For starters, I could have robbed a band more easily than I could have sneaked into the film. I had to show my ticket to four different people. If one opened the door to the theater we were waiting to get in to (which was showing a different movie) that person was kicked out without a refund. If a cell phone went off durring the movie, that person was also kicked out without a refund. Crazy, I think so.
I arrived at 6:45 PM...the next people arrived at 9:30. Needless to say, my sister and her boyfriend were not thrilled about being there so early. And yes, my costume did make them a bit irritated as well.
Enough about the lead-up. Onto the movie itsself. OoP is my least favorite of the Potter books. I thought it was too long, with way too many subplots. The movie, however, is by far my favorite. SPEW, Harry/Cho, all the stuff I loathed in the book is gone!
Jo came really close in the book to making my not like Harry. Seriously, stop being so angry! Everyone's life sucks at some point. The movie, however, plays Harry's anger in a way that doesn't make you tire of him.
The new characters are brilliantly casted. I could not magically summon better actors to play these roles. Belatrix is so incredibly evil and brilliant! Umbridge is deliciously malevolent and you hate her right from the off.
However, the best find in this film is Evana Lynch, the non-actress who auditioned for Luna Lovegood because she felt she was born to play the role. After you see this film, you will also feel that she was put on this earth for the specific reason to play Luna Lovegood. She is absolutely perfect and completely adorable. I really hope Luna appears in Deathly Hallows, just so we can see her again!
WB would do well to permanently give Steve Kloves the boot. Michael Goldberg did a marvelous job. The scene right after Harry's first kiss is nearly word-for-word from the book(which is my favorite scene). Also, when Harry and Hermione drag Umbridge into the forrest, the like Harry says near the end of that scene will convince you that Goldberg is the man for the job.
However, the ending leave much to be desired. Gone are all of the rooms in the Department of Mysteries, gone is Harry smashing Dumbledore's office. I've been waiting for that scene for years, so finally see Dan Radcliffe show off his acting abilities. Hoewever, the posession of Harry is so well done! But the death of Sirius...well, it's not how I always imagined it, but it is effectivly done.
The prophecy is diluted to three lines. And the reveal of the truth is interspliced between Harry's leaving Hogwarts. At first, I hated this. However, if it played out like it does in the book, the movie would have ended exactly like GoF, so after a second viewing, I'm ok with that aspect.
Harry's last interaction with Luna is so great. And the last like, while not in the book, completely sums up the movie. While the least-faithful adaptation, this movie was a success in this one, most important, respect: it made me love what was my least-favorite book in the series. After seeing the film, I wanted to read OoP IMMIDIATELY! Therefore, I consider the film a great success.