Decent adaptation, better at least than most of the others

Rating: 7/10 (5 October 2007)

After "Goblet of Fire" I wasn't so sure seeing any subsequent Potter movies would be really worth it, considering the books keep getting longer and longer and the movies, by mainstream default, must cut a lot out to fit comfy feature presentation time. However, enough people were actually pleased with this movie that I figured I'd give it a whirl, and it turned out all right.
I'm not gonna bother tedious comparisons with the book or trying to summarize that plot: let's face it, if you're at all interested in watching this movie, you've read the book and will notice the differences between book and film yourself. It's kind of a moot point, really. Here, however, is the breakdown that matters: For the very first time, it seems that the filmmakers have managed to take the best and most important scenes from "Order of the Phoenix" and string them together in a relatively hole-less film narrative. There's some things to be wanted with Cho and Harry's relationship, and the Occlumency lessons could have offered more, but for once the film version manages to feel a little more stand-alone than the other movies, which pretty much depended on the audience's familiarity on the books to explain how one scene fit with any other. That, my friends, is a good thing.
Also, of key importance is the fact that it seems they've finally managed to get casting relatively down pat. Natalia Tena as Tonks, Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood, and Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange all do their roles well and all, except in the case of the latter (and I love you Helena, but it's true) fit pretty much pitch perfect into the characters described in the book. Now Imelda Staunton as Umbridge... THAT was absolute perfect casting with absolutely perfect acting, and not only does she delight in the role (which helps it work so well), but I think director David Yates delights in it as well, as she pretty much gets more screen-time than any other character minus Harry himself. In fact, I'm sure some fans will bemoan the pushing of Ron and Hermione into much smaller supporting roles as a necessity for making room for these two giants of the story, but honestly, it's nice to have evil-with-a-relish without having to rely on Alan Rickman all the time.
Finally, I express some disappointment that the action in the Department of Mysteries had to be so cut short, but it's made up for with a pretty gorgeous battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort that's pretty much worth the price of a rental alone.
--PolarisDiB