Harry Potter movies no longer good for book fans.

Rating: 7/10 (11 July 2007)

Let me first preface my comments by saying that above all I am a fan of the Harry Potter books. And until now, I was a fan of the movies as well. But Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was a book fan's nightmare. Not only are the most pivotal emotional scenes robbed of meaning (Snape's worst memory, Dumbledore's office scene at the end), but basic themes from the book are crushed into powder finer than the glass shards from the climactic, yet mostly garish final battle sequence. The best line in the movie is lifted directly from the book (Hermione's line about Ron's emotional range). Perhaps most atrocious of all is the constant innuendo towards a Harry/Hermione romantic attachment. I understand that Dan Radcliffe/Emma Watson is a more desirable on screen couple for movie marketers, but the sixth book dispels any chance of that, so what is it doing in movie 5. Most disappointing of all was the Dumbledore/Voldemort duel. The book version is filled with banter and new and interesting magic. The movie version relies on wowing us with shiny particle effects which were no doubt expensive.
Anyhow, I'm rambling. Perhaps this film will prove itself upon subsequent viewings. As the filmmakers apparently believe, anything's possible. There were some shining moments. A brief moment between Harry and Sirius fighting side by side in the Death chamber was excellent. The DA was fully realized and wonderfully done throughout. Imelda Staunton and her collection of kitten china was priceless.
In all honesty, ten more minutes of dialog and some different editing would have made this movie far better. Another half-hour and it would have been better still. But alas, for me, the magic is gone.