This movie stays true to the book. It cannot, of course, include all that the book holds but it still conveys the story. If you have read the book, you will enjoy the movie. If you haven't read the book (as my daughter had not), you can still enjoy the movie. Yes, it is dark and slow in places but I believe that was Rowling's intent; it accurately reflects the tedium the characters experience in their quest and the resulting conflict in the trio on their journey. Without the book knowledge there are some unanswered questions but the flow of the story is not really disrupted. Beware of the Nagini scenes for young / sensitive ones. Overall, well done and it received applause at the thanksgiving weekend showing our family attended.