as much as i want to read the whole reviews, id rather wait in vain and see for myself the film... but then, i think it'll be great..

Okay - the judgements of a movie-reviewer who thinks that movies 3 and 4 are the best so far--- I'm not gonna set much store by. First two movies were brilliant (especially the 2nd) - 4th was total crap, as they've made an action flick out the central book with soooo much character development and 3rd - well, good central characters, but that was it. They (or rather he) ruined the Maurauders. Gambon ruined Dumbledore etc etc... Someone PLEASE tell me the Harry/Nagini scene is in it!

oh yeah you´re right, strange that they didn´t mention that in the reviews. But they had many deatails nevertheless ;). Although, there´s maybe quite a big possibility that the Harry/nagini scene wasn´t there when in wasn´t mentioned...

The endings a bit flat? I don't know anymore....

The reviews have not changed my standpoint in any way. I'm going to wait until it's my turn to watch the film then form an opinion about it already. :)

*sniff* The Harry/Nagini scene is crucial because it truly establishes the factuality and complications of the connection between Voldemort and Harry. It makes him wonder if he's possessed, and when Dumbledore "explains everything" at the end this again becomes a crucial moment... which reminds me...OMG - I hope the "Harry is furious and Dumbledore explains everything" scene wasn't cut! Not that I think Gambon could deliver it only half as good as Harris could have done, but this scene is sooooo important.

Zeenat wrote: "DO NOT READ if you don't want to know what's in the movie:" but really it should have been "DO NOT READ if you don't want to know what's NOT in the movie!" I'm not a rabid canon-follower when it comes to the movies it sounds like they are making changes that, rather than being slight, are destroying the motivation and direction for the characters. To leave out the swamp, Ron and Hermione being prefects, cutting out Draco- especially when he'll be pretty important later- and telling the audience about Neville rather than showing them is just wrong. If you don't know about Ron and Hermione being prefects, then Harry has no reason to be cranky and just becomes a moody little brat and we lose one of those famous R/Hr "anvil-sized hints." And I don't get why they have all the kids hear the prophecy as well- because that also means the Death Eaters hear it and that's, well, bad. I don't know how much input JKR had on the script, but I'm guessing not much because I doubt she'd have let these changes go by. They really should change the credits to read, "based LOOSELY on the books by JKRowling." I'll go see the movie, but in my heart the books will always rule.

Yep, I agree, they are important. Well, they might be in the film...or not. But we´ll wait and see, one can never be too certain ;). Also, in one of the reviews it did say that Gambon´s character of Dumledore was more like Harris´s was and that he " has calmed down" in this film, so that sounds positive to me.

So the reason for not keeping the storyline of Ron becoming a Qudditch goalkeeper is because of budget constraints, because special effects for Qudditch scenes are too costly to produce -- but what about Ron (and Hermione) becoming prefects?! No special effects involved there! I don't think anybody would mind an additional few minutes spent on that!!! Since OotP is the longest book of the series, I think many people would understand if the movie version will be the longest too! I don't understand why the franchise is holding back so much in terms of budget for the series when this has been one of the most profitable franchise so far! If they keep doing this, I think they should be scared not earning enough to even finance the 7th movie! Because I for one am already thinking of passing up this movie -- and that wont be hard since the last book comes out just a week later, PLUS so many other blockbusters are coming out this year, like Shrek 3, Spider-Man3 and Pirates of the Caribbean 3. The WB-HP franchise should be depending on the hardcore HP fans, coz I dont think the mainstream will miss this installment, with all those other blockbuster films to be more excited about!

I dislike the fact the prefect scene was cut out - but not because it's a RHr scene. I've never seen it as a 'anvil sized hint', I saw Hermione launching herself onto Harry and being ecstatic, before realising it was Ron and then not so much anymore. Too bad we won't get to see moody!Harry, though.

Correct, We'll have to wait and see. And yes - Gambon more tuned down, more Harris-like is definitly positive (my goodness, I nearly screamed in agony when he threw Harry against the wall and shouted "Did you put your name into the Goblet? DID YOU DO IT?" - okay, that was directing and screenwriting) But Harris radiated an ambience that is unsurpassable. The true Dumbledore.... but let's see what the screenwriters and the director will make of Dumbledore this time. Considering this and "did they cut these very important scenes" - let's hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

omgoshh!! i shudnt hav read it but i could'nt help it :P im happy but im sad...i duno, stil confuzd. i love how the cool scenes have made it on screen like the twins exit from the castle, but some things that were really important didnt make it :( like ok Cho told on the DA?? what the..?? well hope there are more reviews out there, better ones than the one's we've read.

