I liked the movie too (reasons why)

[jjpandy]

First-time poster here (I am a frequent lurker, occasional poster on 
HPforGrownups). 

So glad to read some recent messages about people LIKING the movie.  
I loved many of the changes.  
Students out of uniform -  If you recall, the kids didn't wear their 
uniforms at the end of SS (Hermione in a sweater and skirt combo)and 
to me that detail jumped out in the SS movie because they had been in 
their uniforms most of the movie until then.  PoA was more 
realistically done - kids don't wear their uniforms during their free 
time, but they did wear them during school hours.
Real dorm life - hanging out with your friends and having fun - that 
is what school is all about.  Glad to see Harry having fun at school.
More outdoor scenes - loved it and the whomping willow made me laugh -
 it had a personality!  And the audience roared when the poor bird 
became an explosion of feathers!
The closeness of friends!  Harry, Ron, and Hermione are very real 
teenagers in the movie.
I am so glad the twins were still the ones to give the map to Harry.  
I missed them in the other 2 movies!
Only 2 things I really wished were in the movie: 1) some revelation 
that Lupin was Moony (having read the book so much, I don't know how 
easy it is to figure out) and 2) I really missed Snape's temper 
tantrum when Sirius' escape at the end is discovered!

JJPandy