Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows (Part One)
Film Review
I approached this episode of the Harry Potter saga with some trepidation.
The characters have grown up exactly in time with Tilly and Jeff which should dispel the apparent jumps in age with each book - but it dosn't. The characters have grown up and we see a very adult Harry, a strapping broad shouldered Ron (Weasley and wimp used to go together but not any more) and a Hermione who has developed what can only be described as sex appeal. Its all a disturbing metamorphosis.
Hormones are kicking in on screen as well as off. Harry grasping a furtive kiss with Ginny Weasley and the Ron / Hermione passion in full swing. There was one slightly surreal scene where Harry and Hermione perform a dance scene together with no apparent purpose or contribution to the plot apart from offering a bit of light hearted relief, lifting a particularly dark and heavy sequence.
Each book takes in a different year and here we find the story stripped back to the intrepid trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione battling away against the Dark Lord. The setting has moved on from Hogwarts as Harry blunders round the country seeking to find the Deathly Hallows before Voldermort in the belief that by destroying them he will also defeat the Dark Lord. Lots of chases and battles which visually speaking offer one of the best Harry Potter films to date.
The snag lies in the title - part one. This last tale of JK Rowling is immense and couldn't be condensed into a single film, so it's split in two with the next part out in the summer of 2011. The film therefore ends with a rather predictable cliffhanger - the Dark Lord apparently reigning supreme, but with Harry et al gaining an inkling of what needs to be done to bring about his ultimate downfall. I havn't read the book but like a Bollywood film, you know he outcome before you start - good will triumph over evil and right will reign supeme. The question for me is will the hero capture the heart of the fair maiden?
All in all a good film but its like an itch which you cant scratch for six months. Attention grabbing but a bit frustrating.
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