HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1.

UK/US, 2010, 146 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bill Nighy, Richard Griffiths, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright, Fiona Shaw, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Helen Mc Crory, Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton, Timothy Spall, Peter Mullan, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, Mark Williams, Domhnall Gleeson, Clemence Poesy, David Thewlis, John Hurt, Frances de la Tour, Rhys Ifans, Simon Mc Burney, Toby Jones, Imelda Staunton, David O’ Hara, Nick Moran, Sophie Thompson, Rade Serbedzija.
Directed by David Yates.

Harry, Hermione and Ron have become part of our lives, well, of the lives of those millions who have read the books, learned the language, absorbed the world and its characters and who have appreciated the films bringing the Harry Potter experience to the screen. It is far too late for a moviegoer to decide to start with Harry Potter with this episode, so to that extent the film is review-proof. It is there for those who want to see it and like it (to say the least).

Actually, there are some critics who look down their noses at the films without having read the books and have dismissed this one as boring and cynically dividing the final novel in two just to make money. Be that as it may, said critics are not against making money badmouthing the film! But, fans have said that the previous films have left out parts of the novels they held dear. With Deathly Hallows making a combined four to five hours, that should do justice for all.

Part of the complaint of those who did not find this film so interesting is that it focuses most of its attention on Harry, Hermione and Ron. But, this is the nature of the journey here. Part 2 promises the great climax in the struggle with Voldemort. This is the pre-climax where Harry has to be hurried into seclusion and safety and then must go on his quest to find the means to combat Voldemort. This means that this part is interim, with Voldemort brandishing, at the end, the special wand from Dumbledore’s grave. Harry and Ron have found the sword but that ragingly made character, Bellatrix, has outwitted Harry. So, how will the combatants be ready?

This film is stylishly photographed with a production design that takes us away from Hogwarts and, apart from an episode in London’s Shaftsbury Avenue, and some adventures in the ministry of magic, the action tends to take place out in the countryside, in some bleak and wintry forest and lake locations.

Not that there isn’t action. Early in the film, we have the volunteers becoming Harry look-alikes so that he can escape Voldemort’s minions who have discovered the plan to shield him. We have a meeting of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes looking particularly reptilian) and his council. We also have a wedding that is rudely interrupted and a confrontation with Bellatrix with the aid of the elves.

But it does mean that this is a kind of Potter ‘road film’, with Harry and Hermione coming to rely more on each other, with Ron getting the sulks but returning at just the right time. Along the way are so many of the adult characters we have enjoyed seeing over the years, sometimes just glimpses, the Weasleys and the Dursleys as well as all the Malfoys, a sinister Severus Snape (but no Professor Mc Gonagle), Hagrid and Wormtail, Dolores Umbridge, Mad Eye Moody. Some new characters appear, Bill Nighy as the minister, Peter Mullan as Yaxley of the ministry and a very effective Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood. It is he who provides the meaning of the title as he tells a story about three knights and death – which is shown is quite vivid animation rather than live action.

Of course, we would like to see more of them – and we hope that when Part 2 arrives, we will be more than satisfied, and that Harry Potter will have achieved his destiny (and that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, having completed this marathon so well, will have new lives).

1. The last story in Harry Potter’s saga, part one? An interim film? The impact for readers, film fans?

2. Fidelity to the spirit of the book? The focus on Harry, Hermione and Ron, their carrying this story, the drama? The supporting cast glimpsed?

3. The scope: the threat to Harry, his birthday, his being the Chosen One, the conflict with Voldemort, the group aiding him, Voldemort and his council searching for Harry? The flight? The hidden life? Dumbledore’s bequest, Voldemort and his plan, the quest of the three young people, the suspense, the point of ending this film?

4. The film as darker, the locations, the initial homes, the city of London, Shaftesbury Avenue, the coffee shop? The ministry and its various floors? The contrast with the fairytale-like homes in the countryside, the forests and the lake? The dungeons? The musical score?

5. The title, Lovegood’s story, the story of knights, the confrontation with death, using their wits, the animation used to illustrate Lovegood’s story?

6. The situation, the appearance of Voldemort, his plan, his inability to kill Harry or Harry to kill him? The need for reliance on others, other instruments and the search? The council meeting, the pressure on the Malfoys? The infiltration of the ministry? The pursuit of Harry, the pursuit of the wand? His cohorts, Voldemort’s commands, their appearing and looking like clouds of smoke and fire? The death eaters?

7. Harry, his age, seeing him at home, the family departing? Hermione and Ron at home? The Weasleys moving? The meeting of the order, Mad- Eye and his plan, Ron and Hermione willing to participate, the Weasleys, the transformations? Mad- Eye and his associate? The ride, the various vehicle, Hagrid and Harry? The jokes about the variety of Harrys as the others took on his appearance? The highway, the sky, the death of the owl, the attacks? The Weasleys, George being wounded, his ear? His mother concerned? Mad- Eye’s death?

8. The situation in the country, the preparation for the wedding, the celebration, the variety of guests, the music and dancing, Lovegood and his daughter, the interruptions, Harry having to flee?

9. The Ministry of Magic, Harry Potter as the hope? The initial speech by the minister, the sinister times? Yaxsley and his infiltrating the ministry? The role of Dolores Umbridge? The newspapers, the stories, the moving photos? The three visiting the ministry, wanting to get information, taking on the appearance of other characters, the ambiguity, being able to get past, into the information area? The chase? Yaxley and his pursuit? The puzzle as they assumed their own appearances?

10. The minister and his reading the bequest from Dumbledore, Ron and his getting the light, and his being able to use it? Hermione and the book, the story, the emblem? The bulb and Harry’s using it? Ron and the power, Hermione and the story, Harry and the light and discovering the sword?

11. On the road, listening to the list of wizards who had disappeared? The character of each of the three, depthing, revealing, Ron and his infatuation with Hermione, the sinister medallion, its destruction, affecting people’s moods? Ron, getting depressed, going away, his attitude towards Hermione? Harry and Hermione together, the loneliness, the Nick Cave song and the dancing?

12. The visit to the cemetery, the emblem, Harry and his visiting the grave of his parents? The old woman in the village, the sinister visitors and the pursuit of Harry and Hermione? The visit to Lovegood, his grief, his daughter being captured, telling the story, the betrayal?

13. The discovery of the sword, the ice, Harry going into the water, the ice closing over him, Ron and his return, saving Harry? Hermione’s reaction?

14. Bellatrix, deranged? With the Malfoys? The capture of the three? The role of the elves? Harry’s face and its being disfigured? Wormtail and his role?

15. The elves, initially in the shop, the giving of the information, under pressure? The kind elf? In the basement, helping the trio to escape?

16. Wormtail, sinister, the warder?

17. The escape from the basement, the build-up to the confrontation? The battle with Bellatrix?

18. Harry ready for the confrontation? Voldemort discovering where the superior wand was? Going to Dumbledore’s grave? His defiant raising of the wand to confront Harry?