Very well done! Huge Spoilers...

Rating: 10/10 (15 July 2011)

Just got back from watching HP 7.1 and 7.2 back to back. Let me first say that I've never been a fan of HP movies. I preferred the Dumbledore in first two movies. The new one wasn't calm at all, as the one in the book is. So, that had always put me off from the movies.
HP 7.1 - Once I saw it again tonight, I realized how boring the movie was. The story didn't move smoothly. It was as if the director had tried to cover the major plots from the book, but in a very spotty fashion. Also, I noticed how the actors had very blank expressions, and thought maybe it was done to maintain the dark and grim tone. Time and again throughout the movie I found myself picking out details and thinking "this was changed".. or "that whole part was missed!", etc.
HP 7.2 - The movie started exactly where the last left off. In that regards, it was good that we saw the first part right before this one. Right away I noticed that the flow of the movie was MUCH smoother. After the scene with Griphook and Ollivander, pace was maintained with the Gringotts scene. There were definitely some details missed, but this was the first movie where I didn't find myself being distracted by the differences in the movie and the book. I think it definitely held its own! The dragon sequence was amazing! The scene with Aberforth was done well too. I like how they mirrored his skeptical tone from the book and at that point, I think Daniel Radcliffe showed his improvement as he looked much more in control. There were some elements where I thought "What!".. Like when Harry jumped out and challenged Snape... or the long sequence of Harry fighting Voldy in the end.. or how the deaths were kinda skipped over (but still shown for important characters...) However, there were things that I think were done VERY well... such as ->

The scene with protections being enabled around the school.. the bit of humor with Prof McG saying that she always wanted to try that spell!

The scene with the ghost of Ravenclaw. I liked the interaction between Harry and her, as it was to the point, but still mysterious (only readers would've known she was pointing to the Room of Requirement!)

Snape's memories. Yes i know a LOT was cut out! But I think the important bits all remained. It was cut out extremely efficiently. The bit about the eyes, the doe, his promise to Dumbledore.. I really liked how it was exactly what was needed.

King's Cross scene. Yes. This was short too. But again... it mentioned exactly what was needed. It moved the story forward with a good pace. Dumbledore explained very well what the dying fragment of soul was..

Neville's speech and him killing the snake was a lil long winded. But understandable. It is Hollywood. The ending in the book was rather short. I was hoping that Harry would "vanish" like he did in the book and protect his friends. But I guess that would've taken time away from his wrestling match with Voldy.
Another thing I liked towards the end was.. how Voldemort could more and more feel that his Horcruxes were being destroyed (yes I know that was different from the book!).. This in turn made him look weaker and weaker. And at the last minute when Harry "resurrected", and Voldy was at his weakest, all his supporters started running away. I think that was good. Not sure that it was in the book. But I loved it. Showed how he was truly defeated, even though he wasn't yet dead.
Overall, for me, this was the only movie in the series which held its own. The rest of them made me pick at details, but this one allowed me the extra edge as a reader, while still enjoying the story. Now I hope JK Rowling loses all her money and has to write 7 more books to become a billionaire again! ;)