Film Review -- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1
Director: David Yates; Writer: Steve Kloves
Warner Bros. Pictures

Every Harry Potter movie has seemed a bit of a doomed proposition from the get-go; the films have to deal with issues of managing fan expectations and lessening disappointment to a far greater extent than most adaptations, simply because the fans of the series are so passionate and numerous. The novels seem to be so much a part of the modern collective consciousness (or, at least, that of the audience that sees the films) in a way that even the Lord of the Rings or the Chronicles of Narnia can't compare to. Ironically, the franchise's intense popularity has prevented the movies from excelling - the filmmakers can't possibly hope to deliver the same depth and experience that the books provide, which leads to inevitably unfavorable comparisons.

Of course, I might be completely talking out of my ass, and maybe the real reason that the Harry Potter movies have been largely disappointing to me is that they just weren't all that good. Oftentimes it feels like the films emphasize style over substance, that they're more concerned with advancing plot than character, and that they fumble some of the most compelling aspects of the books. I feel obligated to defend the third and fourth films as being pretty good, and the fifth and six were alright, but I certainly wouldn't call any of them great. And while I still wouldn't call Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 "great," it is my favorite Harry Potter movie yet.


David Yates, who also helmed the fifth and sixth movies, has returned to direct both installments of the seventh film, and his style is in evidence throughout part one. Deathly Hallows retains the darker tone of the previous two movies, and Yates continues to produce some truly spectacular shots - both indoor and outdoor scenes in the film are quite often breathtaking and gorgeous. Screenwriter Steve Kloves is also back from the sixth movie, bringing with him another script that is serviceable and inoffensive, if not particularly good. Kloves' script is greatly helped by the all-star lineup of British actors that show up to deliver the lines - nearly every person that appears in a supporting role has a resume deserving of respect.

Part one of Deathly Hallows, however, focuses more than ever on the core group of three, with typically mixed results. Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson have certainly developed well into the main roles, but the movie (again) frequently makes their characters hard to like, infusing their scenes with heaps of melodrama and angst. The opening is particularly off-putting, with each of the three gazing morosely into space for an uncomfortably long time. When the actors and their characters are given something important to do, however, they become immensely more appealing - there are some fantastic bits at the Ministry of Magic and in the village of Godric's Hollow.

Despite having main characters that are occasionally portrayed in an aggravating manner, and despite having one of the most blatant deus ex machina moments I've ever seen in a movie, I found Deathly Hallows to be the most compelling and tense that the films have ever been - a real sense of urgency drives the movie forward in a way that just wasn't present in previous films. The movie does not lack for being split into two parts; on the contrary, Yates is able to keep a pervasive feeling of menace while developing the story more fully than other Potter directors have had the chance to. This allows for some truly wonderful sequences that I imagine would have had to been cut or severely edited without the split. The post-opening scene with Voldemort and his Death Eaters is especially great, featuring some spectacular performances and setting a grim tone for the ensuing action, and the animated rendition of the tale of the Deathly Hallows makes for a refreshing and beautiful change of pace.

Little touches like those make all the difference - my biggest problem with the films has been that they simply have no chance of capturing all the details and nuances that make the books so fun. Sure, the movies are gorgeous and feature cutting-edge special effects (and Deathly Hallows can boast these qualities as well), but some intangible element of the books just wasn't making the transition to the big screen. Yates hasn't quite found the solution, but the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 is a definite step in the right direction.

Grade: B+

Quick Shout-Out - One thing that I didn't think really belonged in the review, but which I wanted to mention, was how much I respected the decision of Warner Bros. Pictures to not do a quick and shoddy 3D conversion of the movie. They undoubtedly would have made more money by doing so, and there were quite a few moments in the movie that seemed designed for 3D effects, but I am very glad that they opted not to screw everyone over this time.