Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt.1

8.2/ 10 dropps
Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Mystery & Suspense, Science
Fiction & Fantasy

Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hr. 30 min.
In Theaters: Nov 19, 2010 Wide
Directed By: David Yates
Written By: J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1) follows Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasly through the beginning of their most harrowing journey to date. The film picks up after the death of Dumbledore, right before Harry’s 17th birthday. As the Death Eaters become more powerful and take control of Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic, Harry, Hermione, and Ron are forced to set out on their own in search of the remaining Horcruxes – the items bound to Lord Voldemort’s soul, and the only things keeping him alive.

With the final installment of the Harry Potter franchise, Warner Brothers decided to split the last book into two halves, a smart decision considering the book’s length and the vast amount of material covered in J.K. Rowling’s epic finale. Steve Kloves was signed once again to adapt the book and does a fairly good job. Like most book-to-film adaptations (basically all book adaptations), scenes were cut and altered for the film. While Kloves does a good job, as he has done in all the films, fans of the book will most likely be slightly let down by some of the cuts, however, solid pacing and planning make Deathly Hallows one of the better adaptations to date.

Returning for his third film in the Harry Potter franchise is David Yates, director of Order Of The Phoenix and The Half-Blood Prince. Yates continues his fine work behind the lens, and true to his vision in the previous films he has directed, Yates continues his dark and edgy approach to the franchise. One of the biggest changes from previous films is the aesthetic beauty of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. While Hogwarts is not present, and much of the spectacle a magic that drove previous films had been toned down, The Deathly Hallows captures the viewer with its dazzling landscapes and beautiful
scenery.

Those who have never read the books may find themselves lost at moments during The Deathly Hallows. As you might expect with a series stretching the lengths of seven novels and eight films, there is a lot to include. Almost every Harry Potter character, both new and old, appears in The Deathly Hallows, and it can be a little confusing understanding their roles in the film. Yates does a fair job for the most part clearing up any fuzzy moments throughout the film. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron
Weasly) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) all return to reprise their roles and have matured in their portrayals just as their characters have matured in the books. Each actor gives a performance that leaves nothing to be desired.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1), was a strong opening to the film franchises finale. While, as expected, the film ends on a cliffhanger, it also leaves the viewer with something to look forward to come July, when the second part is slated to be released. Fans of both the films and books will find something to fall in love with in The Deathly Hallows. Yates does a great job pacing his films and making sure you care about the story he is telling you, while the cast continues to envelope their characters and
seem less and less like actors, and more like the characters they’re portraying.

-Hunter Freiburg