There is definitely a sense of foreboding with the arrival of the latest film in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1. This not only holds true inside the film, but for viewers as well as they come to the realization that soon there will be no more films. While we are now seeing less of the whimzy that marked the early films, it doesn't mean that the quality of this franchise has also waned. Instead, this is another excellent outing that has given its three core characters an opportunity to display the acting skills they've gained over the years.
The film gets off to a great start with a montage of everyone preparing for the battle that lies ahead, which then leads into a terrific chase sequence in one of the many attempts by the Death Eaters to capture Harry Potter so that he can be killed by Voldemort. Within the course of this first half hour we are treated to appearances from practically the entire cast of characters that we've come to know and love over the course of this entire franchise. In some ways, it feels like a class reunion. It's wonderful to see this terrific collection of actors, no matter how fleeting their time on screen is.
Things eventually settle down as the film shifts to focus primarily on Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they travel together avoiding Death Eaters and seeking the remaining horcruxes - the talismen which hold the key for killing Voldemort. For some, particularly those who have not read the books, these scenes may test your patience. Personally, I still found these engrossing as they solidify the relationships between the three characters and illustrate what a terrible situation they find themselves in.
I have given director David Yates grief in previous reviews for some of the personal liberties he took with the books in his films. However, now in his third effort he has evolved as a director and has become comfortable in how to move the story along. Given that he had the luxury of seperating this last book into two films, he was able to not only remain more faithful to the original text, he was also able to include more of the specific details associated with pivotal scenes. Of course, things still aren't perfect. For example, the introduction of characters, who had already been well established in previous books, like Bill Weasley and Mundungus Fletcher, are a bit abrupt. However, these are minor offenses and overall I had few complaints about what was and was not included here.
Keeping the same director for these past few films has also been helpful for the film's three young leads. Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have all grown up in front of our eyes and in this film they really shine in their scenes with each other. They've gained a familiarity with who these characters are without displaying any complacency in still playing them a decade later. Watson, in particular, has become a great young actress. She, similar to her character, has become the glue that holds things together. I'll be very interested to see how well these three can translate their fame and success into other acting jobs in the future.
If you have not heard yet where they have chosen to stop Part 1, I won't spoil it for you hear. All I will say is that I was perfectly satisfied with the spot they chose. Initially, when I heard that they were splitting this book into two films, I liked the idea but didn't have a clue as to where they would stop this first part. There was no real moment that felt like a mini victory that they could choose to close on. Instead, they opted to have this film end in a The Empire Strikes Back-esque way. The whole 'the night is always darkest before the dawn' concept. Using this method is effective and certainly will make you eager for part 2, which thankfully will come out next July.
Despite the bleaker tone and less than natural conclusion, this is still an excellent film that any Potter fan will love. It finds a nice balance between big-time action and a more intimate character study. While everyone will have their nitpicks, I think most will have difficulty finding major flaws with this latest entry. At the very least, it will do more than enough to whet your appetite for the final showdow. The battle may be between Harry and Voldemort, but the clear cut winners continue to be the fans who get to enjoy each one of these great films. Grade: A-
1 comment:
I thought hp7.1 was fantastic. There were only a few things in the film where the book differed, which im completely ok with. when a director is bringing a book to the screen he should be able to take some liberties. that said, i was pleased that he kept so close to the book, i felt the same during the movie as when reading the book. yates captured the feelings and moods and the most important parts of the story. the only exclusions he made in the film where minor and didn't really take away from the story. im glad he fixed his little snafu from #6 (not puting bill and fleur in the movie) they are a crucial part of the first part of the 7th i was happy to see them. yates did a fabulous job on this movie and i can't wait to see how he wraps up such a beloved franchise.
thanks for your review, i thought it was spot on. :)
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