To those who have seen Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix..what did you think?

Question

I was disappointed coz I feel it was unfaithful to the book. JK Rowling's descriptions didn't fit what the result was in the film. Alot of stuff was taken out, and considering it was the shortest movie and longest book, surely they could have fit in a bit of Qudditch? I would have loved to hear the Slytherins and Gryffindors sing "Weasley is our king". However I think fans of the films (and not the books) will love the film - it is more witty and a greater use of special effects, and the movie goes much faster than the others.

Answer 1

I have to admit, being a huge HP fan, it's so hard to watch the movie and not pick it apart for things that they change and/or totally omit. You just can't help it because you always have your own images/interpretations of the book as you read it and no 2 would be alike, therefore, the movie will never be exactly as you expected. I understand they can't make a movie 6 hours (although I'd be MORE than happy to sit through it if they'd stick closer to the story as originally written), but sometimes I think they leave out important facts. In this movie nothing is even mentioned that the prophecy could have been about Neville instead of Harry, but Voldemort, in choosing Harry, has brought this prophecy to be. And, they never explained that it was Umbridge who sent the dementors to Little Winjing because the Ministry didn't believe Harry and she wanted to shut him up. I thought she was played very well but she could have been portrayed even meaner in the movie, like in the book.



I also felt that in the movie, Harry was angry at times he shouldn't have been, and not angry at times he should have. It barely showed him angry at Ron & Hermione for not sending him any news while they were at the Order without him, and yet he seemed cold toward them throughout the movie when he shouldn't have been angry with them. And what about the end when he is so angry when Serius is killed and he is tearing up Dumbledore's office. They had him sitting there quietly while Dumbledore briefly explained a couple of things...nothing like it should have been.



I do find that the first time I've seen the movies I've been a bit disappointed, because of the natural expectations of what you should see based on the books, but after watching them again, I enjoy them. I'm sure that will be the case with this movie too. It's not that I didn't like it, but I'll be going again in 2 weeks to see it in IMAX and I'm sure I'll appreciate it more.



To Patronis 92 - Yes, I did notice Sirius call Harry James....even said it out loud to my husband while watching the movie....good spotting!



To Chase M - I totally agree - I wish Richard Harris could have still be alive to continue as Dumbledore. He was so much more softspoken and seemed to be so much more respectful of others than Michael Gambon. As another example, I don't think Richard Harris in character would have ever banged on Ron's injured leg in the hospital in Prisoner of Azkaban. I know Michael Gambon wanted to make the character his own rather than following Richard Harris' lead, but I don't like him either.

Answer 2

I really liked the movie. But being a harry potter (book) fanatic, I have to admit there would be a lot of things that I would change. I would add Mrs. Weasley's boggart, quidditch, harry getting really angry in the begin..ng, mundungus fletcher, "sneak" written on Cho's friend rather than the inquisitorial squad finding out about the DA, the argument between sirius and snape, have a lot more kreacher, the Quibbler interview, ginny and the beginnings of her boy problems... percy leaving his family..... and some other stuff i can't think of..



But I also have to say there were a lot of good things in the movie (Now if you haven't seen it ......well read the book) the parts i liked were how ron and hermione's relationship started to progress (yay!), and the darker themes, Umbridge's interference with Hogwarts, how she got carried away by centaurs, the fight in the Ministry, everyone's denial of Voldemort's return, Luna's part in the movie, the way they showed Dumbledore's Army, the Cho Chang and Harry scenes, Sirius and Harry's [god]father-[god]son relationship, the scene where they showed Sirius' family tree, Bellatrix Lestrange's escape from Azkaban and role in the film, as well as Tonks, (they were both amazing for the movie), the way they showed the Ministry of Magic, and much much more.



Now I'm sure a lot of the book fans are disappointed, but I think a lot of the complete "relevent" stuff that was needed to understand the book was included in the film, so they did a really good job. Ofcourse we want all the little details but we can't just cram that into a 2hr movie. The special effects were amazing, and the actors noticebly improved in this movie. They all feel so comfortable with their roles now so it's just great. Anyway, I suggest you to all watch it in theatres if you are fans of Harry potter, if your not, watch it anyway because it has a good story and some sweet special effects action packed scenes. Oh and, WATCH IT IN IMAX! It is the best way to go. hope that helped you guys =)

Answer 3

The movie was horribe. I went to the movies at midnight feeling thrilled and excited and left utterly upset. The entire movie was scenes jumbled together. I don't think the word transition is even in the directors vocabulary. Nothing seemed to flow.



