Three years ago, the literary world experienced the finale of J.K. Rowling's seven-part wizarding chronicle in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Even though we all know how the saga concludes, that won't make the end of the film series any less bittersweet. Watching Part 2 (out next July) will be like reliving the moment we turned the last page in the seventh book. Luckily, the ending has been prolonged to make the epic conclusion play out in all of it's glory, and will temporarily delay the inevitable 'good-bye'. These characters have become very close friends to us; and although it will be a tearful parting next summer, we can at least take solace in the fact that Harry and the gang are being given the proper farewell that they deserve.
The wizarding world is no longer the whimsical and enchanting place it was in the earlier installments. It is now under the darkest threat it has ever faced, and the dark wizard Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is on the war path, and even Muggles are being caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) have decide not to return to Hogwarts and complete their seventh and final year. They are determined to pursue their own journey and find Voldemort's remaining horcruxes, pieces of his soul that he has placed in several items throughout the country. If they aren't found, he will remain immortal. More obstacles hinder their task as tensions within the trio fire up and followers of Voldemort continuously hunt them down. And they soon realize that they must also obtain three coveted items that are being sought out by Voldemort: the Deathly Hallows.
This series hasn't been just a blockbuster book/film event, it has been a generational one. We've watched these cherished characters grow up on page and on screen, and it was a privaledge for all fans. Upon seeing Harry leave 4 Privet Drive for the last time, I couldn't help but think about the first time I watched him emerge from the cupboard under the stairs, him being unaware of the epic showdown that lay before him. These actors have fully grown into their roles, and are on the verge of adulthood. They aren't the children that once entered the world of magic six films ago, but are now challenged with real world dangers.
The emotions expressed by the wizarding trio show how much they've been through, and how much they are going through. Radcliffe's acting has become more mature with each adventure. Where we once saw his wide-eyed wonder as a pre-teen, we now see experience, anguish, and acknowledgement of his destiny. Grint's character isn't just there for laughs anymore. This film involves him in some of the film's best scenes. Watson's Hermione has gone from being the bookworm student to the peacekeeper and mother-figure of the group. Watching her wipe her parents' memories of her before leaving them is near heartbreaking, and stands for all of the sacrifices our heroes are making to secure a future without evil.
Besides the three leads, the extensive British cast add many sparks to the film. Helena Bonham Carter is frightening to watch as the sadistic and delightfully mad witch, Bellatrix Lestrange. Imelda Staunton returns as the wretched Dolores Umbridge, one character that we all love to hate. Other standouts include Rhys Ifans as the odd Xenophilius Lovegood, Bill Nighy as the new Minister of Magic, and Brendan Gleeson returns as the snappish Mad-Eye Moody.
'The Deathly Hallows- Part 1' isn't just director David Yates's best job so far with the franchise, it's also the most faithful adaptation yet of the series. It's the first Harry Potter film to give the audience the full experience of seeing the book on screen. The beautiful cinematography by Eduardo Serra showcases the full landscapes that act as makeshift homes for the trio. The set design adds to the fish-out-of-water theme of the young wizards. Instead of striding across the grounds at Hogwarts school, they walk through a trailer park and pass by power plants in unfamiliar areas of the Muggle world. And there's a remarkable animated sequence detailing the story of the Deathly Hallows, directed by Ben Hibon. The cliffhanger prepares us for the epic battle of Hogwarts that is fast approaching, and will leave fans anxiously, and impatiently, awaiting these next eight months for the final installment. If Part 1 is the calm before the storm, then Part 2 will call out the thunder.
Final grade: A-
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