my least favorite book ends up being the best movie!

Rating: 9/10 (14 July 2007)

okay first off, David Yates is a genius! to take a book like Order of the Phoenix and turn it into the unbelievable film that it is, might be the greatest thing i've ever seen. part of my dislike for the book is that almost half of it is in italics and is Harry just moping around and doubting himself. Yates took all that and managed to convey it on screen without being cheesy or lost.
next, the musical score by Hooper is just the best one they've ever had. absolutely beautiful and perfect.
the cast - what might be so amazing about this film is the high standard of acting that was represented in the film. it encompassed some of the best actors alive today. there are of course the usual cast, including Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, Dame Maggie Smith as Macgonagal, Emma Thompson as Trelawney, Michael Gambon as Dumbledore and Alan Rickman as Snape. but entering this film is a new supporting cast that just makes the movie. Helena Bonham Carter was born to play the role of Bellatrix Lestrange. no one else could have done it justice. I have to admit that i was a little put off when i first saw pictures of Imelda Staunton as Umbridge. she didn't look like she could pull it off, but by god, until she gets her just rewards in the end you really just want to strangle her. but she is so sugar coated too at times, that you know that role was just perfect for her. also new comer to acting, the girl who played Luna "Looney" Lovegood almost seemed like she had walked straight out of the book. they also gave her a bit bigger part in the movie than she had in the book, which was nice. also Tonks was just perfect.
the sentimentallity level - i was worried about how much they were going to play up Sirius' death in the movie. Yates knew what he was doing here. it's enough to bring tears to your eyes, but you don't dwell on it. even in Harry's talk later with Dumbledore it's not sappy. really it's perfectly done!
few problems - i know that turning an almost 900 page book into a movie you have to make sacrifices, which is why i understood leaving out the trip to St. Mungos, and the Weesley swamp (although the fireworks really were awesome). but i didn't understand some of the choices they made. for example, they go through all the trouble of having Kreacher in the movie, but he doesn't do anything. in the book he's a pivotal plot point, but in the movie he serves no purpose. since Dobby has been left out of the last two movies, i almost would rather have just had them leave Kreacher out.
also, they go through all the trouble of having the scene about Sirius and his family, and the Black family tree, but then they leave off Tonks, and also Regallus, who might prove, in my opinion to be the RAB in the locket. so that threw me.
also, i was really unhappy with Ginny's role in the movie. she has about 3 spoken lines and is totally overlooked. in this book she's supposed to be really popular and attractive and coming into herself, but all she did the whole movie was make goo-goo eyes at Harry, and nasty looks at Cho.
Cho taking Marietta's role of being the snitch i think worked very well in the movie. i just really wish they had left in the Sneak in pimples on her face.
all in all one of the best movie yet, and if you have a chance see it in the IMAX where the last 15-20 minutes are in 3D. it will rock your world.
let's hope that David Yates will do the last two movies. he knows his Potter.