Rushed and disappointing

Rating: 3/10 (1 August 2007)

I found this movie very disappointing and the weakest in the series so far. The exposition is very rushed and jerky, as if the director was checking plot points off a list and dashing through them as quickly as possible. Also, very annoyingly, he doesn't trust you to notice something he wants you to notice and has to beat you over the head with it, whether it's the Harry-Cho-Ginny triangle or a simple detail like Luna Lovegood being barefoot in the forest. Speaking of which, Evanna Lynch's performance was disappointing - Luna came across as more smug and self-satisfied than dreamy and unself-conscious like she should have been.
The other characters are predictable - Ron is clueless, Hermione is bossy and know-it-all etc. The only character showing any growth is Neville, and to a lesser extent Fred and George. Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge is the only real bright spot.
In his rush to get to the end, the director gives us none of what gave the book its characteristic flavor. None of Harry's inner turmoil is depicted - his awkward relationship with Cho, his growing alienation from Dumbledore etc. - and in particular the pivotal death of an important character is treated in a very offhand way. And although the climactic battle had dazzling special effects, there was no real heart in it - it hadn't been built up to with any sense of tension and overwhelming odds, and when it happened, it was just another plot point to be ticked off.
I suspect anyone who has not read the books will come away from this movie very confused, and not ready for the next episode. Considering the rich material he had to work with, the director really dropped the ball.