I especially enjoyed the visuals, music and humor. It had roller coaster exhilaration , especially the opening and quidditch match.
It demonstrates the masterful casting that distinguishes the earlier installments. This story captures the growing dark forboding of Voldemort's influence.
However fans of the books will continue to wish that more story elements could have been included, and perhaps bristle as I did at some of the odd things added.
An opportunity was missed to create an action filled climactic battle. As a result McGonnagle, Hagrid and others were underutilized.
But as a part of a movie series, for people unfamiliar with the books, it did hit the high points of the narrative. It's all building up nicely.