Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - Review

Writing a review for any Harry Potter film, let alone one as monumentally hyped as this one, is about as pointless as it gets. 7 films, 10 years, a legion of fans of both the books and the movies as well as a handful of haters aren't going to be swayed one way or another by a review written by an independent film critic like myself. Honestly, you know whether you're going to see this movie, and if you have even a remote interest in the Harry Potter series, you've probably seen it already... maybe even more than once. Still, I feel compelled to write this review for one reason, to express exactly how AWESOME this movie is.

I've always been interested in Harry Potter, but never a fanboy. They're decent books turned into good movies, but to be honest, they've never really risen above a level much greater than fun. Don't get me wrong, the movies have all been solid. Good actors, fun storylines, quirky characters, great special effects, and commendable filmmaking have all been staples of the series. They've ranged from awesome (Prisoner of Azkaban) to mediocre (Goblet of Fire), but now have hit their stride with Deathly Hallows. I can't really call this one the best quite yet, since the story is only half finished, but director David Yates has started Part I off with a bang.

The characters have matured along with the mood, atmosphere, and themes.. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are now young adults, Dumbledoor is dead, and Voldemort has his sights set on killing Harry and creating a world ruled and controlled by wizards/witches. Aside from The Neverending Story, I can't think of a kids fantasy movie as utterly dark, gloomy, and melancholy as Deathly Hallows. Now, the trio seeks out to destroy the source of Voldemort's power as well as a mythical sword that will defeat him once and for all. The stakes are high and the threat is real, and the clock is ticking until it all comes down.

Okay, the storyline on its own is somewhat generic. Its a fairly standard fantasy adventure that, in some ways, resembles a video game plot. It does, however, have the advantage of a good array of characters, plus six movies worth of development. Little exposition is provided for Deathly Hallows, as the previous six movies have provided all the neccessary plot points and details to set this story in motion. You know who the good guys are, who the bad guys are, the situation, and what is at stake.

Deathy Hallows manages to solve a previous problem that has plagued the stories of the previous HP flicks. Most, if not all, generally carry out the plot in the first 30 minutes or so and wrap it up in the final 30 minutes, with what is largely filler in the middle of the movie. Whether it be scenes set in a classroom, a quittich match, or coverage of a tacked on sub-plot, did leave the storylines feeling somewhat imperfect. A lot of that filler was typically pretty fun, but I can't help but shake the feeling that the stories could have been better had most of the middle act helped develop the plot.

One of the reasons Prisoner of Azkaban was my favorite in the series was because the story felt more complete. The classroom scenes, supporting characters, and suplots all contributed to the central story. Plus it had the best character development in the series. Deathly Hallows continues in the same vain as POA, by primarily focusing only on the three central characters. Seriously, a majority of this movie exclusively features Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The supporting characters are barely on screen this time around, the settings are mostly new, even Hogwartz isn't shown. It develops the characters and has a story working toward something... in this case an ending.

The actors have really outdone themselves this time around. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) have grown into their characters over the last 10 years, and this time delve into deeper and more dramatic territory. Whether the three are turning on each other, facing the seriousness of the situation, or being attacked by one of the villains, they all deliver. Each of the three embodies their respective character flawlessly, without falling into melodramatic territory but rather providing realistic and believable deliveries. The supporting cast was so seldom feature in this one, that it is kind of difficult to critique them. The cast from the previous movies is all mostly present and they continue to do the solid job they started with in the previous six movies.

The look of this movie is arguably the best yet. There are a few returning locales, but for the most part, Deathly Hallows breaks from the previously established places into some new settings. There's some fantastic cinematography, featuring some some somber Bergman-esque shots and a somber color scheme. The action plays a smaller role this time around aside from a couple of exciting sequences in the beginning and the end. I imagine they're saving most of the epic sequences for the final part. This one is taking its time, providing more of a character-driven piece. Some might say that's a bad thing, but personally I enjoyed it. The action that did make it into this one was up to the standard set by the previous movies... complete with great special effects. In short, its a great looking movie.

There's not a whole lot I didn't like about Deathly Hallows Part I. Obviously the story isn't complete, so it ends on a huge cliffhanger. There's still plenty more to see, and the movie as a whole can't be properly critiqued until we know how well Part II turns out. This is easily the darkest and most intense entry in the series. The stakes are higher, the villains are scarier, and characters are hurt, tortured, and a some are even killed. Some might be turned off by such a grim tone, but for me, I enjoyed it.

Probably the worst thing about this movie is the fact that the series is almost over. Its a bittersweet feeling for sure, but all good things must come to an end. It is, however, nice knowing that if the second is part is even half as good as this, this will be a finale to remember.

My Score: 4.5 out of 5!!!