Favorite Book. Favorite Movie. "Sirius"ly.

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2007)

A novel spanning 870 pages cannot possibly fit entirely into a 2+ hour movie. A movie cannot be, like, 239587 hours long to allow every detail of the book into the movie. Obviously, things from the book are missing in the film version of "Order and the Phoenix." However, what is there...is fantastic.
Like "Goblet of Fire" before it, "Order of the Phoenix" delivers the main theme and plot of the movie - the rising battle between good and evil and the changes within Harry. Unlike GoF, however OoP does this incredibly well.
Also unlike GoF (compared to "Prisoner of Azkaban"), OoP truly is darker than its predecessor. Much darker. The actors aren't lying this time; this film really is very dark. There are some humorous moments, but overall, it is serious and grave. At the same time, though, it's an excellent movie.
The climactic battle is exactly how I pictured it in the book - hectic, fast-paced, and completely chaotic. It ends almost as quickly as it started, and (as I knew it would since the corresponding pages in my book are tear-stained) that ending resulted in tears streaming down my face.
The acting in this installment, from every actor, is terrific and greatly improved, especially from the young actors...and most especially Daniel Radcliffe. His conflicted angry/calm Harry is believable and honest at all times, and greatly matured. Gary Oldman's Sirius Black is dead on. As every reviewer has said, Imelda Staunton is terrific as Umbridge, completely loathsome, evil, and irritating. She doesn't steal the show though. That honor goes to someone who has only a brief amount of screen time, but she eats it up and, evil murderess lunatic though she is, leaves you wanting more of her character. Casting Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix LeStrange was simply genius on the part of David Yates, whose entire direction of this movie was genius.
So, yes, there are things missing from the book, but if one just focuses on what is in the movie, even a die-hard OoP book fan like myself will be at least satisfied. I was completely surprised, and thrilled, by this movie. GO SEE IT!