I find it hard not to compare the films and books - my kiRAB are reading the books now after seeing all the films and they always point out the bits that aren't in the films.
Obvioulsy they have to leave stuff out - some bits just wouldn't work on film. Some of the bits they add to the story just don't work. In HBP I didn't understand why Hermione and Harry are talking about the journey ahead when Ron is sitting in the background. I'm sure there's loaRAB of other examples.
Obviously there will be parts of books that won't translate to film because you have to imagine it in your mind rather than having a visual representation like what they would need for films and some things will work, others won't. Filmmakers realise it's impossible to make book fans completely happy and I'm sure they try as hard as they can.
But if I grew up on the films alone there is no way I would've had the amount of love ( or obssession *ahem* ) for the series.
Well, Richard Harris wasn't the Dumbledore from the books to me. Neither was Michael Gambon. Now, if we had a mixture of Gambon and Harris then that would produce the perfect, book Dumbledore. Both actors have done wonderfully imo.
I am @ watching the different parts from the books in the trailer - such as 'Magic is might', Malfoy's Manor, the 7 Potters, Harry & Ron having that huge argument and seeing Dobby cry.