I'm mad about the prefect scene being cut out, but the thing I'm peeved about is Cho squealing to Umbridge! THAT'S NOT HOW IT IS IN THE BOOKS! I can understand taking out the quidditch because of budget reasons, but no prefects?! That's sickening. I thought it'd be a little closer to the book with Steve Kloves gone. But oh well, we'll see... And no Mrs. Black? Those were good parts in the book and helped explain the prejudice of the Blacks. Umbridge looks and sounds just absolutely terrific! From what I've seen and heard from her from sneak peeks and all that, her voice for Umbridge is perfection! She's a little taller than I imagined though...

i had to read it!!! im soooo excited for the movie!!

I think it's interesting that everyone thought Harris was such a wonderful Dumbledore. He was OK in the role, and I don't want to speak ill of such a wonderful and talented actor, but I don't think he did much for bringing life to the character. He wasn't very quirky or mischievious, or much of a mystery as I always pictured him to be. I think the most stand out overall Dumbledore moment was in Prisonder of Azkaban, where Harry and Hermione return to the hostipal, and he gives them that little wink as he descends the stairs. That's Dumbledore in a nutshell. Goblet of Fire was just way overacted, by almost EVERYONE (don't even get me started on Hermione).. but they were pushed to do it. The director was obsessed from the beginning with wanting to outdo/make the best Harry Potter film yet, and it suffered for it. These are just my opinions though, and it's great everyone has a different view and specific favorites about the films.. that's what makes talking about the films interesting. I hope the director saw the faults of what happened to GOF and we won't see similar problems in OOTP.

The reason why Cho and Harry split up makes it all a lot easier... but why did they change the prophecy and why wasn't it just in Dumbledore's office? How will Dumbledore explain everything to Harry? Woooow... I still think this is the best one yet and I'm very excited to see Evanny Lynch and Imelda Staunton's performances!

SPOILER ALERT SPOILERRRR ALERT! what a disappointment, I also heard there wasn't going to be any quidditch either? And why do they cut out lines from Snape and Lupin? They might be old but they are way better actors than Dan Radcliffe (well.. Alan Rickman is). I especially hate it when they leave valuable things out. And and.. I really loved the dementors I hope they won't look to weird *sobs* I really don't get it why on earth they need to change things like cho snitching on the DA ect..

I was very happy w/all the reviews and not worried about ruining the films considering the books are law the movies to me are more like a visual cliffnote but my big question is why the hell does each LOTR film get 3 or so hrs I belive we would all sit young n old (I'm 30) for 10 hrs to watch Harry n co.I just don't understand the LOTR was 50 yrs old when they made'm we are in the most frenzied Harry time ever w/the last book etc. I just can't understand why we are not giving 3 hrs hell how long was Heat or JFK maybe HBP or DH will give us more time only time will tell..CHEERS

There are so many things that didn't need to be changed... WTF? -_-' Cho telling on the DA is just distatrous in the extreme. It completely destroys her character, because she would have never done that. Cho fans will be very upset, I forsee. Shacklebolt doesn't say that Dumbledore has style, Phineus does. Are the portraits even in the office this time? Where is Phineus? He adds to the "sad effect" at the end tremendously, but I suppose he's been cut. Does Kreacher not have any lines? What the heck? He's supposed to be scourge... scum... hateful... Where will the emotion be? Btw, we don't get to hear the Prophecy in the Hall of Prophecy's when it breaks. No one does. So if it breaks and everyone in the place of breakage hears it then the plot is ruined. Duh, WB. The only prophecies we do hear there are "at the soltice will come anew..." "and none will come after"... And that isn't very detrimental to the plot at all. More animation for spooky people jumping out of broken globes, but again, not important... Snape's Worst Memory wasn't brought up... Hm... I also would have liked more detail on the Occlumency lessons. Lupin didn't have much of a role in OotP anyhow, so it's not such a big loss to me. Nor should his connection with Tonks be obvious... It's supposed to be a surprise! Hopefully this ending isn't as bad as it seems and they'll pull it all together in the end... Or it could be that these reports are just poorly written out of haste to be published. -_-

i wish they would have gotten the old director back from movies 1 2 and 3. thats horrible.

