A good movie (though not entirely a book to movie adaptation)

Rating: 9/10 (12 July 2007)

Being a fond reader (and not a ultra-loyalist) of the book, I felt that this movie gave its essence and kudos to the whole team for giving us that.
The acting was very good (with the exception of Cho - who picked her anyways???). Some didn't even had much to say but their presence were really felt (Lupin, Lucius, Moody, Trelawney). I really missed Richard Harris as Dumbledore, but Gambon's portrayal grows on you with every movie. Bravo! The plot was effective enough for the movie's length. The climactic battle was awesome. I know the feeling should slowly die down till the end of the movie, but I felt that it plunged out. It was forgivable that some of the events were taken away, but I strongly believe that they should have: - Included the mirror which was Sirius' gift to Harry. Along with including a few minutes wherein Harry was desperately trying to contact Sirius, and that he saw the mirror when he was packing for home (giving that heart stabbing feeling the book gave me).

Sticked to the book that Harry heard the prophesy after it shattered, and Dumbledore establishing that Trelawney was the one who did the prediction. Giving more importance to Emma Thompson's character(not make her look like just a goofy/no use teacher) and justifying Dumbledore's protection of her in one of the scenes in the movie.

I didn't mind that the left out the hospital, quiddich (haven't they had enough of this in the first 3 films?), and other events in the book. The changes as I've said were acceptable, but including the above mentioned events would have gave the movie a better ending.