Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Movie Review

With the imminent end looming large the clueless trio of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are running through the woods mostly trying to figure things out and maybe the second part would be better and extravagant but Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I isn’t all that great unless you are a Potter maniac. So if someone told you that the first installment of the Harry Potter finale is strictly for fans do believe them and even steer clear of the film if possible for you might not get most of it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part I Story

Harry Potter’s looking for all the Horcruxes and wants to destroy them before Lord Voldermort’s secret to immortality is out. For someone who hasn’t read a single Harry Potter book or seen a single Harry Potter film this isn’t the film to fall in love with the bespectacled boy wizard. After all it’s only fair for the filmmakers not to pander to someone who waltzes in the seventh installment of a franchise and expects to be blown away. In that context Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I surely lacks the punch that a second last film of a seven part series should possess. This isn’t Rambo or Rocky or even Police Academy that loses its sheen somewhere between part III and IV; on the contrary JK Rowling’s successful series has it all figured out.

Apparently even those Potter maniacs who might not dress up as wizards while watching the film agree that this version stands very true to the book. But if looked from a different point of view the entire tension of Harry and Hermione walking around in the woods trying to decipher how to stop the Dark Lord largely consists of scenes that look cyclic. Harry, Hermione and Ron don’t look really sad even when they get to learn of the deaths of people close to them. Rather they seem to mature up in a jiffy and move on to some more rambling in the dark.

Final Words on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part I

Does it really make sense to have a full film that acts like a half-hearted and almost soulless prelude to the climax? Maybe it does to be loyal to the spirit book. Could the two Deathly Hallows installments actually be one tight power-packed film? Perhaps yes. But the meditative tension of the book that has been translated on to the screen might just work very well with Potter freaks and set things up for penultimate finale. So what’s the pay off for the first time viewers or the greatest of non-believers of Potter? The fantastic animation sequence about the secret of the Deathly Hallows stands out and is brilliant to say the least. Also the sequence of Rupert Grint’s Ron finally confronting his worst fears of losing Hermione to his best friend and Dobby’s death are good.

With all the talking and the seeking Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I ends on a great note of promise and after spending a better half of their lives playing the leads Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson look set for the final episode.

For someone who remains largely unaffected by Potter mania, this reviewer finds it rather difficult to rate this film.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part I Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes and Robbie Coltrane

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part I Screenplay by: Steve Kloves based on the book by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part I Directed by: David Yates