Finally saw it - my 2p here.
Stellar performances from Felton, Rickman and Gambon. Some exceptionally good directing, and the dropped plotlines/altered scenes were very well handled, and probably for the best given the unwieldy nature of the book.
I even include the way the death at the end was handled. Different, but not worse. Potter has finally been convinced to trust Snape, so his inaction - rather than being forced upon him - added to the sense of betrayal. I also expect much build up on the "I didn't do anything" angst in the next film.
The pervading sense of impending catastrophe was great, and the comedy scenes and darker scenes sat very well with one another.
It also handled the story of Draco probably better than the book did - with the visual juxtaposition of his internal dispair and loneliness with the normal teenage raging hormones of other characters was particularly effective.
Just wish I could have seen more character moments for the more minor characters - but the extra half hour it would have required would have been an issue for bladders, I guess.
Genuinely impressed that what could have been a disjointed mess (I consider it one of the weaker books) is up there with the strongest of the films.
)
