It could have been much better!

Rating: 5/10 (12 December 2007)

To start with, if I hadn't read the book, the movie would still not be rated a 10, maybe a 6. The scenes happened way too fast. The whole movie reminded me of an extra long advertising trailer.
The movie veered way off from the book several times, and it left out numerous scenes. Some that were important to the next two movies and the final story. The mirror that Sirius gave Harry was never shown, and it becomes important in the Deathly Hallows. Also, the locket being found and taken by Kreacher never happens. Again, very important in the Deathly Hallows. The whole scene of Arthur Weasely in St. Mungos was left out. The trio never sees Neville and his parents at the hospital. There was no Quidditch so don't look for it. It shows a scene with all the DA in detention with Umbridge which never happened. Why not use the time for it for something like the locket or mirror? All of it made the movie non-compliant with the previous and next movies due to setting changes. The Dept. of Mysteries was one of the worst setting changes in the movie.
The movie also changed several scenes from the book. This was, I am sure, due to Warner Bros. executives continually shortening the movie. The faults of this movie lay with them, not the director and screenwriter. Don't look for Harry delving into Snapes pensive. It doesn't happen! It should, as Harry learns a lot about his parents and Snape there. The movie only shows a very small amount. One of the worst changes was having Cho Chang be the sneak instead of the her friend. The girl who did tell Umbridge was no where to be seen. I guess Warner Bros. was wanting to save some bucks and cut the actual tattle-tale? Another was showing Neville to be the one to find the room of requirement. In fact, Dobby told Harry about it. There's others too, but it would take more time than I care to give.
It's a shame that this movie made Harry look to be a little cowardly several times, when in fact he is not. He never gave Lucius Malfoy the prophecy orb in the book like Harry did in the movie. They in fact fought over it, and Neville was involved and dropped it. Harry learned the prophecy from Dumbledore in the end, not from the orb in the hall of prophesies. Harry also fought Voldermort and Bellatrix in the atrium a good bit more than what the movie shows. The fight between Dumbledore and Voldermort is shortened and does not match with the book. In the movie, Harry hardly fights at all and neither does his friends which is utter hogwash! Sirius wasn't killed by the killing curse in the book, but hit by another type and knocked through the veil. In the movies end, Harry never once looses his temper when he confronts Dumbledore. In fact, Harry trashed Dumbledores office in the book, and put the point across that he is tired of being lied to, and being kept in the dark. Again, another major screw up from Warner Bros. executives.
I wonder when Warner Brothers will get the hint that a longer movie is more tolerable than the garbage they ship to the consumers? Myself, and others I know, would have gladly set through a three hour movie, than sat this really short version. If they do the next two the same, I'm not sure whether I want to watch them.