WTF?? I am going to end up walking out of this films. They've completely butchered it from what I've heard. PLUS, Emma Watson takes over the introduction of Luna - how would she know her?!

Mixed feelings. While I am feeling a bit better about the movies, in the end, I will always be disapointed. Really, what ever the cut out, always seems to be the worse things possible.

I started reading the first review but when I realized that in the first 5 rows had made me squeek with excitment, shout in anger and frustraition and hit the table so hard thigs fell off I had to stop. I want to go on but I'm afraid it'll ruine the whole movie for me. Anyway it's so cool to finally read reviews by fans it says a million more things than that ain't it cool review. But really I can't even read the comments I've been spoiled so much have to stop have to wait for movie .... movie is in a hundred something days thats like forever ahhhh

NOOO!! how could they change the prophecy scene? All the children hear it? A full proper snog? It was supposed to be awkward! And why did they make Cho be the tell-taler?? And not much draco or Ginny?:(. Brief bits of the Durselys? Hardly any Snape? Also, it seems to me that Ron and Hermione's roles aren't at all major as they should be. Now that they seem to have cut Lupin, I think that Lupin/Tonks shippers have little hope. (Seeing as it's now a major relationship and not really realated to Harry's story). A few of these scenes really seem to dissapoint me. I was expecting the film to be by far the best and totally fantastic! And, i know they cant fit it all in, but why change it and add in pointless things? Oh well, maybe it won't be as bad as it seems....?

Jessi's point about budget constraints sounds reasonable, but frankly not covering the Prefect scenes is a mistake. Harry is the central character, the books are largely from his POV, but he grows and changes and it is a huge mistake not to show his two best friends growing and changing along with him. Plus, Harry's whole moody git schtick results from Ron and Hermione becoming prefects and then getting kicked off of Quidditch. If we don't see these things, then Harry is just, again, a whiny brat. I can stand moody teenage angst, but a whiny brat for a hero is unsympathetic in the extreme.

Here are the answers to some of your questions: **Harry wrote on paper, but the writing did appear on his hand. They only showed him talking back to Umbridge ONCE. **Ron, Ginny, are all in it, but Quidditch IS NOT MENTIONED AT ALL, so all that is left out ** Snape was DEFINITELY mentioned. They had the Occlumency lessons, and the “Harry’s dad making fun of Snape� memory was in the movie, but it was Harry going into Snape’s brain, not Pensieve.** I was disappointed a little with the Dumbledore vs. Voldemort Scene- HOWEVER it was NO WHERE near finish and the music was off . . . so it might be better **Lupin was not COMPLETELY cut out. See when Harry got home, they were having an Order of the Phoenix meeting. The kids come back down with the extendable ears and listen in. And the fight between Molly and Sirius happens behind closed doors (unlike in the book where it happens in front of Harry and the rest). ** As for the kids hearing the prophecy- Its not certain if they actually hear it. They are there when Harry hears it. . . but that scene was soo fast and (of course editorially incomplete) that it was confusing. . . . ** They used Veritaserum on Cho when she told (the paper they signed wasn’t charmed by Hermione). So as mad as everyone was at her, its not REALLY her fault. ** THEY DID NOT cut out the scene where he was attacked by Nagini, and I thought that scene was done REALLY well . . . The whole idea behind Voldemort and Harry’s “Connection� was VERY valid and true and I liked it. . . ** Dumbledore talks about it with Harry on why he didn’t mention it before (not as detailed as the book) but no he doesn’t pull up the Trelawney memory. ..IN FACT, if you didn’t read the book, you wouldn’t know it was her who had the prophecy.**Another scene that was left out was when they wanted to sack hagrid and knocked out McGonagall. I was looking forward to that scene so I could be sad!** Guys remember, i'm no professional and I tend to forget a lot.

