Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Sure, books are always better, but I liked the dark setup and looking forward to the second part...

what if Ron just stayed on his little adventure with the deluminator? the other two would have been better off without him, especially Hermione.

We’ve finally arrived at the first part of the epic conclusion to the Harry Potter saga. And this Part 1 of “Deathly Hallows” is possibly my favorite movie in the entire franchise – though, as a fan of both the books and the movies, it’s really hard to choose.

If in “Order of the Phoenix” and “Half-Blood Prince,” we already saw a tense, dangerous, and dark atmosphere, “Deathly Hallows: Part 1” fully plunges the saga into an even more intense tone that we hadn’t seen before. Just take a look at the first few minutes of the film: a “rusty” Warner Bros. logo, a Minister of Magic warning the wizarding world about the dangers they face, and Hermione Granger reading in the newspaper about Muggle families being murdered and abducted. And that’s not all. The scene that follows the logo makes it clear that this chapter is definitely not for kids, as we see Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters plotting Harry Potter’s ultimate demise – not to mention the cold and cruel murder of a defenseless woman.

Steve Kloves delivers his best work in the franchise when it comes to the characters. The screenplay effectively captures the suspicion and fear of the protagonists, putting them under immense pressure and pushing them to their limits. The anxiety created by the silent moments and the characters’ irritated and borderline-crazy behavior is super effective in showing how this world and situation can break even the sanest person. The dialogue, which dominates the film (understandably, given the plot), is effective and meaningful in both the simpler and more complex scenes – for example, I’m especially fond of the moment Harry and Hermione talk by the river in Dean’s Forest, right after a near-deadly attack.

David Yates does an outstanding job in “Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” both by portraying the exhaustion of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and by skillfully diving deeper into the political themes. Hermione’s reaction to seeing the monument at the Ministry of Magic that places Muggles “in their rightful place” is a powerful moment. Moreover, it’s impressive how, in that same sequence, the director illustrates a “government” that tries to offer security while subtly and directly threatening its people – and the oppression becomes especially clear when Ron listens to the radio, particularly during an IMPECCABLE scene where we hear the names of missing witches and wizards while watching the heroes’ tiring journey.

Eduardo Serra’s cinematography highlights the dark atmosphere with a blackened and gray tone that is still captivating. Stuart Craig also does a beautiful and notable job with production design to bring this darker mood to life through unique settings (especially the Ministry of Magic, Sirius Black’s house, and Malfoy Manor, since much of the narrative takes place in open and outdoor areas).

The special effects also deserve recognition (especially Yates’ vision of the magical world, which dares to create elements that don’t exist in the books, and that I personally really like). At first, the Dobby in “Deathly Hallows: Part 1” seemed stranger to me compared to “Chamber of Secrets,” where he looked more realistic. But now I’ve come to accept it.

As for the performances, I always praise Daniel Radcliffe’s work as Harry Potter. He perfectly conveys and handles the dramatic weight of the title character’s journey – the scenes where he appears more frustrated always feel very convincing. Rupert Grint, for the first time, has the opportunity to explore a different side of Ron Weasley, mixing his usual comedic moments with a character on the verge of cracking under the pressure. Emma Watson also shines by delving deeper into Hermione’s inner conflicts – with her relationship with her parents as a key thread.

Wrapping up with an incredibly sad and dramatic scene, plus an effective and thrilling cliffhanger, “Deathly Hallows: Part 1” is a character study and an incredible start to the conclusion of an outstanding and intelligent franchise.

I think this is a good movie but does not work so much as an adaptation. There are many things in Potter universe that should have been explained in this film.

Part One of the Deathly Hallows is an amazing film. I loved it immediately when I first saw it on the big screen in 2010. It‘s just so epic and dark. I also really love the score by the brilliant composer Alexandre Desplat. Overall just an amazing film that is a first part to an even more epic film but can easily stand on its own.

It fascinates me that how I find so many new details in this movie even though I’ve already watched it lots of times.

_“dobby has no master. dobby is a free elf.”_

slow at times, but still one of my favorites of the series. such a good lead-in to the next.

the animation in the deathly hallows story is just amazing.

the tale of the three brothers’ animation? that’s cinema at its finest !