Film Review: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One”

Part one tantalizes with action and could-be hook-ups

Posted on Nov. 22, 2010, at 4:16 p.m.

It’s hard to think of anything as unique or culturally significant as the “Harry Potter” franchise. Read and adored by millions of fans who literally matured at the same rate as the books’ characters, the film series is a cash cow for Warner Brothers, and the films are basically critic-proof.

Fans of a franchise will see any adaptation put in front of them, regardless of quality — the high grosses of the abysmal “Twilight” saga prove that. But, thankfully, Warner Brothers has spared no expense, making the Harry Potter films well-crafted beauties, and “Deathly Hallows” is on the path to closing the series better than it started.

I say “on the path” because this is obviously only half a film. According to production notes, director David Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves had no idea how the films would be split during production. They only knew it would have to be done in order to stick with a reasonable 150-minute running time.

The film ends on an incredibly dark cliffhanger, simply daring you to not buy a ticket for “Part Two.” While it’s tricky to review half a film (I’m tempted to be cheeky and give it an I for Incomplete), what Yates and company have done here should certainly be lauded.

Although cut in half, “Hallows” further shows its courage by taking the signature location of the Potter story — Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — out of the equation entirely. We don’t see a single glimpse of the famous castle.

Instead, we follow Harry, Hermione and Ron at large as they run from the magical world. Lord Voldemort has overthrown the Ministry of Magic, and the story is no longer about the battle of Good vs. Evil — the battle has already been won, and the good guys lost. The trio has nothing to rely on but their wits and each other, as they hunt down the final Horcruxes that contain pieces of Voldemort’s soul in order to somehow topple his reign of pure-blood lunacy.

The problem is, Harry and company have no idea where the Horcruxes are and even if they find them, no clue as to how to destroy them. The result, in the book, is long sections without direction or momentum.

The three friends slowly grate on each other, and eventually the reader. All this existential moping could be deadly on screen and going into “Part One,” I was worried how Yates would commit it to screen.

Pacing has always been the film series’ Achilles heel. While the earlier films tried to be cinematic translations of the books, attempting to keep as true to the source as possible, the later films have gone with a more adaptive approach, condensing subplots or excising material that, while enlightening Rowling’s world, doesn’t hold much sway over the plot. Rowling is, for better or worse, a fairly self-indulgent writer, and there isn’t much room for that in cinema.

With large portions of “Hallows” spent camping in the English countryside without any sense of direction, the film becomes something of an ersatz mumble-core film, exploring these characters and building upon the strong foundations made in the previous films, strengthening their bonds before all hell breaks lose in the final installment.

The one who benefits most from this is Emma Watson as Hermione. While fans shipped for Hermione and Ron to get together ever since the Yule Ball incident in “Goblet of Fire,” the films have toyed with Hermione and Harry’s relationship as well.

Watson’s chemistry with Daniel Radcliffe has always been a bit stronger than her chemistry with Rupert Grint, and while the film eventually sticks with the book’s decision, the possibility of a Harry / Hermione hook-up is laid bare here.

How Watson plays it speaks volumes about where her character is, not just in that moment, but where she wants to be afterwards as well. Harry and Hermione would be a quick spitfire of a relationship, burning bright but fading quickly. Hermione and Ron, on the other hand, already act like a married couple: partners for life, as best friends and lovers.

Warner Brothers have pulled off something borderline-miraculous here: an eight-part film series with impeccable casting, top-notch effects and imaginative storytelling. The fact that all these films are all worth their salt is simply icing on the cake. It’s hard to think of any way this could be replicated, and to be honest, it probably won’t.

As a member of the generation that grew up with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Luna and even Draco, these films are something I can’t help but cherish. This is a truly unique event, and as a fan, I’m glad to have been a part of it.

Grade: A

This entry was posted on Monday, November 22nd, 2010, 4:16 pm. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.