The same, yet refreshingly different.

Rating: 8/10 (11 July 2007)

I went to the cinemas today with the lowest expectation and surprisingly, I found myself LOVING EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of OOTP. I guess it's because out of all the directors(Columbus, Cuaron and Newell), Yate's approach towards the book/movie appealed to me the most and I find his direction the most interesting yet.
The palette for OOTP is unlike its prequels. The first three movies were pretty bright and although GOF had dark, bluish shades, OOTP primary colours are even darker.
OOTP really depicts Harry as a social outcast. There were many instances throughout the movie whereby one can really feel how Harry is "marked" as the one. Whilst Ron and Hermione are both in vibrant striped clothing throughout in OOTP, Harry is usually dressed in the darker shades. Besides that, there are also several scenes in the movie where everyone looked like they belong to a family but Harry on the other hand is all alone.
Let me just start by saying that is is hard for the younger cast to obviously show the same exact expressions and emotions as the characters in the books but they were bearable to say the least.
Accolades however should be given to Daniel Radcliffe for his earnest portrayal of Harry in OOTP, a marked improvement from POA. Harry has never before been portrayed so vulnerable and afraid. Harry was in denial and was afraid to open up, seek love and accept help for fear of rejection and disappointment. The movie really centered on Harry's inner war which truly is the heart of OOTP.
Enough about Harry then. Evanna Lynch is ethereal and gives her character an eerie calmness that seems both admirably stunning and unsettling at the same time. Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley also has some shinning moments mainly involving the "Reducto" spell. Matthew Lewis was also stellar as Neville Longbottom although I really wished that they had included the scene when Neville meet his parents in St.Mungos. All this is of course at the expense of Ron and Hermione but I'm more than happy to avoid the constant bickering between the both of them. After all, Harry Potter is not about the pairings but Harry himself. However, the interaction between the trio also seemed more natural this time around.
Adding to this is the fine cream of British veteran actors who are absolutely superb and spot-on as usual, including the much welcomed return of Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Jason Issac, Ralph Fiennes and Michael Gambon.
Not forgetting Imelda Stauton who plays Dolores Umbridge which such vindication and Helena Bonham Carter as the delirious but hugely entertaining Bellatrix Lestrange.
Overall, despite some pretty major changes story OOTP is moodier and darker than its previous installments. It ticks with interesting psychological darkness and compelling themes.