Despite having a longer running time and a shorter source novel than its predecessor, this sixth entry in the now eight-party film series still feels narratively awkward at times and loses huge chunks of J.K. Rowling’s original story and characters without finding effective cinematic replacements. While the film has its moments of visual elegance and a dark, grayish tone that visually reflects the darkening times to come, its lack of narrative rhythm and jumbled sense of forced plot points will leave ravenous Potter fans griping about what’s been left out and those poor souls who haven’t read the books perpetually confused. (Hollywood Jewel 16, Waco, TX)