Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) is the beginning of the long goodbye to the most popular and successful movie series of our generation. ...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) is the beginning of the long goodbye to the most popular and successful movie series of our generation. This chapter is dark, bleak and totally uncharacteristic of the 6 films that preceded it. It is also utterly fantastic. Watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 online for free and see this first of the two part ending to this amazing series.
In intense close-up, the Ministry of Magic (first time Potter actor Bill Nighy) bellows that “our world has faced no greater threat” during a thrilling hellfire and brimstone opening. Whom he is referring to of course, is the embodiment of all things evil … Lord Voldemort (awesome Ralph Fiennes).
At the end of the last film (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) Voldemort and his soldiers, the Death Eaters, killed Harry’s mentor Professor Dumbledore. Since then, Voldemort’s armies have seized the government and are on the verge of a complete takeover. Unleashing repressive measures against 'Muggles’ (non-magic people) and 'half-bloods’ (a mixture of magic and Muggle), one can’t help but be reminded of Nazi Germany as Voldemort begins to persecute all non-wizards.
But Lord Voldemort’s most pressing objective is to find and kill Harry. Wanted posters with Harry’s picture are tacked up everywhere. Once found Harry will be killed, eliminating the last obstacle in Voldemort’s plan to rule everything.
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) are forced to flee Hogwarts since it is no longer a safe-haven with Dumbledore dead. With Voldemort and his armies in constant pursuit, the trio must elude capture (and certain death) while searching for the items that could defeat Voldemort.
These items are the Horcruxes. Scattered throughout the land, each hold a small portion of Voldemort’s soul. As these are what make Voldemort immortal, they must all be found and destroyed before he can be killed.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is by far the most violent and unnerving of all the Potter films. There are many scenes of maiming, torture, death and destruction. Harry, Hermione and Ron are constantly battling for their lives and pushed to the limit as the Death Eaters find them no matter where they go. This movie is definitely not for younger viewers as they will almost certainly have nightmares afterwards. There may even be a few adults who see Death Eaters in their sleep.
The acting in Deathly Hallows Part 1 is superb. The Potter films have always boasted a “Who’s Who” of top English actors. Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy and others have been essential in supporting roles. But this is the movie where Radcliffe, Watson and Grint really come into their own.
As Harry, Daniel Radcliffe has never been better. He is totally believable as the adolescent wizard trying to save his friends from unimaginable evil. His facial expressions and movements are spot on when conveying both terror and bravery. The scene that has all the critics talking though has nothing to do with evil or danger. It is a quiet, tender sequence where Harry and Hermione dance together in a tent. The background music from an old radio is O Children from Nick Cave. This scene very sweet and will have many viewers tearing-up. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson are just great.
Emma Watson shines in another scene. Fearful for the safety of her family now that Lord Voldemort will stop at nothing to get them, Hermione makes a moving sacrifice. She whispers the word “obliviate”, and slowly their memory of her fades and then ultimately disappears. The audience sees this as her images fades from all the pictures. Hermione is now all alone except for her two friends.
Rupert Grint is excellent as Ron, particularly when he slowly begins to suspect that his two best friends have feelings for each other. Grint displays just the right amount of anger and envy to make his emotions believable.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 might be a bit long at 2 and a half hours, especially since the middle third of the film seems to drag some. But overall this movie is thrilling and suspenseful, and is certainly a great setup for what is sure to be an epic conclusion when the second installment is released in July 2011.
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