Of course they cut stuff, but it was still amazing - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Reviews

I'm tired of reading these 'reviews' written by people who are simply ranting on about the stuff "they" (the director, producers, and crew...) have screwed up. "J.K. Rowling should have stopped them" is another common theme. To all these sorts of people, I say get a grip on reality. J.K. Rowling WAS involved every step of the way in the making of this film. She stopped them from cutting what she thought was too important. If you'd read at all about the movie in the previous weeks, you would know this. As for the amount of things cut, 'they' (see even I am now using the term) weren't seeking to include every minuscule detail desired by some whining thirteen year old. It has to appeal to the masses, or they wouldn't make any money. Now I'd love a seven hour movie, but that just isn't plausible. (Though you'd think an extended DVD version, like Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, would go over well...) I just can't see why people get so worked up about it. On to the positive aspects of this film. Story: Like I said, things were cut. That explains my B+. But at the same time, what was left in was put together well. It seemed fast-paced perhaps, but I'm sure that was only to keep the audience engaged. Overall the story worked just fine. Acting: I hate reading about people carrying on how horrid the acting in these films is. It is not. I would love to see some of these people try to do a better job than Dan, Rupert, and Emma. The trio was brilliantly cast, and apart from the occasional eyebrow flourish from Hermione, they performed excellently in this installment. As for Umbridge and Luna, Imelda Staunton and Evanna Lynch are amazing. I found myself hating Umbridge from her first "hem hem" at the ministry hearing, a hatred that only grew as the movie progressed. Luna was misty-eyed, dreamy, and everything else she had been expected to be. She was excellently cast. And of course Maggie Smith as McGonagall was great as always, along with the other returning cast. Direction: David Yates did a wonderful job composing shots that were both interesting and practical. He seemed to have brought out the best (and by best, it sometimes means worst) in all the characters. Hermione and Ron were supportive of Harry, we caught glimpses of Ginny looking angrily at Harry and Cho, Trelawney was pity-inspiring, and Umbridge was absolutely loath worthy. The changes Yates made to the story worked in a way that tied everything together, regardless of the pieces left out. Visuals: This film was beautiful to look at. There were many wide, sweeping shots of Hogwarts and other scenery, flyovers of the action happening below the camera, and generally well-composed angles for the more intimate character scenes. The special effects were nothing less than I had expected, and magic would be a tough thing to conquer, I would imagine. Overall I give Order of the Phoenix an A. Don't let the reviews written by the bitter 'fans' discourage you from making a trip or four out to the theatre; true Harry Potter fans will thoroughly enjoy this film.