I to was looking forward to the "Weasley is our King" and was left upset when I realized all parts involving extra storylines not leading to the ministry were left out. As an immense Harry Potter fan I found the movie to be fast pace I can't imagine how I would understand the movie If I hadn't have already read the books.



I don't just think the fans got a bad deal, but Daniel, Rupert, and Emma should be outraged. The News Papers were in more of the movie then they were, and it seemed half the movie was Filch hanging Umbriges rules. By cutting out all extra charater interaction there was no room for those heart felt moments that we all love. The ones that when your reading you have to put the book down just to smile at.



Though the movie was dissapointing I have to say whoever did the costumes for Professor Umbridge should recieve an Oscar. They were brilliant. They defined her to the tee.

Answer 4

:(. Honestly,I didn't know what to think after the movie got over. It created some sort of a mixed fruit jam inside my head. if i hadn't read the books,I would have been wayyyyy lost! Like other people have mentioned,some parts I was waiting to see were not included. And yeah,the ministry of magic was weird. The movie didn't have the MAGICAL feeling the past movies gave me. This one sure is Darker !! And they should have shown sirius's killing in slow-motion(also show a bit of duelling between bellatrix and him-calling one another "cousin")..Then before I knew what was happening, Bellatrix popped out of nowhere and mumbled something i couldnt make out and saw sirius's eyes go wide. By the time i figured out tht bellatrix had said "avada kedavra",sirius was already mooning half way into the veil. BUT I LOVED HIM HERE THAN IN prizoner of azkaban. They should have made the death scene a little more sad.I could have cried then.

And no DObby!!! :(((( Kreacher looked creepy enough! and yeah,his treacherous part in sirius's death was left out too. ......oh well...maybe it'll look better in an i-max theatre. Right,think I'll go there then! But all in all,whatever it is,i love harry potter.Cant wait till next saturday! :P so sad tht it is the end of the series...

Answer 5

I loved the book, but the movie was good to. I was really unhappy about how much they left out. Right when i got home i opened the book and wrote down the things that were different form the book and movie. I'm only on ch. 7 but i already have 45 things. how sad is that. Like what happened to the Prefect badge, and Percy, and Kreacher in the fireplace when Harry asks him a question where Sirius is, what about all the letters that are suppose to be in the beginning of the movie, Sirius' mother picture, no pigwidgeon (OWL), no Bill or Fleur, no donation for fountain, and many many more. They needed to add more details to the movie to make it complete

Answer 6

I saw it at 12:01 it went a little fast but the ministery part was sweet did anyone else hear sirius call harry james by accident when they were dueling the death eaters and harry blasted malfoy and then the duel between dumbledore and voldemort the fire snake was cool i think they took umbridges part of taking over hiogwarts please filch could'nt have taken down ALL the portraits and tgere wasnt over 100 decrees from umbridge the DA was bogus the room wasnt technicaley even there its like it disapears until someone wants to leave or someone needed it badly thet evil witch toad she actually made that first year write with that torture quill and wat about trelaways sacking weres the frienze they ripped the book apart oh and percys part was to short he had ahold of cho and harry after the DA

Answer 7

I think it was unfaithful to the book too, everyone's saying it had to be like this to fit everything in in time, but I honestly don't think people would have minded sitting there for another hour and a half. People did it for LOTR, why not Harry Potter? The reason I like all of the movies so much is because they're true to the books, and they do include the little character details that endear all the characters to you. If I had known I was going to be so disappointed, I probably would have waited til it wasn't midnight to go see it.

Answer 8

Very unfaithful to the book and I really did not like it. Though, I did like the fight scenes in the department of mysteries. It was just something about the movie that didnt seem to have any mystique or that harry potter magic to it. It seemed to me like a bunch of cut and dry facts put into different scenes. I know the books are getting darker, but the movie is missing that certain harry potter whimsical adventure feel. Through all the movies though, we can all agree that the books are much better.



