A decent movie, but not great

Rating: 5/10 (11 July 2007)

I was expecting a lot going into this movie. I've read every book but the fifth one, so I didn't really know what to expect as per plot. While the movie WAS very well choreographed and filmed, the acting just wasn't there. I feel like few too many people are looking at this movie for what it really is: a filler. Every 13 year old girl on the internet says it is the best movie yet, but I beg to differ. The emotional depth was lacking, and the set was poorly designed. I didn't feel like I was at Hogwarts, rather just a movie stage with Daniel Radcliffe doing a decent harry potter impersonation. Harry seemed angry the entire movie, but you never really get to understand why until the end. If you haven't read the book, you spend the entire movie wondering why he's so mad the entire time. Secondly, the plot progressed way too fast. Within the first fifteen minutes, Harry was already in the grand hall eating. Where's the setup? All in all, the movie acted out and felt like exactly what the book was supposed to be: a filler and guide for the sixth and seventh installments. If this movie is indicative of what the last two movies are going to be like, I think we are all going to be sorely disappointed.