite scenes were left out, but because I've read the books and the movie was not what I read. I do not watch the movies because I want to know what happens (duh, I've read the books) I watch the movies because I love the choice in cast, so far everyone is just how I imagined, and because I want to watch what I've read. The last movie was somebody else's book. It came from somebody else's imagination- it was a disappointment. I was hoping, still am though it seems unlikely, that an extended cut for readers will be in the DVD. If its not this time, I hope the director is reading bloggs and realizes that if he is going to gut the books at least include something for those who have read them.
I realize there are two audiences: those who love the books, and those who just wait for the movies. I hope the director decides to target us both.
Fingers crossed for the next one: Lori