I just wanted to add my two cents about the latest Harry Potter movie. Personally, I found it not spectacular, but better than many of the others. I thought that the plot stuck to the story line pretty well, though straying here and there. It was not bad for a movie, and I enjoyed seeing it. However, I find that in practically all situations the books are so much better than their partnering movies, coming across altogether more exciting and entertaining. You do have to take into consideration that they had to remove a lot of scenes to make the movie a reasonable time (it was still 2 hours and 33 minutes), and some of the best scenes that they chose to cut remain, overall, unimportant to the plot.
My solitary true complaint is the decision of what to cut out. Some things that were missing had no effect on the current story line, but I know for a fact that they are continued in the seventh book (for example, Bill and Fleur- in the seventh, isn't their wedding the entire reason Harry, Ron and Hermione don't leave on their mission right away?). It will be interesting to see how the seventh movie (or should I say movies?) turns out.
You definetly made some good points. The books are always better. I did enjoy this movie more then the others. I am also wondering what will happen with Bill and Fleur considering Bill Weasley was never introduced in the movies. And, why did they cut out Dumbledore's funeral?