HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 (2010)
U.S.
Directed by David Yates

 CAST:
Daniel Radcliffe - Harry Potter
Emma Watson - Hermione Granger
Rupert Grint - Ron Weasley

PLOT:
     As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.

REVIEW:
     If  you're a fan of movies, great movies at that, you'll love this movie. If you're going into this hoping for full out war in this movie though you're going to be disappointed. This movie is about the characters first and what they can do with spells second. To me, this is the best of the Potter movies hands down. The acting is amazing in it, from the quiet moments to when there's pure chaos, every actor is hitting on all cylinders. Radcliffe has always had a good handle on his character, but this time it's more his quiet pensive moments that are a pleasure to watch, and there are plenty here. Radcliffe has matured as an actor and that is shown in his acting. This is shown more toward the end of the movie when he has to deal with a death that happens when he's trying to escape the Malfoy mansion. Best way to put it is that elves are actually good in this movie and not annoying like they were when they first showed up. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint  have also both matured as actors, and both of them have moments when they shine and are brilliant on screen. Watson's moment hits very early on in the movie, when she has to give up her family and make sure they have no remembrance of her whatsoever and you actually feel the sadness she's going through when she does it. It's one of those quiet moments in movies that hit so well and carries weight. This moment hits her hard later on in the movie and she is amazing to watch when it does. Grint's moment isn't a quiet moment but instead is when he expresses his  frustration and anger not with yells and screams, but with reserved viciousness instead of the characters usual whining. Alan Rickman as Serverus Snape and Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy aren't in the movie a lot, but when they are, they absolutely shine in their scenes and each for the same reason because they understand the situation they're in and are scared of what is happening and how they're trapped in it and cannot break free or help someone even when they want to.

      As for the look and feel of the movie, it should be said it has both. Every scene seems to be downcast and gray which adds to the scenes and fits the movie perfectly. This movie is dark in both tone and look and doesn't try to hide it. Even the happy and fun moments in the movie, which are few, are somewhat downcast but make you smile and laugh. One scene that shows this well is when one of the Weasley twins comes in with a toothbrush sticking out of his missing ear. Priceless scene in a movie full of them. A lot of the darkness in the movie comes from whats going on around the characters. I'll go ahead and tell you that people start to die or are getting hurt quickly in the movie and this keeps on going throughout. One scene I was actually surprised  that was shown is actually the aftermath from a escape. I'm not going to say what it was, but you'll know it when it hits. Every scene though is shot with care. That's not to say Yates' last two Potter films weren't, it just seems like this one looks like every scene took a month to set up. Even when there is action and the camera gets jumpy during those times, it helps pull you in more than disrupt the flow of the movie. At one point in the movie, the film goes to animation, and is it a joy to behold. I was completely mesmerized by it. It's not a happy type of animation like a Disney film, but disturbing and dark. The whole sequence is done in sepia tone with heavy blacks throughout. It is amazing to watch and helps bring the viewer more into the story than ever before.

     The sounds and effects in the movie are well done as well. No one sound drowns out the other. Even in the opening fight the sound was used to help the action and not overpower it. The music is also fantastic in it as it helps pull the scenes together. I especially liked the dance scene in the middle of the movie between Radcliffe and Watson. The scene helps break the tension, but doesn't break the feel of the movie. Instead it helps the movie by showing the friendship of the characters and what they've gone through and will go through. The special effects were fun as well. From the opening aerial fight ( I was giddy during this) to the chase through the forest with the Snatchers, nothing looked out of place, except for one part. That part is during the opening battle when Harry and Hagrid are being chased through a tunnel and Harry gets thrown from his sidecar seat. The colors behind Harry are just a touch to much off. This is just a minor gripe that I noticed and doesn't take anything away from the movie though.

     If there was one movie I was truly looking forward to this year, it was this one more than any other. It didn't disappoint. In fact it went above what I was expecting and truly made the leap into a full mature movie and pulled the whole series with it. Even with all the quiet moments where nothing happens, it still holds the attention, and tension, throughout and never lets go. If there is going to be one complaint toward this movie, it will probably be that the movie just ends. I didn't mind how it ended because it just made me want to see Part 2 sooner and the wait will probably kill me. It should be mentioned that this movie really isn't for kids anymore. Just like how the books became more mature and adult, so does the movies, and this one is no exception. And thank the studio for not trying to dumb it down for idiots like they do with most PG -13 rated movies.

BEST DEATH:
     I'm not going to say who it is, but it will be felt.

BEST LINE:
     Look away. I'm hideous.

FUN FACTS:
      Originally to be released in 3-D, this decision was scrapped just weeks before release, due to the difficulty of converting the film into the format.

     Over 500 wands were created for the film. They were checked out and checked in before, during, and after the filming day was completed. Many came back broken.

      Having Bellatrix carve "MUDBLOOD" into Hermione's arm was not in the script. The idea came from both Emma Watson and Helena Bonham Carter.

     Alfonso Cuaron and Guillermo del Toro both expressed interest in directing Deathly Hallows.

     This is the first Harry Potter movie to not show Hogwarts as a major set piece.