I rather liked the flashback. Of course with all the big deal made about making younger versions of characters we know I knew it would look... different, and I was expecting something a bit longer, however I really liked it. And in truth, James was every bit as arrogant and bullying as Draco is..

Hey, I have a question for you guys....what did you think of Tonks? I thought she was pretty good.....her appearance wasn't what I thought her to be though

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I thought she was great although I wanted her to have the bubblegum pink hair. I loved it when she tripped just before entering the room at Grimmhauld Place, it was very Tonk-ish. It was a shame she had so few lines

I thought she was well done as well. The bubblegum pink hair was sorely missed, but the bits where her hair and nose changed colours and shapes was really good, and when she tripped in Grimmauld Place, it was very Tonk-ish. Overall, I was very pleased with her.

Yea, I agree the only complaint is that she didn't have bubble gum pink hair...although it did change pink when she was mad...but other than that I liked her performance.

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Guess you're talking about Tonks I liked her, if you look away from the hair as most seems to agree on xD
Also I LOVED Luna, they made her great !!!

And I feel kind of bad...Sirius Black is my all time fav threw time...I hate Bellatrix so much in the books, I really hate her, lol. But I kind of...liked her in the movie <i>"Itty...Bitty...Baby...Potter."</i> that quote was great ! xD
I hate myself for liking her in the movie *hits head*

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Ooh I just saw this movie yesterday. In my opinion it was much better than any of the previous ones.

I agree, Tonks was pretty good. The pink hair would've been nice, but I kind of liked how she showed her fiery side with the "Don't call me Nymphadora!" I don't know if that actress would fit well with Lupin's character, though.

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Aww.. but wouldn't you think that if you were reading the books? I mean, Tonks is this wonderfully outgoing and clumsy girl, whilst Remus is nearly the complete opposite. Yet, they seem so perfect for eachother. I love it. Best 'ship' in the whole series methinks.

I thought it was great. And I would not say that about any of the other Harry Potter films. I don`t have many complaints, but I have to say that the last 10 minutes or so were a bit...strange. They added stuff to have more of a conclusion and I can only describe it as odd. And of course they cut a lot of stuff out, but overall they kept most of the important things and I thought it was really well done. Of course, this was my least favourite book, and therefore it would obviously be my favourite movie - I`m less attached to the way it was written, and I`ve only read it all the way through once.

Tonks, Umbridge and Bellatrix were all great I thought. There were a couple things in the movie that could have been expanded on, and things could have been added to break up the serious plotline (there were no just hanging out around campus scenes). Plus it was the shortest movie, it would be appropriate to add a few more things, but I can look past that.

Yep, so it was awesome and I want to go see it again. (oh yeah, I saw it in French so I didn`t actually get to hear the actual actors and actresses voices, and there were a couple of lines and jokes and such that kinda went over my head so I`m excited to see it in English)

EDIT: I`ve read bits of the other huge reviews that have been posted on here, and I realised that I had a lot more to say about the movie I`ll definately post more detailed likes/dislikes later.

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I like replying to comments so.... who's up first? Ms.Gamgee it is! =D



She wasn't the traitor--she was more the victim, granted--they thought she was the traitor until Snape hinted to everyone that she was being put under veritaserum. So, it's not THAT out of place.



I quite liked the speed as opposed to the slow-pace that the book had. OotP was an agonizing read for me.



The filming technique for this was actually pretty clever in my opinion, being one for lots of imagery and symbolism. I think the jerky transitions at the beginning was very good to get us into the mind of how unsettled Harry's mentality is at the beginning---he was kind of off and on, off and on. I was very impressed.



I honestly can see why they cut this---it's very.... it just wouldn't have worked with the pace of the movie. They've already introduced the Ministry of Magic and all of its spectaculars, with the pace of the movie, shoving St. Mungos in there would have just thrown it all off, because they really can't... make that chapter quite to the pace of the movie. Besides, Lockhart's part in the book was way too minimal to even consider casting someone as big named as Kenneth Branagh again for a 3 second cameo/scene.



....He did shout at Dumbledore...didn't he?



Too much Voldemort?! Are you MAD?! I wanted MORE of Ralph Fiennes, man! He was AMAZING. The swirly thing was called magic, darling. The entire theme of this series, remember? xD

There's a possibility that we might get the opportunity. Remember, what is Sirius is Harry's... now.


