I'm so very disappointed in this movie. It SUCKED.

Rating: 1/10 (19 July 2007)

I am a fan of the series, both book and movie, and am incredibly disappointed in this movie. I was ready to walk out 15 minutes into it, but stayed hoping it would get better. It never did.
The director didn't seem to realize that HP is 'high fantasy' and went for a more contemporary 'realistic' style. BIG Mistake. It took the magic out of it and left nothing to enjoy - a shell of the series former glory. And I'm sick at heart to see that he's been rehired to ruin the next movie, The Half Blood Prince. It's a shame.
The movie is choppy. I don't know how anyone who hasn't recently read the book would be able to follow it. The script flat and boring. How anyone can make a flat/boring script from such wonderful original material is beyond me, but they managed it. The acting is not even close to the performances that have been turned in in the first four movies. It almost felt like they were phoning it in ... and not just one of the characters, but all of them ... with the exception of Fred and George (who I adored) and Umbridge (who I detested). I really missed being able to get 'inside' the movie with the characters and the magic. They never stayed in one place long enough to connect.
The camera work is all about 'weird angles and jumping around'. They have totally changed the flavor of the series ... and it's not a change for the better. It's not a matter of it getting darker, it's a matter of totally changing the style to something that does not fit within the entire body of the story from Book One/Movie One through to the end).
If TPTB are listening in, PLEASE dump this current director and go back to the one you had before (ANY of the ones you had before would be better). I would be a shame to ruin the rest of the series the way this movie has been butchered.
Don't waste your time or money on this one. Reread the books and enjoy the first 4 on DVD.