Ihaven'tread the book, but from what I heard afterwards from the people sitting next to me that did there were several small plot points left out that would have filled in a few holes I'd noticed in the film. That said, as a film on it's own it's actually pretty good and a bit more into darker elements and the overall plot then the first two (which is to be expected). About 40 minutes shorter than the other two because this new director decided to eliminate anything not directly involving the main plot, I think it would have been better to leave insome of the side-scenes that were cut; give the film a more fuller look.

Mystery, adventure, and we get to see someone get a well deserved punch from Hermoine. Then there's Profesor Hagrid, Hermoine managing an overstuffed class schedule, the Monster Book, the Hippogriff, and all the usual little things that make up this world. Again I would have liked to see more of what didn't make the cut, but overall a very good film that ends with an obvious lead-in to the coming sequels. I'm already waiting.