A must see, but not a must praise.

Rating: 9/10 (13 July 2007)

Harry Potter films traditionally need to have a thumbs up - even if they don't really deserve them. I say this simply because the movies are just chapters in the entirety of the Harry Potter franchise. So far, having seen 5 of the 7 books, one starts to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the actual culmination to the series. I can't say this is my favorite however; the whole movie lacked something. It seemed oddly disjointed and "fuzzy". From a book that portrayed Harry as being continuously angry throughout most of it, I didn't get that sense of anger. Sure, there were moments, but at most I felt the biting edge had been dumbed down at points where it almost left you behind emotionally detached (which you only realize when you are suddenly and temporarily drawn back into the world). Most of the problems I have with this film tend to lead back to the movies director, David Yates, who was a curious selection to begin with. He has no real experience, and in my opinion, is apparent in this films visualization.
This film felt more like an interim movie, but still necessary. In some ways this was a real turning point for Harry where he starts to take some personal investment in the future and his karma with Voldermort. We learn a little history about the formation of the Order and some insight into Padfoots (Sirius Black) background, but the main focus revolves around the creation of Dumbledores Army. This all happens when students, after experiencing a couple of exciting of practical defensive use of the dark arts turn into a nightmare under the tutelage of a micromanaging professor Dolores Umbridge (played by Imelda Staunton who was a genius in this role) who absolutely dominates the screen. As the weeks roll by at Hogwarts, an abundance of rules put a stranglehold on the institution to the point where no one wants to be there. Dumbledore ends up in the line of fire, faculty loose their jobs, and everyone in the school live in fear. When the needs of the students don't get met, a secret society blossoms (Dumbledores Army), where Harry is prevailed upon to teach them how to defend themselves against Death Eaters, Dementors and a possible confrontation with Voldermort himself. During the final battle this training comes in handy for the group. I will no longer go into the story, you need to see it.
Things that annoyed me was the lack of consistency with the previous movies. You get to see a new Dementor in this episode, and it doesn't look anything like the previous Dementors. What a pity. I loved the sinister graphical nature of the ones used in Prisoner of Azkaban (Directed by Alfonso Cuarón). Another thing was the cameo appearances of major characters at Hogwarts. There was a lot of dependency on the students to carry this film, and I feel that the support from the faculty and staff at the school just didn't seem to be there. Even Dumbledore seemed to take a back seat except for an amazing appearance in a fight scene near the end. In general, the CGI lacked luster. However, there were some good things to note as well: The magical world and the gritty nature of the real world seem to knit together in a way that appeared more congruous. Buildings were no longer portrayed in pristine condition, and during those moments when you were drawn in with the action of the film, you could find yourself squirting a few tears without knowing it.
These are all signs of a production that did not have a strong captain at the helm, in my opinion. With such an incredible cast, they were capable of so much more if the support was there. I am not encouraged by this, and am almost anxious that Mr. Yates is already signed on as director of the next very crucial book. We can always hope for a miracle... or better yet, Magic.