Thoughts (and wishes)

1. I liked they included the Adrian Mellon scene and I understand anything that followed could have ruined the pace (even if I wish they had showed the interrogation scene or, at least, summed it up somehow)
2. Spotted Muschietti and Barbara, his sister (the producer) in two separate scenes, loved the casting of Brandon Crane (young Ben in the 1990 miniseries).
3. Glad they somehow had the Ritual of Chüd in (even if I wanted, as many fans, to see it play out as in the book)
4. Loved the whole Beverly and Ms Kersh scene (to me, one of the filthiest scenes in the novel) and the climax (in the theater, it had the same terrifying effect on me as the "Eggboy" scene in the first film) but I wanted more of Hansel & Gretel paranoia hinted at here and there (unless I missed something). Note: hair floating, just like in Muschietti's Mama. Nevertheless, great setup.
5. Liked the Paul Bunyan scene (even if I wanted the adult Richie to go through the experience like in the book)
6. Loved the The Thing reference (and David Clennon's line), the Stephen King's cameo, as well as Bogdanovich's.
7. Liked the scene at the carnival (with Bill and Dean), Beverly and Ben scenario and the way they got around the unfilmable book climax.

I didn't mind the CGI or movie length at all. In fact, it wouldn't have bothered me at all if it had run for another hour longer. I loved the adult actors (casting directors were genii) and Wallfisch's score.

All in all, a fun time.