A few points:
Positive:
*Emma Watson acted brilliantly. She seemed much more natural and I enjoyed her performance quite a bit.
*Tom Felton played Draco magnificently. He seemed just as tortured as it described him in the book as being.
*David Yates' directing was also brilliant. He has brought these movies to the point they need to be. Just enough artistic license, adds a bit of realism, humor, and the action is brilliantly done. Nothing is ever over done. Just enough.
*Rupert Grint was hilarious
*I liked that they cut the final battle scene. It wouldn't be wise to end two consecutive movies with big Hogwarts Grounds Battle scenes. It will make the end of the 7th much more powerful, for sure.
*Adding the action in the beginning, showing the bridge collapse, was brilliant.
*The over all feel of the movie was magical and fun. I loved it as a whole.
Negative:
*Ginny & Harry's love story was incredibly awkward. They always acted so somber, as if they were attending a funeral, not in love with each other. And it seemed to come out of nowhere, very left field. If they had portrayed their story as the book did it would have been much better, lighter. Bonnie Wright and Daniel Radcliffe have no chemistry...it's all very forced feeling.
*which leads me to Bonnie Wright. Her acting....is unfortunate. Not bad. Just...very bland. Slightly monotone and expressionless. Not the energy I expect Ginny to have.
*Once again Ron got jipped. They gave all the meaningful, heartfelt, powerful lines to Hermione's character. They completely played down Ron & Harry's close, brotherly friendship, and only had Ron be comic relief. Ron is funny, but he also has a lot of heart. and they just make him seem like the jokester who never says anything heartfelt or serious to Harry. Which is not the case in the books. But whatever. Hollywood stereotypes. Leading Man, Leading Girl, Sidekick.
And I dressed up as Tonks, and my friends Rachel and Tim dressed up as Bellatrix Lestrange & the Golden Snitch (respectively):
