Knowing it was just part 1 of the last of the HP 7-part series, a cliffhanger was anticipated, but that won't make the next several months' waiting any easier. HP7 pt. 1 did an amazing job in many aspects: character portrayal; story (including remaining amazingly true to the book, minus a few events left out / de-emphasized); visuals; comic relief (which wasn't just limited to Fred & George Weasley, though those characters still lived up to their expectations); intensity; and realism. Growth in the relationships between Harry, Ron & Hermione are expressed very well, and even the roles of many of the adversaries can be appreciated for who they are.