Haters: It can't include everything!!!

Rating: 9/10 (12 July 2007)

Granted... as someone who has read all the books countless times and listened to Jim Dale audiobooks too. I would have loved the movie to have everything that's in the book.... BUT that would have been a 12 to 15 hour movie and STILL not cover the fine points.
I think Yates and Goldenberg did a good job to cram it into 2:35. Yes, there were deviations from the book, to condense the scenes, to leave out unnecessary plot digressions, and add some action and imagination.
You must realize that the purpose of the movie is NOT to make book fans happy it is and always will be TO MAKE MONEY. Without this motivation there wouldn't be a movie in the first place. Plus, they need to take the audience into consideration, making Grawp passive bothered me, but it would appeal better to the 8 year old, I saw in the theater.
Finally, if other items deviated from the book, i.e. Mr. Weasly not having wacky clothing on, it's probably because NON-Readers of the book, wouldn't understand and explaining it would waste time that could be used for more important plot points.
If you REALLY want to know how hard a job Goldenberg had try writing a Readers Digest version of the OOTP in 50 pages. I guarantee it will disappoint far more than this movie.