At this point in the film series, I think it's safe to drop the prefect lines, because after movie 1, prefects were just not thought of at all---it just wasn't... It didn't hold a major plot, and with all the other things in Order of the Phoenix, I think it was rather smart to drop the plotline, but I agree that it would not have hurt to mention it in passing, though if they did fans would cry and whine about how it wasn't enough for non-readers and it's just... a mess.



Really?! I thought Grawp was absolutely wonderful. I never cared for him in the book, so the way they made them in the film was so great for me.

....Aww, no more of Ms.Gamgee's post---post more!!! Who's next....



...Well, he hadn't heard any news. And I there were a lot of subtle things in this film and Harry's desolation was one of them. We see him alone to start out with, he's alone. He's just all by himself, so I got the impression that he's been like that all summer. I completely forgot that he was cut off until the very scene you're commenting about, but I still got that initial impression of isolation with Harry and the wizarding world. I don't think Fred and George suggested that he was yelling... I think they were just teasing him for his emo-ness and so therefore; THE EARS! Yay!

Hated younger James? .... Horrible job---if you hated him.... would the actor be doing a good job? Because trust me, the Marauders in Snape's Worst Memory were PRETTY hate-able.

Sirius's death was never meant to be heroic. Even his death in the book, it was sudden and just a slap in the face to the audience, it was a surprise. And very un-heroic, that is what makes it tragic.

Actually, I felt they did very well with character development, most specifically so with Ron because for the first time since Sorcerer's Stone, we finally get to see why Ron's a Gryffindor. He has showed us the bravery and loyalty that he has facing the death eaters, standing up to Seamus when Harry was getting knocked down, tricking the IS so that the DA can escape. I absolutely adored Ron in this film more than any other film.

Well, apparently it was too wet for Harry's liking. wink wink. From Goblet of Fire, we never quite got the impression that Cedric and Cho were actually boyfriend/girlfriend. I got the impression that Cedric simply ASKED Cho to the Yule Ball before Harry had the chance to. So I don't think the full-out crying would've worked as well as in the book. I liked the kissing scene, a little too long and awkward for my taste but it was good enough for me.

Well, this time 'round he didn't have Harry alone in a graveyard after having killed Cedric Diggory. And besides, Dumbledore was there and we all know that Dumbledore's the one wizard that he has always feared. Despite all that, I thought he was quite terrifying to me. And I adore Ralph Fiennes for that.



I agree with you Larael, that I did expect a black, ominous, tattered cloth but I love how they made the veil in this film, because it just felt more dangerous to me. In the book, how Sirius fell through a curtain was just.... scoff-able. By allowing the veil to have this ability to draw Sirius in, it held a dangerous power---a true mystery. In the book, he was not hit with the Avada Kedavra but simply fell through a veil---I felt that was very pathetic, to say the least. This we understand the consequence of war. I cried at Sirius's death in the movie, I was just mellowed while reading his death in the books.

I agree that I wanted Petunia's Howler and more exploration with the Dursley's involvement with the Wizarding World--- when Harry's expulsion letter came, I thought THAT was the Howler.

I think we got the message about Harry's low-point in this film. The yelling would have been overboard. The yelling at Dumbledore was a good scene, but that's enough. One of the reasons why I disliked the book was because of Harry's extensive PMSing.

As I've mentioned above. She didn't rat out DA. Well, technically she did but she was forced to, so I don't think that counts. If your bestfriend told your inner-most secrets after drinking a potent truth-telling potion, I don't think you'd be as shallow enough to never forgive her. I'm hoping that Harry and Cho will come to a truce in the next film, it's one of those, one door closes, another door opens types of things especially with the Ginny development in the next book.

Having it at the moment of the Weasley's escape---I felt it worked. Because of the overall pace of the movie, and it just simply worked better with the timeline. You think that Threstrals would fly to London by midnight if they started an hour after nightfall? Don't think so.

AGREED! I thought they should've at least MENTIONED QUIDDITCH.

How did they change the prophecy? I just thought they cut it short---which can be easily explained by Dumbledore later in the HBP film.

Not as random as you may think. The Ministry of Magic vs. Centaurs battle was mentioned a few times, including a rather easily spotted newspaper article that flashed across the screen.


