Potty about the Hallows

I've finally caught up with the frenzied crowds and seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1. I'm a self confessed Harry Potter enthusiast (possibly verging on the slightly obsessive) so the films always invoke huge excitement mixed with trepidation.

The decision to split the final book into two installments was I think a wise one. The book covers far too much action, emotion and character development to squeeze into what would have been a marathon film. What that means, however, is that Pt 1 shoulders the burden of laying down the story which will reach a crescendo in the final film. In Pt 1, nearly a three hour film, the explanation of the Deathly Hallows intertwines with the hunt for horcruxes, whilst the changing relationships of the main characters is well covered, arguably at the expense of some of the other tributary plotlines.


I'd argue that the production team had the difficult task of what to include in this key part of the Potter story, more so than any of the other films, but I think they made their choices well. The film chooses not to fully explore Harry's resentment towards the task that Dumbledore has left him, similarly abandoning Dumbledore's family history and dark past. I don't think the film suffered hugely by this plotline being discarded, as I think its existence in the book itself divided my opinion: at times I wasn't hugely comfortable with Dumbledore's history surfacing.
Interestingly, almost all aspects that were included were the most loyal to the original text that I've seen from any of the films. Great attention was paid to detail; I easily recognised parts of the script word for word from the book itself, which does provide a sense of comfort and familiarity. In particular I'd cite the retrieval of Gryffindor's sword in the forest. Also, the raw emotion displayed when characters are killed certainly brings a tear to the eye.The end of the film was a slight anti-climax for a fan like me, but I attribute that to the book not having a natural separation in the story which the film therefore had to construct. If anything, the image of Voldemort at Dumbledore's tomb creates a sense of desperation to see the rest of the story immediately.


The film demonstrates just how much more mature yet darker the books become as Harry discovers his true fate. Pt 1 is swathed in moody and draining colours, a huge contrast to the grandeur and richness we come to expect from Hogwarts scenes. There is a constant sense of impending danger, and the brief torture scenes in Malfoy Manor are the most shocking from the entire franchise. The special effects are stunning, with an airborne fight scene happening within the first few minutes. Even Dobby and Kreacher are revamped to look more realistic than they did in previous films. For the first time there is also the inclusion of an animation to explain the tale of the Deathly Hallows, which adds a completely new facet to the story. The animation is both understated and simplistic, yet stunningly descriptive. Perhaps the biggest congratulation should go to the three main actors, who in Pt 1 in particular do an incredible job of displaying the emotional trauma and angst that this quest has given them. The dynamics between them are believable and their bond is amazingly realistic, which is essential as they occupy the most amount of screen time. As a result, many popular characters such as the Weasleys, Lupin and Draco are on the screen for mere moments.

It is safe to say that only a true Harry Potter fan would be able to appreciate the film. I re-read the final book recently, so I was up to date on the story and intricacies. Anybody who hasn't read the books or even seen the latest films would potentially struggle with this plot heavy, but necessary, installment. In theory, the story-telling of this film should pave the way for some truly spectacular action scenes in the final film, which Potter is famous for. Overall, a brave effort which easily pays off considering the complexity of the text.