The film's alright!

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2007)

I saw this movie at midnight because I'm a big fan of the books. The fifth installment is also my favourite book from the whole series, by far. This gave me very high expectations for the film, and they were met to a certain extent.
I'm not exactly sure how this movie came to be shorter than Goblet of Fire, when this book was much longer. Due to the compression of the film, some details that could have helped people understand the film were skipped. However, the details I noticed that were missing did not have a huge part in the plot.
Aside from that, the film has its plus sides. The special effects were amazing and the actors are finally getting into the Harry Potter mindset. There were two big angst parts that were not included in the film and could have helped Harry's character. One, over the summer, Ron and Hermione could not write to them, and when Harry met them finally at 12 Grimmauld Place, he exploded, in the book. But in the film, it was a short burst of anger, when in the book he yelled for over a page. In capital letters. Two, at the end of film, when Voldemort had just possessed Harry to mess around with him, Harry was, of course, scarred. So when Dumbledore had a sit-down with Harry, Harry, in the book, was yelling and ranting about how no-one could sympathise and relate to him, and he tore up Dumbledore's office out of rage. In the film, he calmly told Dumbledore that he didn't know what it felt like, and did not tear up the office.
I have heard complaints of Hagrid not getting much screen time. This is perfectly in canon with the book. Hagrid did not come back until very late in the book, until chapter 20, which is past half of the book.
I thought Umbridge was perfect, in her sweet, nasty demeanor, she got things to go her way. However, one bone to pick: Her "Hem, hem," was a little off. But that's just being too picky.
Overall, the film was very good for its length. However, the main action did not come until Grawp and Hagrid came back. But this was true for the book as well.