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The book itself is the darkest Harry Potter story that I have read so far, and the makers of the movie realized this and respected that. The movie is quite dark, and is nowhere as magical as the last couple of books/movies were. This one is much more character driven. As a result, I have come to the conclusion that this really is the best Harry Potter movie so far. In terms of character, story, and especially acting, it threatens to blow all the others right off the map. The movie, when it starts, has a more realistic feel to it as it shows Harry and his spoiled brat of a cousin Duddely running from a fierce storm as though it were shot with a documentary-like feel. For once, the HP movies feel grounded in reality. The great thing about this movie, as well as the book, is that it gives us characters who are really no different from ourselves. They go through all the agonies and fustrations of growing up, and this is in addition to fighting the evil Lord Cheney...ahem, excuse me...Voldemort. As a result, it really draws us into the story much more psychologically than ever before. When Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, he is shunned by his classmates as he is portrayed by the media as a liar who cannot be believed. Everyone understands the mindstate of isolation that we all end up experiencing as a teenager, and we feel for Harry as he experiences it in the worst way possible. But on top of all this, he and everyone else at Hogwarts gets sacked with a new Defense Of The Dark Arts Teacher (as always) named Dolores Umbridge. She has an ever so loving and cheerful smile on her face, and is clearly a big fan of the color pink considering what she wears throughout the film. But her smug smile barely hides the true nature of her character; a restless control freak eager to change just about everything about Hogwarts whether the students like it or not. She has a cruel cruel streak inside of her that she may not even realize, which makes her all the more dangerous. Dolores Umbridge is played by Imelda Staunton, another in a long long line of brilliant british actors cast in Harry Potter movies. She is brilliant in playing a truly evil villain, and she makes the most spiteful villain over any other that I have seen this summer. Imelda perfects her outward sunniness perfectly, while her eyes mirror a much darker person under the surface. She is truly brilliant, and the best thing about this movie. The young actors inhabiting the main roles have really come a long way, as they continue to grow with each successive movie. Daniel Radcliffe is nothing short of excellent here as he embodies Harry's endless anxieties and pains in life. To see anyone else play Harry Potter at this point would be tragic. He is not afraid to make Harry unlikable at times as he becomes irritated with many around him who expects so much from. The movie does not make Harry as irritable and spiteful in the book, but it does get the tone of his relationships with others right. Rupert Grint also is great as always as Ron Weasley. Even though the movie omits many of the struggles he experiences in the book (particularly in Quidditch), you see him growing up as well. Emma Watson is wonderful as always as Hermione. Looking at these actors, it would be a real shame at this point to see any other actor play these characters. We also have some new faces, and other faces that have been in previous HP movies but get more screen time here. A striking new addition is Evanna Lynch who plays the entrancingly odd Luna Lovegood. Watching her be mostly serene in her description of things, I can't help but wonder if she might actually be related to David Lynch. I know I'll find out at some point. We also get to see more of Neville Longbottom who has been a mere supporting character in the last couple HP movies/books. We get to learn more about who he is and of his family which has gone through similar tragedies to Harry's own. Matthew Lewis plays Longbottom, and he gets to expand on the herbology addict that his character has been in the previous stories. He still is, but there is more to him than that. This movie was directed by a guy named David Yates, a man who I have never heard of before. This appears to be his feature film directing debut, as he has previously worked on british TV movies including one called "Sex Trade." I am stunned that Warner Brothers would actually take a chance on a director with no previous film experience to direct a Harry Potter movie. Turns out it was a risk that really paid off as David makes the film his own, and he makes it rather unique in the universe of Harry Potter movies. He is already signed up to direct "Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince" which is definetly a good sign. This is the best Harry Potter movie so far. email this review to a friend
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