Reviewed by Stacey Boden
And so the three heroes many of us have grown up with over the last thirteen years, from the publication of the first novel, to the release of the last two films, find themselves facing their penultimate challenge.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 sets the stage for the conclusion of a story many have come to love. We are immersed in a wizarding world, with fantastic battles, unlikely friendships and love. When J.K. Rowling first wrote her seven part series it was intended to grow with its readers, beginning with Harry as a young boy feeling out of place and finding somewhere that he fit in completely. The films carried on that tradition, and now we find ourselves watching Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) as adults.
Hogwarts is a thing of the past, especially considering the death of beloved headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) in the previous adaptation, and our three protagonists are living adult lives and making undoubtedly adult decisions as they watch their loved and trusted companions fall away.
Much like Lord of the Rings, the trio finds themselves ultimately alone in their quest to obtain the final horcruxes needed to defeat the villain Voldemorte and complete the last task given to Harry by Dumbledore. In a compelling retelling of a favourite story, director David Yates does his best to take out the unnecessary, introduce new drama and darkness, all the while leaving in the major plot points that twist our hearts and bring tears to our eyes.
For those who have never read the books, and even for those who have, the intensity of the cinematography will capture your attention for the full 146 minutes, even if the growth of the actors, the captivating plot points and heart wrenching connections between the characters do not. Even those who know what to expect from the next film left the theatre asking, “What happens next?”
This entry was written by , posted on November 18, 2010 at 11:25 pm, filed under movies, reviews and tagged Harry Potter. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink and follow any comments with the RSS feed for this post.
