Thanks for checking out our Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Review
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Directed by: David Yates
Staring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint
Released: November 19th, 2010
THE GENERAL IDEA
Harry, Ron and Hermione set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s immortality and destruction — the Horcruxes. On their own, without the guidance of their professors or the protection of Professor Dumbledore, the three friends must now rely on one another more than ever. But there are Dark Forces in their midst that threaten to tear them apart. Meanwhile, the wizarding world has become a dangerous place for all enemies of the Dark Lord. The long-feared war has begun and Voldemort’s Death Eaters seize control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting anyone who might oppose them. But the one prize they still seek is the one most valuable to Voldemort: Harry Potter, who has quit school and set out on his own mission to find the magical horcruxes that are the key to destroying Voldemort.
THE GOOD
This is by far the darkest and most serious Harry Potter film, and it owns it in spades. There is more action and tension in this movie that is a far cry from the whimsical wonder and pseudo danger that Potter faces in the first three films. There is still moments of humour, and light-heartedness, but this is a very dark film filled with some very serious content.
Dividing up this book into two films at first looked unneccessary considering how much of the story deals with them moving around and camping. Speculation suggested they should gloss over the “camping trip” as they did with the Quidditch match in Goblet of Fire, and then they could do this in one film. I for one am very glad they did not.
There was a LOT of character development in those camping scenes, and while the least action and excitement of the movie, they lead into that part of the story well and its impact is VERY effective. The long dry waits, the uncertainty and lack of direction they face and just how much this isolation leads to tension and conflict between the three main characters. Its all very well done and it would be a disservice to the film to have left all that out.
That being said, the 2 hours and 15 minute run time to get to the halfway point would have still made for a rushed story to take out that segment of the adventure.
Also, the emotional impact of everyone’s actions show just how serious and important their situation is. You are sucked into this war and they mean business this time. THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS A TINY SPOILER! I read the books and still saw it coming. But when Hedwig takes the shot for Harry and sacrifices himself this insignificant prop of a character’s actions are significant. You feel the pressure of the situation as the owl sacrifices herself for Harry.
And I freaking love Dobby in this. While he was an annoying thorn in your side in the previous films, his presence here is just as comical as it is brave and nobel.
Also, the point at which they split the movie is perfect. There is a mini climax midway that deals with a significant conflict and it sets the moment to breath and move forward with the bigger story without a cliffhanger ending.
THE BAD
There were a few moments where I was surprised they went with a shaky cam. Just really odd that they would have done these at such situations where there is no benefit. There was no action or movement involved, just an angle change or two that were not at all smooth. This was distracting.
And then when there was an intense chase scene as the trio are discovered at the end of their camping trip, they are fleeing from “snatchers” and its all so jumbly and scattered that you do not get the feeling of pursuit at all. Just confusion. Poorly done.
OVERALL
Mostly faithful to the books, and the slight variances are not so distracting that it takes away from the film. Irrelevant even. The film is effectively matured and this first part makes you just want to see how they are going to finish the series. I can’t wait for Summer 2011.
I give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 a 9 out of 10
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Very good movie. I give it a 9/10 too! The movie had plenty of action, just not mindless action. The action was there for a reason not for its own sake. I like all of the HP movies and I thought OoTP was my favorite, until I saw this one. This is my favorite!
As for the folks that INSIST upon going to these movies without reading the books (even though they’ve been out for over a decade now)- stop bitching about what you don’t understand. Either read the damn books or follow the basic storyline in the movie, enjoy it for what it is and be done with it!
oh ya and dobby is in it for like 5 min meh.
Good review, and I agree with the score. I found the shaky cam to be detracting and out of character for the series, but it was only a minor distraction.
As much as I really liked it, I did get annoyed that they went through the effort of making two films to fit everything in and still managed to pad the camping scenes with filler while taking out some of my favourite scenes (some of which were kind of crucial).
k, im hearing good things so im relieved, even though i hated Half Blood Prince, ill check it out this week since i get a 96 (4 day weekend)
on another note- emma watson really needs to let her fucking hair grow. she looks like Eve from V for Vendetta
Lmao. Well she’s still the most talented one of the three. And I didn’t say it to be nasty, but she seriously needs to grow it out, she’s very pretty and short hair just aint for her
I have to agree with Hazmat. I’m very partial to long hair on a woman. I can understand when a woman gets a short hair-do because of hot weather, getting older, or just wanting a change, but her new hair-do is a little *too* short. As he says, she is very pretty, but the new hair-do is so “boyish” that it’s just not feminine. She’s been in the Harry Potter movies since she was a little kid, so she probably wanted a new look that was totally opposite of her old one, now that she has the freedom to try something new. Even if it’s never as long as it was before, surely she’ll grow it out to where it’s cute again (or sexy, or both).
