Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
I really enjoyed watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. It is by far the best of the Potter movies released to date. Even having read the book and knew how the story would go I found myself on the edge of my seat caught up in the moment. This is a theater and an owner.
I would be cautious letting younger children to watch this movie. Rowlings intended this tale for younger adults so it deals with themes of death, loss, and sacrifice for a greater cause. It is much darker than the other ones with death of well-known characters and heavier themes that may not be appropriate based on the development of the child.
Likes
Cinematography: They did a great job setting the atmosphere and enhancing it through mixing different camera techniques and viewpoints based on the situation. There was only one moment that I did not like but it was a small instance of shaky camera in the Blacks residence but it was so small a moment that many of the other viewers with me never noticed.
Acting was outstanding: I really felt the pathos with the characters. Emotion was really carried through the different scenes. Bravo!
With all the darker moments that are in this story they still struck a nice balance bringing in moments of levity that fit in the story and did not take me out of the moment.
I love how they showed the Tale of the Deathly Hollows. The use of an animated style really helped to capture the moment. It also brought me back to the moment when I read the tale in the book because that was how it played out in my head.
It is a movie not a book turned into a movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows was the first of the Potter films that I felt was completely self-contained. There were no awkward missing parts in the story requiring book knowledge to understand what wasn't there. The earlier Harry Potter films had a lot of exposition in them. This is a common issue when a book it turned into a movie. The problem this brings about are issues in pacing and moments when the immaculate reality gets broken leaving the audience feeling that the movie had slow moments in it. I was so impressed how in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1 they avoided those moments of exposition showing the audience rather than telling them. There were only two moments when they get into exposition. First, Ron's explanation is tied into the situation making it part of the character interaction rather than stopping the film to explain to the audience. Secondly, the tale of The Deathly Hollows was artfully done so that they could show the tale rather than telling it to the audience.
Dislikes / Concerns
It is not an action movie: This is a concern not that it made the movie less but that people will dislike the movie because they are expecting an action movie and then not get one. This was the first comment form the viewer sitting behind me. It's sad because The deathly Hallows has a lot of tension throughout it and would have lost a lot if it followed an action format.
Plot / Story:
Based on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7), part 1 begins as 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. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort...alive.
Harry's only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale—the legend of the Deathly Hallows. Part one ends just after the events at the Malfoy Manner. Watch the trailer below.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hXH0Ackz6w&feature=player_embedded