Actually, we saw Percy several times. Every time Fudge is talking in a newspaper article, there was Percy. So we see Percy at least three times. I can see how they can add this plotline later in the series, because everything is going on in Harry's point of view. Maybe the Weasley's thought Harry has had a lot to deal with so they didn't want to dump their drama on him? It could be possible---we'll see what they do to it. I highly doubt Percy will die.



Okay, it's 2 am and I really need to get to bed. Maybe I can reply more when I get the opportunity!

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I just have a little correction. Sirius was hit by the Avada Kedavra or at least it is greatly implied in the book that he was. I always assumed that he was based off of the description given in the book. He just kinda slupped over and fell backwards so even if he wasn't his by the Killing Curse he was hit by another still very powerful curse.

"Only one couple were still battling,apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: He was laughing at her. "Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.
The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.
The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock." HP and the OoTP pg.805

I didn't have a problem with the way sirius died in the movie I kinda expected a death like that. I just thought it was weird how he wasn't even fighting Bellatrix...well weird isn't the right word but I think it would have been a little better if sirius and bellatrix were the ones going at it and then she hit him...not to mention we would have seen Helena Bonham Carter a little more. I really like her and she did a wonderful job as bellatrix...

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[font=fantasy]Married To Draco Malfoy 9/11/07[/font]
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I agree with you Kit. Voldemort needed more screentime. Ralph Fiennes is always amazing playing Voldemort. The fight at the end looked great

Lol. Despite the fact that I didn't think Voldemort was as good this time around, I do wish there'd been more of him. He is very fun to watch.

@ Eruwaetheil: Actually, Sirius was not hit by the Avada Kedavra curse in the books. The Avada Kedavra curse would be a jet of green light, not red. Red light would mean something like a stunning spell. Of course, it doesn't exactly say the second jet was red, but you'd assume it was, right?

@ Kit: Goodness.. I'm off to bed, but I've got a lot to say in the morning. You've got some very fair points, most of which were lost to me in the sheer excitement of the movie.

I know Avada Kedavra is a green jet. The reason I think the second jet of light was the killing curse was because of the reaction. With no direct quote it said that: the laughter hadn't dies from his face but the shock was in his eyes and then his body fell in a arc behind the curtain....something like that....I mean that description just seems to me like he just died and then fell backwards...like if he was just stunned he probably would have stumbled back into the curtain not fallen like that...does that make sense?? I'm trying to explain my thinking and I don't know if I am doing it well.

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<b>In regard to the red jet / green jet discussion surrounding Sirius's death</b>.... if JK Rowling is never going to answer our question and verifying it---we may never know. I got the impression that the second jet was the same as the first. By all descriptions of the Avada Kedavra, the victim would generally just slump over dead with their last expression on their face (examples are the Riddle household: fear). It's possible that it was the killing curse, it's possible that it was a Stunner, either way we can't know. My thoughts is that if it was the Avada Kedavra, Sirius's laughing maniacally would've remained on his face---he wouldn't have had that shocked expression. [shrug] But that's me. We could go on forever about this, so let's end it with 'to his or her own!'


Now I haven't really got any reviews to reply to... so I'll post up my official review here:

First thing's first---Order of the Phoenix was my least favorite book in the entire series mainly because I'm not a huge fan of emo-Harry/screaming-bratty Harry/or PMSing Harry. I just like Harry, kthnx. But understanding that JK Rowling needed to touch on Harry's misunderstood raging teenage hormones, I was still super-crazy excited to see this film because, let's just face it: THOSE MOVIE TRAILERS WERE AWESOME.

Let's start with the first reason why I was so excited for this movie:

<b>Tonks & Remus</b> +++ No actual hinting, but that's okay, because there was absolutely no hinting in the book either. That's what made HBP so wonderful, it was a complete surprise. Natalia Tena was excellent as Tonks, as Vivi has mentioned earlier. Vivi had assured me earlier that Tena is an excellent actor so I was not worried at all about Tonks acting-wise. It was the looks that worried me, because the moment we saw the first picture of Natalia Tena as Tonks on set, the Because I'm Worth It! purple "do" did not... cut it. So the more I saw the fluffy purple hair, the more I got used to it. Maybe it won't be as bad? And it wasn't. It was really nice because half the time, it was that shade of purple, it was darker. And that dark purple matched Tonks. And that was all that mattered.

