So I saw it on Sunday.

Not sure that "enjoyment" is the right word. I experienced a lot of things and was somewhat quiet after the showing (which is a rare and usually good sign for me), but I'm not sure I can simply say I enjoyed it. The feeling I was left with was similar to the one I experienced after watching Episode 3 for the first time. Although, that was the end of a saga and this one is still going.

I can see why the book fans will find it weird, as it seems to miss an awful lot of things. But haven't not read the books, that doesn't bother me. I have questions, but much like with Lost, I look forward to finding out what happens next time, rather than being annoyed.

The acting bar was raised, I feel. The tonal balance was near-perfect and there was definitely something different about this one. Can't put my finger on it yet though. I think it needs a second viewing......

Emma Watson seems to be an acting schizophrenic. Some scenes were very wooden (arguing with Harry during the 1st potions lesson) while others showed acting of the highest calibre (Crying scene after Ron hitches up with Lavender).

Maybe that explains why he has done a cr@p job of reproducing Dumbledore on screen. I think that Richard Harris got it spot on, but Gambon is too harsh and abrupt. Dumbledore keeps secrets- he doesn't have to explain everything to his pupils- but even when pushed by Harry, he is seldom aggressive. For example, I thought that his reaction to Harry's selection by the Goblet of Fire was way OTT and didn't capture the way Dumbledore reacted in the book.

I still haven't seen (or made plans to see) HP&tHBP, but I can't say that I'm bothered either way. I've progressively become more and more disappointed with the films.

+1
Gambon fails to bring the character from the books onto the screen. Harris managed it perfectly.