The most disappointing movie of the series so far...

Rating: 2/10 (14 July 2007)

The good bits: Cinematography, lighting and set design is generally excellent, editing is snappy and effective, and Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman continue to put in strong(ish) performances, given the weak and dumbed-down script they are forced to work with.
Effects-wise, it lives up to its huge budget, but fireworks and fight scenes don't go on nearly long enough, and many opportunities have been missed for creating that all important Hogwarts and ministry atmosphere. Overhead castle fly-throughs are few and far between.
The less than good bits: This is not a good film, if you are a fan of the books. Some plot lines have been altered, changed, or dispensed with altogether. The film possesses very little of the books intricacies, detail, and charm that make it the phenomenal story it is.
With a few exceptions, the acting is more or less appalling throughout. This we might expect and forgive from actors of little to no experience, and perhaps some of the younger cast, but there is simply no excuse for some seriously 'phoned in' performances from Gambon, Staunton and Fiennes, none of whom appear to have even read the book in passing, and all demonstrate their almost complete lack of understanding about the roles they are playing again and again throughout the film.
Gambon, especially, puts in SUCH an inappropriate and intrinsically weak performance as Dumbledore that I am surprised he was ever asked back for more than one film. He gets successively worse in each one released. I would happily exchange a sense of continuity for using an actor that actually gave a damn about the performance they were giving.
Kreacher was also handled badly, though not in animation or rendering, both of which are excellent, but in voicing, and mannerisms, and the sheer tiny amount of screen time in which he features. Key plot points that should have centred round him are glossed over, ignored, and replaced by other events, and the film loses a great deal because of this.
Likewise, the centaur confrontation is delivered with almost no explanation for what is occurring, no dialogue, and consequently, their featuring in the film is another pointless excuse for a reasonable effects shot, and not much more. Likewise with Grawp, and Hagrid, both of whom are on screen so fleetingly that we wonder why they bothered.
Both Umbridge and Bellatrix are presented with far too much leaning towards comedy, when in fact both of these characters are dangerous psychotics who, in the books, are real and present threats to Harry's life and happiness and who should terrify, rather than amuse and divert.
Of course Dobby should have been there, so should Quidditch, The Quibbler article, and Kreachers deception, among other things, but all these are missed out, and the films re-hashing of the true plot makes it up as it goes along to fill these vital gaps. All very disappointing.
It also makes crucial mistakes like the guard party flying low over the Thames (as if this wouldn't attract Muggle attention and break the very same laws as those Harry is being hauled over hot coals by the ministry for)...
My advice is 'borrow the DVD from a friend when it comes out - it IS worth a look, though only for editing, lighting, sets and cinematography - for all else, read the book, which is an altogether more complete and enjoyable experience'. It also contains the actual plot, which is far superior to the 'vaguely related' screenplay we see here. Or better still - buy the audio books, in which Stephen Fry's 170+ vocal characterisations consistently surpass, if not entirely blow away the 'acting' we have on offer here.
I am afraid I must 'confess myself disappointed' that David Yates has already signed to do 'Half Blood Prince'. I rather dread what he might do, or leave out, with that.