Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (David Yates, 2010): USA

Reviewed by Kyle Calbreath. Viewed at Camino Real Theater, Goleta, CA.

Wand wielding teenagers are back and more bewitching than before in the latest and most epic installment of the Harry Potter line-up, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 .

The story picks up where the last one left off. Instead of returning to Hogwarts, the characters of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) are on the run to keep Harry alive and out of Voldemorts path. Along the way the trio is sent to different locations between the muggle and magic world, including inside the Ministry of Magic, in search of the infamous and dangerous Horcruxes. Spats between them are rallied, spells are cast and some important secondary and loved characters are killed off or injured in what turned out to be one spell of a story.

This film is mature in ways the other films have not been. Ditching the sometimes cartoonish aspects of the previous films this one relies on a deeper and ever darkening power of camera work, cinematography and acting. The young actors have grown up and so have their acting chops. No longer just an assemblage of wrist flicking tweens the young actors have dove into delivering impressive performances full of dramatic measure.

The three on their trek are dressed in survival clothing, heavy knits and boots, and take to sleeping in a tent, often times in the wilderness. The use of much low key lighting and grey cloud cover doesn’t cast so much of a noir feel as it does a soulless apocalyptic backdrop. The characters are fatigued, stressed and while together much of the time, exhibit a look of isolation. With this being the 7th film, their journey and experiences are finally starting to take a toll as tempers flair and five o’clock shadows appear.

If you chose to attend the midnight showing as I did then you know what the line looked like. Tickets were bought in advance and spots were staked out. The multi-plex my friends and I attended filled all 6 screens with HP7. Getting into a theater was almost as tense as the film itself. Patrons were not guided after the ticket was torn but were allowed to make a mad dash to venture out the best seats in the house. People rushed, pushing and squeezing to throw down jackets and scarfs. My group split up into four and made our way into the rooms trying to find a decent seat. As citizens hovered in the hall a whisper of an extra screening room opening up drifted down the hall. I sprinted in the direction and snagged four seats near the top while my sister’s boyfriend reserved five down below. I felt like I needed to holler expelliarmus to keep from entering fisticuffs with someone dressed in a cape.

This second to last piece of the multi-billion dollar franchise, pioneered by author J.K. Rowling, did not disappoint. The two and a half hour running time ended with a gasp and wide eyed open end and never let up on the affixed anticipation.

Set to be released in July this next year the final showdown will be a long wait. But once it does come around I’m sure that just as this film has done, a huge witching hour release and razor sharp wand draws will cast more than a spell on Harry Potter fanatics.

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Published:
11.19.10 / 4am
Category:
Films