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Movie Review - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

If you haven't seen the movie yet and you want to be totally surprised don't read this post!  I have a feeling that I'll be giving something away here......Ok, I know I will be!

If you're planning on going and haven't read any of the books or seen any of the previous movies DON'T GO!  You'll have no idea what is going on and why people are doing what they're doing.  I would definitely recommend a working background knowledge of Harry Potter in order for the movie to be its most effective for you!

First off, I loved the movie.  It's a very different format from the previous 4 which were full of action and adventure.  This time around it's more about drama and personal relationships.  It's a bit slow but only about a 2 hour-ish movie (the previews started when the movie was supposed to - I hate that).  I can't decide what the best part is.....My new favorite villian is definitely Dolores Umbridge.  Imelda Staunton plays the part so well that I am now shuddering just thinking about it!  The woman dresses in pink (which is fine, but I am not a pink person and so the choice of pink for a villian is even more revolting to me and makes her that much worse) and her office!  Her office in the movie is exactly how I imagined it in the book - with all those little kitten plates mewing on the walls!  She's probably the 'prettiest' yet scariest person in the books!  The looks and the hidden meanings in her words are really brought to life.  (I'm still cringing!)

Starting at the beginning:

• Harry and Dudley aren't really attacked in an ally in the movie - Dudley now looks like he's trying to be cool and tough, but I found him to be a little ridiculous (more so than usual!)
• When Harry is picked up by the order they don't take his trunk (seriously!  we all know he's not going back to Privet Drive and will need his things!)
• Tonks and Lupin really don't talk much at all in this movie.  They are much more prominant in the book.  In fact, we only briefly see Lupin two - three times.
• Harry only receives one letter from the Ministry of Magic for performing the Patronus Charm
• The Headquarters!  Oh HOW I WAS DISAPPOINTED!  First off, in the movie it's not an empty ally, number 12 just grows between two other flats.  That part is okay, I totally get how an empty ally is going to look funny on screen and even in 'real' life.  My problem lies in the house itself.  You know how the first time Harry goes there the picture of Mrs. Black is woken?  Well, that doesn't happen in the movie.  I really wanted to see her freak out!  Later on we see Kreacher talking to the portrait and we hear some mumbling, but there's no warning about keeping quiet, there's no cleaning of the house, and there's really not much Kreacher.
• I thought the way the movie portrayed the postings by Hogwarts' High Inquisitor was brilliant.  All of these decrees are on this wall and there are so many!  We see quite a few of the ones that are important for the story's development.
• Another thing I liked was how the newspaper headlines would flash through.  It was a simple, yet effective way to let the viewers know what was going on in the wizarding world.  It brought back some of the charm of the book for me, as the newspapers are a big deal in the story.
• A big aspect that was missing for me:  there is no mention or notice given of Ron and Hermione becoming prefects.  NOT A WORD.  I understand that it's not totally necessary to the story, but it does help to develop Harry's character and is part of the reason he acts the way he does.
• The meeting at the Hogs Head about starting Dumbledore's Army is well done.  It's pretty much how I pictured it, but the only people that seemed to be there were the students.  There weren't any unsavory characters lurking about that I noticed. 
• Once Dumbledore's Army is started is where you get a little bit of action.  Watching the students practice their charms and such is quite fun.  We also get a little bit more of an emotional side to Neville (who, by the way, does bring that one plant with him to school.  We see him carrying it, but there's no mention of it.  I can't think of the name off the top of my head, but it's rare and important to him).
• Watching Filch, Dolores Umbridge and the rest of the Inquisitional Squad try and catch the D.A. is entertaining.  When they finally do it is because they are given up by Cho.  (Her friend from the book doesn't even appear in the movie.)  We later find out that she was given Veritiserum (sp.?)
• HARRY'S FIRST KISS!
• Harry and the Weasley's never go to St. Mungo's when Mr. Weasley is hurt.  It is mentioned but we don't see it.
• Harry's lessons with Snape are pretty interesting and I thought they were done quite well.  Snape does not use the Pensieve, however.  Hermione doesn't bug Harry about practicing at all.
• Harry's nightmares about the Ministry of Magic are really creepy and great!  They only occur 2 - 3 times in the movie, but they were really well done.
• Mrs. Weasley's Woes are not mentioned.
• There is no talk of Percy.  We only see him at Hogwarts when the members of the D.A. have been caught.  There is no talk of the strain in the family relationship.
• Fred and George.  Ah, how I love the mischevious twins!  They go out with a great big BANG in this one!  But it's not the same bang as in the book.  They go out with fireworks instead of using them as their warm-up act.  I really wanted to see the swamp in the castle!
• Emma Thompson still makes a brilliant Sybill Trelawney!
• There's a sequence when Dolores Umbridge is doing her interviews that is absolutely fantastic!  You see all the professor's reactions to her questioning and the looks they give her.  OH!  And McGonagall and Umbridge are a great bickering contest to watch!
• The scenes at the Ministry of Magic are really good.  That's pretty much where all of your action comes in.  I think this part was quite well done, and I realize it was done the way it was because of time and probably budget concerns, but still!  We miss out on a lot from the Ministry sequence.  There is no round room with multiple doors to try.  They just go to the right one.  Harry hears the prophecy at the Ministry (that definitely does NOT happen in the book) but no one else does.  The kids don't look half as battle-weary as they seem to be in the book since they don't have as much action.
• LUNA LOVEGOOD IS FANTABULOUS!  She's everything I was hoping for and more!  I hope to see more of Miss Evanna Lynch in the future Potter movies!
• The thestrals were really great as well.
• Bellatrix Lestrange is one freaky chic.  But she is fabulous for the part she plays in this movie!  Her laugh is infectious - and I don't mean that in a good way!
• The end of the movie when Dumbledore and Voldemort are dueling at the Ministry is really neat.  The visuals are beautiful, but the fountains don't 'come alive'.  BOO!

Those are just some of the differences I can think of right off the top of my head this morning.  I may add to it later because I'm sure there was more, but it's not like I was taking notes during the movie for crying out loud!  All in all a very good adaptation of the book.  For me, the magic is in watching the story come alive.  It's fabulous being able to see how Rowling's words, my imagination and the creative direction of the director compare and contrast.