Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix Movie SPOILERS SPOILERS — Page 7

I think the movie was under 2 and a half hours. My show started at 6:30 and we were out by 8:45.

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The movie has that weird effect of making you forget large parts of the book. I've slowly started remembering little (and big) details that were cut.

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My sister suggested a 4+ hour movie with an intermission. Considering this is the same fanbase that reads thousand-page books overnight, I don't think it's unrealistic.

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I saw the movie over the weekend and it is hands-down the best of the films thus far. Though it did leave out a lot of details, as every film did (and nearly every book-to-film adaptation does), I didn't find it confusing in the least. I did notice specific elements of the story missing, but none that were seriously vital in the basic storytelling. Boyfriend has never read a single one of the books, has only seen the films, and English is his second language. He had no problem following the plot. He is not a Harry Potter fan, but he loved this film. We both agreed it was the most mature of all the films and the acting, direction, and screenplay were all superior. Prisoner of Azkaban would be the second best of the films. Goblet of Fire is still my favorite book, which is why I found the film disappointing.

I'm rereading Half-Blood Prince now to prepare for the final book. Personally, I've always felt Order of the Phoenix was setting us up to see Harry not only live in the end, but become the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts after his graduation. That way, Rowling could possibly continue with a new series based on a new student (possibly a girl this time), yet keep Harry Potter and other familiar characters as peripheral characters in stories that could give a new slew of favorites.

And I always wanted Harry and Hermione to end up together. I'm not huge fan of Ron.

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That's a short movie compared to the other HP movies.

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And I always wanted Harry and Hermione to end up together. I'm not huge fan of Ron.

To tell you the truth, I never understood Ron-hate. Harry and Hermione just don't mesh well together. A great example of it was in the book version of Goblet of Fire when Harry and Ron had the falling-out and weren't speaking to each other. Harry was spending more and more one-on-one time with Hermione, and he was absolutely bored with her.

He never listens to her. When she talks and goes on about something, Ron is the only one who actually listens to her and takes what she says and challenges her position (or agrees with her). He challenges her in a good way. He's not doing it just to be difficult (most of the time, lol) but he has a different POV and shows Hermione that things aren't always so cut and dry, and she does the same for Ron by having a sort of outsider's/academic's POV on things. Harry and the other Gryffindors just zone her out unless it is something very important.

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Going by how many things Rowling has said will be included in the seventh book and all the loose ends that need wrapping up - this book will have to be enormous (not that I'm complaining).

As for the movie, it was hardly impressive (to me), but certainly not bad. Radcliffe has made progress as an actor, and Staunton and Lynch were wonderful additions to the cast. The ending felt considerably rushed - I understand time constraints, but in this movie there was clearly some time to spare - and the elimination of so many nuances just took away a lot of the interest for me. One of the weakest aspects of the movies has always been the absence of bonds between the characters. The connection among the trio has become more evident, but as others have mentioned, the important connection between Harry and Sirius was missing. Hence, Sirius' death makes only a fraction of the impact it does in the book.

Well, at least you're not one of those Harry X Draco people.

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Order of the Phoenix would have been so much better had more time been allowed.

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I would've watched the movie all freakin' day. I loved it. I wanted more!

I too think Neville will start teaching. His talents sway towards Herbology. I can't really see him being the DADA teacher.

I love Ron, I don't understand the disdain a lot of people have for him. He is dumbed down so much in the movies, but in the book he is a solid character.

Harry/Hermione? Blargh. That would completely destroy the group dynamic. Harry is the obvious leader, and if he started dating Hermione, then she would become "second in command" as opposed to Ron's equal.

I never thought about Harry/Hermione as a couple, but I like the idea of Ron/Hermione. Opposites attract.

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