Granted, it'd be really really really really really really really x10 awesome if we could see spikey bubble-gum pink hair, but if that's not humanely possible for Natalia Tena, I can settle with the purple froof. Tonks was absolutely superb. I loved her even more when she tripped over the umbrella stand at Grimmauld Place. Love.

David Thewlis as Remus was equally satisfying, as we saw his naturally excellent portrayal in Prisoner of Azkaban, I was just simply excited for his return on the big screen. I so dearly wished he had more screentime though, it seemed the only time he had a moderately good role was when they were explaining about Voldemort's forces gathering and the Order's task of doing the same. I thought it was rather strange during the Ministry battle that Remus Lupin would let Harry go off running after Bellatrix, until I realized that we don't know how tired Lupin is, which is a constant issue with him around the full moon. David Thewlis just does so well with exhausted!Remus.

<b>Luna Lovegood</b> +++ When I first saw the casting photo of Evanna Lynch, I was thoroughly satisfied with looks. And afterwards, when JK Rowling proclaimed that she was "perfect" I never had to worry about my favorite character of Order of the Phoenix, because she was a guaranteed deal. What can I say? She was perfect as Rowling had promised us. From the dirty blonde hair, the dreamy look in her eyes, and the airy voice---she was from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, she walked and talked as Luna Lovegood. How wonderful would it have been if they had her say, "Wit behind measure is man's greatest treasure."

<b>Dolores Umbridge</b> +++ Aggravatingly, irritatingly, most frustratingly, perfect. She screamed Umbridge from the moment of 'hem hem' during Harry's trial. Imelda Staunton could not have been outcasted. And I can clearly understand why we can mark her as the worst villain yet, because trust me------wouldn't you want to set her on fire?

<b>Grimmauld Place</b> +++ I'm surprised no one had mentioned this before, prominently...if you had, please forgive me because I completely missed it. It was a beautiful interpretation of Grimmauld Place. I would never have imagined it like that. No wonder no one could find it---even with or without the Fidelus Charm. <---I may have butchered the spelling of that. Forgive me.

<b>The Noble House of Black</b> +++ That family tree was excellently done. I definitely preferred it drawn all over the wall---it felt very magical. Some names I spotted on there was Sirius (of course), Bellatrix + Rodolphus, Andromeda, and Phineus.

<b>Kreacher</b> +++ They did a very good job of Kreacher, a little disappointed that they didn't expand on his plotline of leaking information out to Lucius Malfoy, "his master".

<b>Screaming Mrs. Black</b> +++ They might continue with this, you never know! We actually heard lots of muttering when it wasn't Kreacher behind a curtain so Mrs. Black is there, she just isn't screaming! It's a silencing charm, you know it ! =)

<b>Bellatrix Lestrange</b> +++ Oh man, Helena Bonham Carter was bloody brilliant. She was downright CRAZY. She gave me chills as much as Voldemort did, I think. Just one of those people you picture in a white cushioned room with a body suit. Geez!

<b>Neville Longbottom vs. Bellatrix Lestrange</b> +++ The character development with Neville in this film was excellent, they did an absolutely wonderful job. The look on Neville's face when he was reading the article about Bellatrix Lestrange's escape from Azkaban. Since they dropped the St. Mungos plot point, I definitely loved how Harry and Neville were speaking about all that's been going on and the fact that Neville told Harry. I thought that meant a lot and there was a connection between them. Neville's decision to tell Harry about his parents made it more personal, we can sympathize with him more while if they tried to that with St. Mungos, I don't think it would've given us the same effect.

<b>Neville / Luna</b> +++ Now, I was not a huge fan of this ship before seeing this movie, but after.... I could just imagine the plotbunnies. The Ministry of Magic battle did it for me, an odd place to find evidence for a ship, but y'know---I'd like to see you guys explain other bizarre ships. Neville fights off a Death Eater, and Luna grabs his hand and says, "Good job, Neville" and drags him away. Later, the prophecies are falling all over the place after Ginny casts a Reducto charm, the group is running but Neville spots that Luna is still standing there, unaware, and grabs her hand to pull her away. Hey---a girl can dream.