^^^Thank you, it sounds all good to me. Everything that needs to be in the movie is and yes they changed some things but that had to happen. I am hoping though that only Harry hears the phrophecy and no one else does because that is one thing that shouldn't change.

well, at least zeenarah was able to clear up some stuff :)

Good reviews. I'm not too bothered about them changing stuff - not even the Cho thing. It's meant to be based on the book, not an exact retelling of the book. Also, if they did everything the way it appears in the book, we would have a five hour long film, and as much as I love Harry Potter, I don't love it that much! As for the prefect stuff, I don't think that it is a fundamental part of the story. They could easily cut it out because Harry not being a prefect is nothing to do with the main plot. And I don't know what nineandthreequarters is talking about: harry has every reason to be angry - voldemort coming back and cedric dying, anyone? not being a prefect is a really small part of it. Similarly, Ron being in the Quidditch team is not important either. I wish some of you people would use your heads.

I am surprised that the reviewers haven't attempted to give more detail regarding the story... how much explanation do we get from Dumbledore at the end? how much do we see at the ministry? does the book include those small details that fans of the books are going to hope (expect) too see in the film, for instance one of mine is the line from Dumbledore when he is dueling Voldy, "there are more ways of destroying a man than killing him, Tom" I see this line as an essential plot point. (I realize I have misquoted the book, I know! however i can not for the life of me remember the actual quote Ha Ha Ha anyway I hope to see some more reviews come in that speak more directly to those types of details (the reviews are all great though! certainly better than the one from the guy at Ain't it cool news

i so shouldnt ov read them! but i realy want 2 know wat the scene after the ministry with dumbledore and harry is like? it is my favourite in all the book and nobody has mentioned it, does this mean it has been cut! ? i'm glad there is lots of gary oldman! but not alot on snape doesnt sound very good. i still cant wait to watch it tho :D

Thanks zeenarah. :)

It's gonna be the best movie yet. Of course...it comes like a week before the LAST BOOK...but on its own, it'll still be the best. :X Even with the changes from the book. I can't wait to see Grimmauld Place, and Umbridge, and the "new" Dumbledore, and the Demented Dudley scene, and Snape's Worst Memory, and the make-out session....xD Yeah, seriously. Sounds incredible. This might've been my favorite book of the whole series actually so I realllly can't wait. I especially look forward to watching the Dursleys, even though they're in it so briefly, I still like them; and Bellatrix!, ooooohh, can't WAIT to see how HBC portrays HER! And I expect to be touched/moved by a) Sirius's death scene, and Dan's acting; and b) Trelawney's getting kicked out by foul!loathsome!evil! Umbridge. That scene really upset me in the book, I like Trelawney and I felt SOOOO bad for her...I bet Emma Thompson will make me feel that way again. ;; Only 128 days and 8 hours...SIGH.

oh wow this sounds good... I was slightly concerned that, based on the books length, a lot would be cut out like in Goblet. But it sounds wonderful! I can't wait... 128 days!

So does dumbledore tell Harry he loves him and thats why he has been so cold towards as thought that whole screen was touching and wanna see it on the big screen

a great review is on the leaky site! it answers all my questions, and now i amm soooo excited about the film :D:D:D wooooo it sounds great! they've cut a few things but by the look of the review on leaky the cuts dont make a major difference! yay! oooo cant wait im all smiles now :D

SPOILERS AHEAD....... NOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOO!!!! HOW CAN YOU CHANGE THINGS LIKE THE PROPHECY AND THE SWAMP AND CHO BEING THE SNITCH AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF?? DANG DIRECTORS!!!!!!!!! oh well, still can't wait . As for book 7-- 136 TO GO!!!!

I cant believe they made Cho tell on the DA. Atleast now I know and I wont be totally diappointed when it comes out. Atleast Luna is good, I was worried about that. All in all it sounds really good. The zeenat guy is weird... when he says it wasnt just a kiss. It was supposed to just be a kiss, your first kiss with someone isnt supposed to be a "make-out" scene. I guesss ti gets more to the point though. I feel as if they just messed up Cho, with the DA and stuff

never mind zeenat. I hadnt reaad your comment before I posted. It is okay that Cho told I guess, atleast she didnt go right out and say it. I know it isnt your fault the weird things that go on in the movie. It sounds like I am blaming you but i am not. Zeenat- sorry

I CANNOT BREATHE. I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO unbeliev ably EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!YES!

p.s. I wish Ginny was in it more...with the role she is to play in the next book, don't they need to really develop her character in this one? i thought it would be an important point for the movie to drive home that Ginny isn't a ninny, and is really strong and confident....

