Review: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1

bill bodkin reviews the first of the finale…

Since 2001 Harry Potter has left us on the edge of our seat. Since his days as a fledgling student at Hogwarts, Harry along with his friends Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and the assorted witches, wizards and muggles they’ve met along the way have dazzled us with flights of fancy, caused us white knuckle tension at their harrowing battles and without fail they leave us with a bittersweet feeling of “we have to wait to the next film” when the credits start to roll.

With Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, that bittersweet feeling is more palpable than ever. After two and half hours of thrilling action and well acted plot exposition, the credits rolled when the theoretical clock struck the film’s darkest hours. It was a brilliant way to get Potter fanatics to chomp at the bit for the finale in July.

The plot revolves around Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his Death Eaters gaining power over the world of magic after the death of Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Our heroes are desperate, they must try and protect Harry from being murdered by the Death Eaters as well as trying to destroy Voldemort’s Horcrux’s which hold the key to his immortality. However, after a massive betrayal from within The Order of the Phoenix, HP and crew loose many an ally and after the new Minister of Magic (Bill Nighy) is murdered, old Potter nemesis Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Stanton) returns to help turn the Ministry into a Nazi-like entity, hellbent on killing muggles. To avoid being captured by the Ministry Harry, Ron and Hermione must hideout in various British forest, where their mettle is tested (thanks to the evil influence of a captured Horcrux).

Deathly Hallows Part 1 is one of the strongest Potter films to date. It’s a brilliant piece, laying out all the groundwork for the grand finale. The tone of the film may be one of the darkest as well. Themes of death, loss, jealously and betrayal abound. Yes, the forces of evil are not just taking over the world of muggle and magic, but also in the constantly battered minds and spirits of Harry, Hermione and Ron.

Deathly Hallows Part 1, like many a Potter film before it, recalls many plot elements, characters and storylines from previous Potter films. Those who are not ardent Potterphiles may have to do a little mental catch-up during the film — trying to remember the whole Horcrux plot, who Dobby was, why William Hurt is in the film, etc. So if you’re a casual HP fan, you may want to brush up on previous Potters on DVD before heading into Hallows Part 1.

With that being said, both diehard and casual HP fans will enjoy the latest installment of the series. It’s a tense drama perfectly punctuated with enough wizardry and action to keep you excited. The only negative you can take away from the film is that bittersweet feeling of having to wait eight months to see the finale.