* Weasley is our King!!!*

Answer 9

i saw the movie at the midnight release. i thought it was pretty good. i thought it followed the book pretty well. of course there was a lot of differences but can you name a movie that is an adaptation of a book that follows it line for line. only in Shakespeare. i was very upset that harry pulls his wand out right in from of Dudley's friends that was ridiculous. and when they were traveling to Sirius's house they were in sight of all these muggles. so stupid. and i can't believe they didn't even show any quidditch. and i'm disappointed that Neville's wasn't as big as it is in the book with his parents and the prophecy. (he's so cute thought) and the worst part was that bellatrix used the aveda kedavra curse. no that just was retarded. and i wish his death was mourned a little more then it was. but Luna Lovegood was absolutely AMAZING. and i loved the thestrals!

Answer 10

my favorite book is Goblet of Fire but my i HATED the movie, this movie i actually liked. Yes, there were things left out, and I would not have minded another hour of movie really, what i hated being left out were:

the St. Mungo scenes and the Longbottom story

the prefects

the Weasleys really should've had a proper send off, fireworks did not do them justice.

and i hate that they blamed Cho Chang instead of Marietta and didin't include the coins changing time for the D. A. anyway, overall like i said i loved the movie. I think they did an excellent job with the ministry fight scenes. can't wait for seven, do you really think it's the end?......i don't.

Answer 11

I always enjoy seeing my favorite people & places on screen, no matter what disgusting distortions was made to the story and some of the characters.



I understand leaving things out...it has to happen with such an amazingly detailed book. All of the things we love about Harry and his magical world we appriciate because we've read Rowlings intimate, witty words describing them....the people, places and things she's created. Of course they can't fit it all in.....but to WARP these things is inexcusable.



SPOILER ALERT!



Dumbledore would never make agressive, snide comments to his students. Harry would never give in to a death eaters demands....especially when he knows they don't intend to let any of them live any way. The Weasley twins would never leave school without an enormous bang....having them just set off a few fireworks is an insult to them!



NO ONE could break into the Room of Requirement. Death Eaters cannot glide in midair like dementors...so much more, but it makes me sad & bitter to think about it.



The omissions, while necessary, suck too...no portraits shrieking in Grimauld place,no mundungus, no quidditch, no Malfoy getting his butt kicked, no Marietta Edgecomb and the Protean charm, no pensieve, no dobby!!!! UGH!!!!



Of course I'm going to see it again, though :)

Answer 12

ok, be prepared, this is a long one, OK, I REALLY liked the movie, the book was my least favorite of the series, I just thought it was too long and just had too many things. Like Harry having the dream like 12 million times. The Movie was the best one yet, way better than the 4th one. I accepted that there wasn't any quidditch and the whole prefect thing because for an audience who hasn't read the book, that would've been too much to handle. I HATE Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, WHY did Richard Harris have to die? He was the PERFECT Dumbledore, Michael Gambon is just way off and wrong. Dumbledore would have never yelled at his students or caused anyone to be afraid. The whole Cho thing was dissapointing, even though I hated Cho in the book, I was expecting more of her in the film, more grieving about Cedrics death and then her and Harry break up, but all they did was kiss and then she like dissapeared. Oh well, I was Very happy with Umbridge and Luna, great casting. The acting was also very improved, Daniel FINALLY impressed me with his acting, he was just OK in the other films. I think they could've made Bellatrix have a bigger part, she's one of my favorite characters. I was Very pleased with the DA, that was exactly as I had imagined it. Also the Ministry of Magic looked the way I had envisioned it. The only thing that made me REALLY MAD was that Harry didn't have his Temper Tantrum with Dumbledore at the end, I was so excited for that scene and they didn't even have it! I also wanted the statues to come to life in the Ministry and they didn't, I was glad they cut out the many rooms in the department of mysteries because that would've been too confusing for the movie goers not the bookreaders. I was unhappy with Harry giving up the prophecy, his friends would've told him not to do it. I wasn't exactly happy about Sirius's death, for one thing Bellatrix didn't use Avada Kedavra in the book, she just stunned him and he fell behind the curtain, that's another thing, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CURTAIN! it was like smoke or whatever, but oh well anyway, what else? ummm, I was happy with the emotion of Sirius dying just not the visual aspect, I also thought the movie was very funny, all the onliners were hilarious, like Umbridge saying, "Harry, tell them I don't mean any harm!" and Harry says, "I'm sorry, I must not tell lies." oh that was great. I really enjoyed the fighting with the wands and the DA, they just had it down, that was perfect. I was dissapointed that they left out Neville being apart of the prophecy and Why Harry has to go to the Dursleys. But overall, alot of the stuff they took out I'm glad they took out because the book was too long and had soo many extra things, this movie was the best so far and I highly recommend seeing it. P.S. I think they could've left Grawp out, I always found that part of the book and movie to be boring.



