Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman
Director: David Yates
Released: November 19, 2010
As a writer myself, I cannot help but loathe J K Rowling for the sudden and unbelievable success of her Harry Potter novels. That said, I'm a big Potter fan and the release of every new film fills me with great excitement. The seventh instalment in the series was no exception, and I was not disappointed.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows marks the beginning of the end for the Potter franchise. As someone who grew up with Potter, whose earliest memories of the cinema are of the magic and wonder of the first film in the series, and who used to read the books religiously, I sat down with my popcorn this time round with a feeling of both anticipation and dread. The final book in the series is long, complicated and (at times) a little slow, and the decision to split the movie into two parts worried me. However, the Deathly Hallows managed what it intended to do and then some. Not only does it set the scene for what is sure to be the biggest and possibly best finale in film history, but it also stands alone as a fantastic film full of action and suspense, and with a cliff hanger which will leave you desperate for its conclusion.
The seventh film is undoubtedly the darkest yet, as the Minister of Magic (Bill Nighy) admits in the very first line: "These are dark times, there's no denying". Lord Voldemort continues to grow in power and his plans to murder Potter take shape, leaving Harry and friends fleeing for their lives as they search for the Horcruxes which must be destroyed in order for Voldemort to be killed. That said, the film is not scary as much as it is poignant and dramatic.
The real dark elements of the film, for me, come from the political parallels which struck me whilst watching it. The corruption of the wizarding government, the Ministry of Magic, by the Death Eaters who wish to purify the wizarding community by the extermination of 'Mudbloods' (witches and wizards born of muggle parents), is not unlike the reign of the Nazis during World War II. In fact, Voldemort's lust for power and political beliefs practically mirror Hitler himself. In that way, the film which is essentially aimed at children is hauntingly dark and is sure to get darker still in the second installment. The tough decisions made by Harry and co. add another dimension to the film - particularly an early scene featuring Hermione wiping all traces of herself from her parents memory to protect them from the dark days ahead.
As the first film which doesn't revolve around Harry's school year at Hogwart's, the Deathly Hallows is strikingly different from the others, and the action is stepped up accordingly. From a heart-pounding broomstick chase at the start of the film, which features an impressive sequence of Hagrid and Harry riding Hagrid's flying motorbike through the Dartford Tunnel chased by a Death Eater, to a breathless scene of a Horcrux attempting to drown Harry in a beautifully constructed set of a frozen lake, the Deathly Hallows succeeds at keeping the adrenaline pumping even through the inevitable slow section at the heart of the film.
I've read a lot of reviews accusing the film of being a bore because of its slow-paced camping scenes as Harry, Ron and Hermione run from Voldemort and search for the remaining Horcruxes. And to an extent, I agree with them - the film does sag in the middle. But it is also my belief that it could not be helped, what with the camping and the hiding being such a crucial part of the book, and considering this, I think they made a damn fine job of it. Although the tent scenes do succumb to the problems of some of the earlier films (heavy on exposition; low on action) they also show make the development of the lead characters more profound. Harry, Ron and Hermione are not the kids they were when they first jumped on board the Hogwart's Express - swotty Hermione has transformed into a brave and beautiful young woman, and her closeness with Harry leads to effectively conveyed sexual tension between the two, and jealousy from the underdog Ron. The development of the characters and friendships is conveyed best in a beautiful scene of Harry and Hermione, already melancholy after Ron storms out on them, spontaneously and awkwardly dancing together to a song on the radio, silently reflecting on what has passed between them and what can never be. If nothing else, the slow-pace of the camping scenes only makes the later action more exciting.
There are other, smaller things which make this film stand out from the rest in my mind. One is the small but dazzling moments of comedy - particularly a hilarious scene when several individuals take a potion to transform them into Potter doubles in order to confuse the Death Eaters, including Bill Weasley's fiance Fleur Delacour, resulting in Radcliffe daintily undressing and removing a bra. Then there is the artful touch such as the Tim Burton-esque animation demonstrating the story behind the title, the Deathly Hallows. This in particular was unlike any other installment so far.
The Potter franchise has become so commercialised that the films will inevitably gross nearly a billion a piece, quality aside. Although the films are cherished by millions, not one can really be considered a cinematic triumph. Does that mean the Deathly Hallows is a bad film? Not at all. I loved it. When the ending came (after a heartbreaking death I might add - you must have a heart of stone if you don't cry) I was clamouring for the second half, but I guess I'll just have to wait. Is the splitting of the film into two parts just a means of getting more money? I guess it probably is, but I also think it works and I'll happily pay to see the next part.
Cinema Sweet Rating - 7/10
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