<b>Draco Malfoy</b> +++ Definitely glad he got more screentime (though apparently a lot of you and screaming that he didn't get enough), and it was a good amount compared to Goblet of Fire and it's a good follow-up in order to build the plotline in Half-Blood Prince. Granted, I don't seem to be as rabid of a Draco Malfoy as half of you are, but... I was satisfied. I give Tom Felton props for doing quite well in portraying Malfoy even when he hasn't read the books.

<b>Harry / Cho</b> +++ I thought I was going to dread this, but I didn't. They did a good job with toning this down because of how little they could make of this in Goblet of Fire, David Yates is such a great director. The plot point with Cho betraying the DA and later they find out it wasn't her fault, was a very good change from the book. And very clever I may add, it would make it easier for Harry & Cho to become distant and for Harry to move onto Ginny, while it also saved them money to cast a young girl to play Cho's friend who really betrays the DA in the books, saves the casting, saves a contract, saves money. And in the end, weren't we all happy in the end? Minus Snape who had to go make more veritaserum.

<b>Ron / Hermione</b> +++ Come on. Let's face it. So cute. I'm so glad they kept the "Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon." line. Who else wonders what they were doing in that room before Harry came. Snog-fest, maybe?

<b>Lucius Malfoy & Random Death Eaters of Doom</b> +++ How awesome were they? Really. Jason Isaacs just steals every single scene he's in. And I love how they did a different Death Eater mask for each Death Eater, it made it personal and more evil instead of being part of a mass. The way Malfoy waved away his mask was also very cool. The magic has gotten so much better in these films. Though, Lucius breaking the prophecy? Is that canon? I know the prophecy was broken, but I don't remember if he was the one that broke it, could anyone verify? Is this the reason why Voldemort decides to punish him?

<b>Voldemort</b> +++ Ralph Fiennes = love. That's all I really have to say. One thing I definitely love about this was the constant visions of Voldemort throughout the film but we know it's all in Harry's head so we don't know where Voldemort really is. He's around us, we see him but he's not there. It gives us that dangerous, foreboding feeling. That ending part with the battle between he and Dumbledore was fantabulous, I was squealing through the entire thing. That scene was just so beautifully filmed. Voldemort making that fire snake = awesome. Not canon, but still FREAKIN' COOL.

<b>Voldemort ==+===+=+== Harry</b> +++ Love the mental connection between Voldemort and Harry throughout the film. How from the moment Harry has that vision of Voldemort at Platform 9.75, he starts doing that slithery snake-movement just like Voldemort. Just beautifully, beautifully filmed hints. I absolutely love this movie. The kind of possession at the end and Voldemort saying to to Dumbledore, "You've lost" through Harry, was absolutely amazing. I'm very glad they went further with this mental control thing than in the book, because it felt more dangerous and more real in a magical sort of way. We get to see how close we come to losing Harry to Voldemort's control because of Dumbledore's mistake of distancing himself from the Boy Who Lived. This moment did it for me. I was in for the movie, all the way. And I am ready to proclaim that I love the movie more than the book. That's right, I said it. Get over it.

<b>Arthur Weasley's Attack</b> +++ I am so glad they kept this in, because how they filmed this was excellent!! Very scary, and very violent. It would shake anyone!! Amazing.

<b>Hints Non-Readers Would Not Have Picked Up On</b> +++ Mrs. Figg's warning to Harry, "Stay in the house. Don't come out." Fidelus Charm = the reason why the Dursleys' have always been a safe place for Harry even after the return of Voldemort. Trelawney's cry that, "Hogwarts has been my home for 16 years!", What happened 16 years ago? Can anyone say, "Prophecy?" The voice in the prophecy was Trelawney's voice. I doubt any non-readers would have recognized it. Tonks' relation to Sirius and Bellatrix. We saw Andromeda's spot on the family tree, but the blacks would not have put Ted Tonks on the tree. Moody's wand is his cane. Dude, is that even canon? It's very Gandalf.

Okay, I'm kind of tired, it's 1:30 am. [runs off]

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^I love everything you wrote Kit



You couldn't have said it better
exhausted!Remus is very adorable.



I really liked Grimmauld Place even though I imagined it a bit more scary from outside.



When I first read about the family tree I imagined to be like half a wall but in the movie is a whole room! I think it looks better in the movie



Those two are too adorable together



Hahahahaha I don't think it is canon but still looks cool