Mixed Feelings

Rating: 6/10 (18 July 2007)

The fifth Harry Potter book was extremely long and had many things best explained in words than by film. Therefore, it is understandable that it was so cut up and that there were many things changed in the movie adaptation. Personally, I find that a lot of my favorite scenes and aspects of the book were cut from the film that almost ruined it for me. I was eager to see more of Bellatrix Lestrange because she's just such an evil witch, but she really only appeared for five minutes and had very little lines. I also would have liked to see the conversation Harry has with Nearly Headless Nick about ghosts after Sirius dies because I found that Harry's sudden spark of hope was a very emotional part, especially when that spark was extinguished. It also wouldn't have hurt to have some of the Quidditch parts included, but I do admit that they weren't even slightly important to the story. I would have also been nice to see the meeting with the giants (it might have been just a little violent though...) And something very important that was never mentioned (if my memory is correct) in the movie was the reason why Harry has to always stay at Privet Drive every summer with his Aunt Petunia.
There are many more scenes I could mention, but there's a word limit, so I shall move on...
Voldemort was a problem for me. Ralph Fiennes is a wonderful actor for Voldemort but there was just something about him that I just couldn't help laugh about. It's hard to explain, but he just wasn't as scary as I expected him to be...
Now if one puts aside the half-assed story and the mild ridiculousness of Voldemort, the movie is actually very good in terms of acting. Umbridge was played very well and she was very hateful, just as I'd imagine her to be. Luna Lovegood was also picked out very well and she really had that dreamy quality as described in the book. Daniel Radcliffe has also improved a lot in acting and he was really believable throughout the movie. So where the storyline lacked, the casting and acting made up for. The movie wasn't a complete failure, but I did like the others better. Perhaps, if I hadn't seen the others, I might have felt differently...