So anyway... an excellent entry in the series. The book is probably my favorite in the series and the movie doesn't quite live up to that. But how could it, in a way. The novel is 800+ pages and, like all the books, is an immersive experience, taking the reader through the entire school year with the main characters as well as the plot (return of Voldemort, Order of Phoenix, Ministry of Magic, etc). Altho the immersion in the lives of the characters is gone, along with many of the subplots, new screenwriter Michael Goldenberg and new director David Yates do a good job of keeping the story moving. They also jettison a lot of stuff (particularly Harry the surly teen) that wouldn't, I think, have played particularly well onscreen. Yes, things are rushed by. Kreacher is reduced to a virtual cameo. There's not enough Order of the Phoenix. Maggie Smith doesn't have enough to do. OTOH Imelda Staunton gives a tour de force performance as Umbridge. I quite agree with one of the reviews I saw online that Rupert Grint and Emma Watson now inhabit their roles like seasoned veterans. Lots of good stuff with Fred and George Weasley this time. Particularly good use of Filch, also. And Alan Rickman has several choice moments. Overall I was impressed at the way they were able to economically get the impact/import of long scenes (or recurring themes) into the movie. I'm thinking both of the petulant, isolated Harry stuff and of Snapes' memory of being humiliated by James Potter. I think the adapters this time hit it just about right -- letting one (or a few scenes) tell the story. If they'd spent as much time as the book did, it'd probably feel like they were beating you over the head with the point. Okay, I get it. I mean, even the book comes close to this at times.

More later, probably. More coherent, possibly