at the movies: harry potter and the deathly hallows part one
November 19, 2010 in movies
It’s very rare that we get a studio blockbuster hitting the Australian cinemas before it hits the US but the new Harry Potter film is one of those special times due to the global release date of 18 November.
I got into the books way back in 1999 thanks to a wonderfully precocious seven year old who was working her way through the first in the series. As a result, I’ve always been one of those annoying critics of the films who say things like, “well, the visual effects are pleasing enough but the plot was lacking some crucial elements and frankly, I don’t know how anyone who hasn’t read the book could follow the film.”
As the years roll on, I don’t know if my expectations have dropped or the films have improved but I find myself enjoying them more and more. I was looking forward to seeing if Deathly Hallows continued the trend and had pre-booked tickets to last night’s session several weeks ago.
The film, like the book, is the darkest yet. Voldemort (oh yes, I said it) reins supreme and everyone who dares oppose him is in danger. Harry, Ron and Hermione continue the search for the Horcruxes rather than returning to Hogwarts. Let me be very clear – this is not a kid’s movie. However purists will be glad that the film follows the plot of the book more closely than previous films due to the multi-part release (Part Two will come out on 14 July 2011).
Despite the overall darkness of the film, there are some great one-liners that help break the tension. People in my cinema were laughing so hard at some points that I missed the next lines of dialogue. It’s also great to see how the three lead actors (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson) have grown into emotive and fairly believable professionals.
I strongly recommend you see this film, even if it’s just so you know what everyone else is talking about. Take a group of childhood friends and be glad you made it to adulthood without having to face the Dark Lord.
Rating: ****
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