OMG people the prefect scene and the swamp do NOT matter to the plot!! Harry's moody without being a prefect anyway, so they don't need it. And from what i heard from all five reviews ive read, the fred and george scene is brilliant even without the swamp. and as for cho being the snitch, it just makes more sense, film-wise. now they can show their breakup without that whole confusing Cho-jealous-of-Hermione thing. i never even liked cho, anyways, and iim glad that their doing it this way. They've kept all the important scenes, like the explaination of the prophecy, the DA, the ministry, and so forth, so im not worried. and while they did cut some (minor) stuff out from a 900 PAGE BOOK, i am so excited to see it and don't think they butchered it at all.

and for a really good review and answers to al your questions, check out the leaky cauldron

Why even bother having release dates when everyone is just free to watch films before them? And yes before anyone says anything, Yes my grapes are sour, (and thats just an expression for being peeved at injustice)

In answer to 'nineandthreequarters' some hours back - JKR said in a radio interview in the UK some weeks back that WB run all the script plot changes through her and she met with the writer (not Kloves this time) several times and spoke often on the phone to him. She said she was happy with what she called 'the condensing work' and that no factual changes would imperill the overall plot. She apparatently stopped a couple of planned changes and OK's the rest. I do think some canon nuts (not you) are too harsh. Leaving out (say) the swamp scene, really is not crucial! I am confident in any adaptations made, but then I liked all four movies so far. I have read the books about 15 times each and differences between book and movie rarely bother me, as they are rarely as crucial as people claim...

oh my god! i wish i was there! luving the reviews - just makes me want to go there and see it... a week back lol

Remember that these 'reviewers' are just people who got free tickets in the lobby - they were not there on purpose - so they are not professional reviewers. They are good reviews and I am grateful. What people here keep forgetting is that (by Warner Brother's own reckoning) only about a quarter of the audience are hard core fans and more than half the audience have not read the books. We may hate that but they are the audience it is aimed at. The changes are NOT due to cost but due to screen writers thinking (perhaps wrongly) that they can 'improve' the plot. Even JKR recognised that wriring for screen has to be different from writing for book readers. I am as hard core a fan of HP as anyone can be - but I understand the changes even if I do not applaud them. It is a fact that most movie goers have not read the books - WB surveys have proved that! If these movies were made for hard core fans they would lose money and so I think that overall WB have done a great job on all 4 films so far! :-)

anyone know what ootp is rated? is it yet?

I fear that people here have a completely unrealistic expectation as to how you can cut an 800 page book down to a two and a half hour film *without cutting anything* ! It's impossible folks. I would love to see a vote on which scenes to cut. If you had 50 possible scenes listed and were told you could only fit 30, which would you cut? Most of you here would be paralyses with indecision LOL! Why isthe film only 2.5 hours? I tell you why. LOTR was seen as an adult movie and allowed to run longer because of that. Like it or not (and I don't) the HP movies are seen as childrens movies. Film industry research has ikdentified by survey that most people (who have not of course read the books) get very uncomfortable or bored above 2.5 hours. Also, the industry has something called "child bladder max" in it's statistical research. Do I really have to explain what that is? WB are here (like it or not) to make money, not to replicate canon. To be honest, we don't realise how lucky we have been. WB have agreed to JKR's terms for making the movies in the UK with an all British cast. I doubt that 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Columbia, MGM-UA, or Universal would have agreed to that. Done in Hollywood, these films would have been even less close to canon. I think we should realise we were lucky. A producer (David Heyman) who likes and respects JKR was a godsend, without him it would have all gone to blazes five years ago. Stop complaining people! You don't know when you are lucky.

Considering all the limitations of the movie industry, I have to say that it looks the most faithful to the books by far (with possible exceptions to movies 1 and 2). I think it looks great and we have to remember that if they put everything in, most people who hadn't read the books wouldn't go see it. Only us REAL fans can sit in the movies for around 4 hours taking in the greatest movie of all time. We can't all be pleased so, until I see it, I'm going to say that it looks great and While some things are disappointing, I think we can bear it. I mean we sat through movie 3 and that was NOTHING like the book. I am prepared to say that if we liked the last two movies with all the changes it had, then we will certainly like this one. And if you didn't like the first two, then you probably won't like this one because it sounds to me like this movie is going to be more of the feel of the first two movies [or maybe that's just my wishful thinking ;) ].