I thought the movie was very good overall. Better than GoF and very close to the magic of the first three movies.

Casting/Acting:

The casting/acting was solid. The young actors are improving. Ginny didn't get a lot of screen time but when she did her "eyeing" Harry was priceless and her magic ability strong. I think overall the young actors really did a great job! It was nice to see them together - they really looked like a unit - for the DA and MoM scences.

Luna and Umbridge walked out of the book and onto the screen!!! Their casting was PREFECT! Bloddy Brillant!!! Wow there really is a Luna out there!! And who would of thought pick and kittens could be that scary!!!

Bellatrix is sick & twisted! I LOVED when she licked her Dark Mark and stood on the rocks all insanse! I can't wait to see more of her.

The adults were amazing as always. They need more screen time. We always need more Snape, Lupin and Sirius.
The Ordered looked great.
I loved Aberforth with his goat in the bar, LOL

Nay's -
Dumbledore! Loads better than GoF but still far away from the rich character in the books or the portrayal in the first three movies.

Mrs. Figgs!!! Not at all what I pictured. Too werid and detached - yuck!

Cuts:

I think the cuts worked well for the story. Most of what was cut was ack or side stories. I think they did the true story justice.

Directing:

The director really had a hard job with this film. This is more of a man verses self story more than anything. The book is long and repetitive but that's because it's more about the internal conflicts that Harry is enduring. The repetitiveness of his behavior builds up to the emotional climax in Dumbledore office at the end.

I know that is kind of hard to get across in film and not be boring to those who don't read the books.

I think David Yates is on the right track though. He brought back the magic of the first three movies and that was something GoF was lacking. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with HBP.

Sceneray/Sets/Coustumes:

Great! Great! Great!

Hogwarts looked wonderful! The MoM AMAZING! Great overall effects. I loved the Dark batteling the Light magic at the MoM. The start to the film was dark and gritty. The Therstials were creepy and beautiful.

Overall Plot:

I feel David Yates kept to the heart of the story. But the ending was VERY dissapointing and anti-cilmatic.

I was waiting for this big emotional scence with Harry & Dumbledore and it never came. It was like that just sat down for a cup of tea. There was no emotion in the scence. Harry didn't look upset or angrey at Sirius' death. Dumbledore was not emotionally convincing when he told Harry "he cares for him".


My changes:

I think if the movie was 30 minutues longer it would have been prefect!

I would have cut Grawp completely. I would have used that time to show how bad Harry's dreams were becoming.

I would have made the Dursley scence more emotional. Vernon would have tried to kick Harry out and Petunina would have gotten the Howler.

I would have kept the Prefect bit in just to show that Harry was isolated from his friends. I would have showed him riding on the train to Hogwarts alone.

They should of shown Kreacher with the locket at Grimauld place when he was pulling the box.

Snape's memory - longer & add Liliy's scene

The twins leaving fireworks - "Give'em Hell Peeves"

Hermine's "good luck kiss" for Ron

MoM - maybe visited at least one other room before finding the prophecy room (it was too easy)

MoM Battle - kids should have fought longer before the Order arrived & they should have shown Dumbledore kick Death Eater butt

Dumbledore & Harry - Harry yelling more and Dumbledore explaining things better i.e. - the prophecy, Umbridge sent the Dementors - 12 minutes

Book 7 Implications:

I agree with Durro!! I wish I had a pen and paper when I saw the movie. Those two lines just struct me.

Overall Rating:

7.5