In my opinion, the best of the series so far.
I hated Half Blood Prince, but Deathly Hallows was realllllyyy good. Very dark, tense, best of the series.
This is encouraging to me, b/c i hated Half-Blood Prince as well…will be seeing this one soon.
your opinion i guess, i give it a 10/10.
Ok here is what I thought of the movie and I have not read the book. I also had my friend explain things after I saw it. First off they do not really explain the wand lore so basically you have no idea about the fact that harry now has control of voldermorts wand or w/e. They barely cover how the pendant makes you kinda crazy.
The movie in basically them traveling and camping. Lots of talking and gray clouds in the background. Seems like the powers that be just laid down to the bad guys? I had no clue really what that shard of glass he had on him did really.
All in all the movie does not really explain shit to someone who has not read the book. No real action and a lot of camping. KInda like a really shitty game of cs:s. And sorry since they really didn’t explain much I really thought that Hermione and Harry worry gonna kiss when they were dancing.
Voldemort very clearly explains why he needs a new wand as his and harry’s cancel each other (same core) and they don’t have to explain why the locket makes them aggressive. It’s evil and it was clear that’s what it did.
No action? I don’t know what film you were watching but there was lots of action.
so your telling me there was not an hour where really nothing happened and they just camped? Please this movie was boring as hell. What action do you speak of? When hermione was running and did a couple of spells that hit the ground? Seriously I watched this movie and the action was missing. All the action is basically them running and throwing a few cheeseball spells. More running >>>camping>>>running>>>camping ron is mad cause he is wearing a locket. Ron leaves …Harry and hermione dances more traveling>>>back to camping…bad guys show up they do nothing. More camping then Ron shows back up. Elfs use a few spells then dobbie dies and the end. It was weak.
Totally agree with BigSampson. I could follow all the other movies without having read the books but not as much with this one. With all the quick editing cuts & shaky cam, loud music & sound effects drowning out important lines of dialogue, some scenes feeling rushed, many other scenes painfully dragged out, and so much information conveyed in quick or subtle ways, the movie felt very “jumbly”.
The production quality was definitely excellent, and the performances were decent enough. But, the pacing was painful, and the clarity of storytelling was lacking without knowledge of the books.
I’m hoping I’ll be able to score it higher if I see it again, but I also dread the possibility of sitting through it again. For now, I have to rank it at the top of the worst three, with only the first two films being worse (for what it’s worth, I actually like movies 3 thru 6).
Letter Grade: C / Star Rating: 2 out of 5
If you and Bigsampson find the story line difficult with out reading the books then read the books!
As towards Bigsampson and “no action” what about leaving privet drive for the burrow, what about the snake at godrics hollow, what about the snatchers and what about the malfoy manor those are all MAJOR ACTION SCENES
also wait for the deathly hallows part 2 it is going to be epic! There will be plenty of action there
Weather there was action or not this movie was ment to be a bridge to part two considering the next one has a battle in it that is said to last at least 30 minutes long. No action? Get over it and watch the next one.
Good review, Rodney. I agree with you in almost every way.
However, how do you think the plot stacked up for people who haven’t read the books? I found things like the shard of mirror Harry carries around and the Deatheaters being summoned by the use of Voldemort’s name kind of confusing for the people with whom I saw the movie – all of them having not read the books.
I agree with Daryl in the sense that the movies do not explain certain things well, like the mirror. I myself have read the books but it took even me a minute to figure out what the mirror was at first.
And Rodney, I disagree that the shaky camera movement was a bad move for the snatcher seen. I thought it was a good move to create confusion, not pursuit, because that is how it is in the books. Much of their pursuits throughout they don’t know what’s happening and it’s supposed to be confusing if the director is delivering this movie from their perspective. Other than that, I thought you wrote a really good review.