Two Word Movie Review - Harry Potter and Order of Phoenix

(No spoilers. Safe to read.)


Here are your two words: "Reader's Digest"

Very condensed version of the book.
Very well done condensed version of the book.

But condensed nonetheless.
Much like the World Quidditch Cup scenes from Goblet of Fire.

Perhaps it is because I am so in love with the book version, I wondered if someone who hadn't read the books (but was well-versed in the movies) would be able to follow along and/or pick up the nuances of what certain things meant.

I did find myself thinking several times that I knew what this or that was really about only because I'd read the book.

But, here's what a friend of mine had to say:
I have never read any of those books, however I saw the movie this afternoon and thought it was as good as the first one. The others in the series were entertaining, but this one had something more. Other characters got screen times and there were some interesting insights you find out.

(The following is intended for those who have seen the movie, but there are no spoilers here either. However, it may influence your viewing if you have not yet seen the movie.)

There was one point in the movie, during a scene we all know is coming if we've read the book, where the air is simply sucked from the theater.
The only people you see on screen are Harry and Lupin, and there's no dialogue.
I found it hard to breathe.
It was very well produced.

On the other hand, is it just me, or is it more difficult to understand what they are saying this time?
The British accent blew past me a little too fast several times, and I completely missed some of the conversations. I never noticed a problem with it in the other movies.

Also, and I hate to admit it, I couldn't help but think of Star Wars and Yoda during the battle in the Ministry.

And there was that moment when we first meet Kreacher that I expected him to mutter, "My precious!"

But mostly, there was far too little of Ron.
Even my kids said so.
(I found it ironic that Entertainment Weekly pointed out how Ron's big scenes from the book are cut out of the movie, and then they blatantly left any interview with Rupert Grint out of their article. Gits.)

Your thoughts?

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