anna_kayus- she asked for an opinion so I gave her mine, I have my opinions and you have yours, even though ours are like exact opposites, lol :P

Answer 13

It was incredible but they messed up a few things. They gave certain lines to the wrong characters and changed some details that might prove hard to fix in the future films. Some characters weren't done justice, they only got to be in this film because they'll be important later on. I absolutely hated Tonks: her hair stayed purple, and she SCREAMS at one point and it was terrible, really annoying. :\



The book was my favorite, and this movie was excellent too. The special effects were really good- the fireworks scene literally gave me chills. I can't wait to see this movie again!!

Answer 14

i totally agree with you but i stop feeling disapponted about these movies. it is impossible for them to fit everything in the movies because then it would be too long. i think they did a good job but i still have my own image in my mind of what the movie should look like based on the book.



*****chase m- this book was one of the better ones and the goblet of fire movie was definitely better than this movie in my opinion. the truth is that none of the movies will ever mirror the books.

Answer 15

First of all i have not seen the m ovie yet, im going today to see it. But i have read the book and have looked over a lot of answers about how they left a lot of stuff out of it, but you have to know that if they put everything in the movie then it would run 5-6 hours long. So they have to keep some stuff out of it to keep the time somewhat short.

Answer 16

yes i do agree that the movie had a lot faster pace than what i expected. i think that the big ta-da moment that really left me for a spin that was omitted was harry destroying dumbledore's office... i think that there should have been a little bit more disucussion of the prophecy between hp and dumbledore

Answer 17

I was dissapointed when i saw Ministry of magic, it didnt look anytihng like the one i'd pictured, and i was looking forward to harry chucking a spaz at dumbledore and to seeing lockard again, but no matter, it was a good movie after the bumpy start when there at grimmald place, and when they pick harry up and i also picked up on about 8 mistakes like when bellatrix kills Sirius she didnt use "Avarda Kadavra" in the book. but all in all it was a great movie just short

Answer 18

it was AWESOME but not.

i thought for what was in it was really great. the scenery was some of the best out of the rest. but..... i did miss Qudditch, it left out S.P.E.W, it limited the lines people got to about 12 main people... everyone else just said a word or two, it left out the choosing of Prefects, left out the prediction of Mrs. Weasly's boggart, left out the visit to the Hospital, etc.

i thought the ending was great though. i was amazed :) ahh... :) i am def going to see it more than once.

but for all who have read the book... it was kind of disappointing but still good.

oh well. cant help it now.

i just CANNOT WAIT until the 7th BOOK AHHHHHHHHH :)

Answer 19

i completely agree with you. it has been said before that this is the movie that strays furthest away from the book. i thought that the beginning and middle were just 'eh' and the end was very good, although nothing much like the book. but for those who havent seen it yet, its still worth seeing in my opinion.

Answer 20

do not hear to Puppet Neville, he's in basic terms a butternut squash. *strokes Nagini* ~specific Nagini, I do like cookies ~Why thank you *bites cookie* ~Their... *spits cookie out* ~Did Snape make those?! ~theory so... *swigs firewhisky to get rid of undesirable flavor* EDIT: Sorry, i did not introduce myself. My call is Voldemort (with a moustache) Voldemorts brother. And it quite is Nagini, my astonishing snake. i'm additionally married to the droopy hoe Snape - how we adore one yet another.

Answer 21

Did you know "Slytherins and Gryffindors sing "Weasley is our king"." is in the sixth book not the fifth book so there is no way and how you are gonna see that chant in the fifth movie

Answer 22

I was seriously disappointed , too much was left out. It wasnt nearly as good as the other movies.

Answer 23

yeah i also agree,

i love the "weasley is our king" bit in the book!

Answer 24

Ok movie.....I waited till Midnight....now I'm sleepy so I'm going to sleep....But none the less I liked the movie

Answer 25

Weasley is Our King is in the 5th.



It was dissapointing, but what was there was good.

Answer 26

i was very disappointed!! they cut out so much and included bits that wrent even meant to be in there!!