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I thought the movie was pretty good. The 5th book was the hardest to get through of all the Harry Potter books. It was very dark and angry. I understand that it was imperative to the whole series but still, it was not a delightful read. So with this in mind, the movie was not bad. Just not great. However, Luna was perfect and Prof. Umbridge wasn't quite hideous enough for me.

I haven't seen it yet!
It's on my agenda for sabbatical :)

I liked it. I actually liked the change in Sirius, because I didn't really care in the book when he died-- he was killed off before I got a chance to "emotionally bond" with him, but in the movie, I understood more of Harry's grief not just for the promise and figure of Sirius but actually for the man of Sirius.

Also, I really liked they showed Harry's isolation, which I wondered how they would show on film, as it was mostly in Harry's head in the book.

I was impressed by how much the film moved and how tight it was. I think it really kept to the spirit of the book. One of my problems with the first 2 films was that they were so focused on not messing with the book that the movies themselves were rather boring and didn't add anything to the experience...

I agree with Jennie about the positive Sirius change. He just wasn't that big a character to me in the book. In the film I felt his death carried a lot more weight.

Of all the movies made of the HP books, I felt this last one was undoubtedly the strongest. This is probably due to the change in screenwriters (though they're switching right back for the next film and already saying it's going to be "goofy"). For the shortest Harry Potter movie, it packed everything in and made edits that should have probably have appeared in the book. OF COURSE Harry should have seen that scene with his father in Snape's memory! That makes perfect sense! And for the first time I found myself caring about Hagrid's little brother. Garp may have been so-so CGI, but he was oddly moving.

Two big big thumbs up over here then.

Hi, Cyndi: I agree that the 5th book was the most difficult for the reasons you mention. And, in fact, I think the filmmakers did a great job translating Harry's anger and isolation onto the screen.

Tricia: Sabbatical. That's awesome! Mine's almost over :(

Jennie and Fuse: I agree with you totally re: Sirius. I never connected with him in any of the books--not in 3, not in 5. I never really liked him, and never saw why fans did. And, yes, the film managed to keep the essential dark spirit of #5, while moving the story along. But, I still felt that the change to Sirius' character was too much for me. He was a totally different person in the movie. Completely. I understand why they made the plot changes (Cho guilty for DA revelation instead of her friend, Marietta, Fred and George's one-time mischief and departure instead of the thought-out plan in the bok, Hagrid's momentary appearance in the film), but I really thought changing an entire character's being was too much for me as a viewer.

I'm with you. It's the best so far, it continues to grow, loved Umbridge, loved Luna, but I wasn't a huge fan. The movie sped through all subplots at breakneck speed and I was left not believing the supposedly redemptive power of their friendships. Daniel's performance was stellar, his internal battle was the absolute best in the movie, but I wanted more. I wanted the filmmakers to trust us to sit through more, to build the characters more. I've read all 7, over and over. For me, it wasn't so much what the movie left out or changed; it was that they didn't fully invest in what they decided to put in there.
~bryn

I started crying when Sirius stepped on the screen.

I loved Luna! She was so perfect.

I was so glad to hear Umbridge "hem, hem", but I don't think she was quite evil enough.

I liked the movie.

I had just finished listening to the book so many of the scenes were fresh in my mind. I was struck how the screenwriters kept so much of the actual dialog and many scenes from the book but moved them around to create a stronger narrative flow. It reminded me of how Peter Jackson used Tolkien's language in the LOTR movies but in different places than the book itself.

Given the amount of material, I think it is the strongest screenplay yet. I am dismayed to hear they are changing the writers for the next one.

Daniel is the heart of the show and his dedication to the role holds the movie together, (as Mark Hammill's Luke Skywalker did when everyone else was phoning in their performance.)

I will be interested to see if Rupert can ramp it up for the finale. Luna was wonderful!

Imelda wasn't toad-like enough in appearance, but she stole all her scenes.

I liked the movie okay, and they got the essence of the plot in there, but in streamlining it, it lost too much of the side stuff that sparkles. Some of which they could have easily managed (having the Dursleys leave for a lawn competition, as in the book, say, or pulling Kreacher back near the end (again, to set him up as more villainous).

Plus, there were so very many scenes I'd hoped to see -- the swamp created by the Weasleys, a bit more of the subtle sabotage of Umbridge by the teachers, etc. And, of course, the introduction of the new Divination teacher. Ah well.