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"Prepare For The Final Chapter"
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The first part of the two-part finale to the Harry Potter franchise released in 2010.
< read all 24 reviews
Rating:
+3
The final chapter is here. When they first movie came out the high school seniors now were in first grade. We have grown alongside Harry Potter and now his final task is upon us in what will no doubt be the biggest hit of the holiday season. This series both has left its mark on our culture both with the written word and cinematically. While I have never enjoyed the books, I appreciate that it got kids to read, and in a day of growing technology there is not enough one can say about J.K. Rowling’s feat. The movies have also had their ups and downs but here I am pretty confident when I say this movie is one of the up moments.The decision to break up the final book into two movies was a decision made by Rowling so as to not leave any part of her manuscript out. But you can guarantee that the studio had no problem receiving even more money from a franchise that has already garnered over five billion dollars.
This movie is not for those who have never seen the others. There are so many name drops and so much terminology from the others that I was relieved that I had rewatched the previous one before entering the theater, but there were moments that I still felt overwhelmed. And this one jumps right into it, showing our three leads looking ahead to the daunting task ahead of them and the sacrifices they will need to make. We never step foot into the comforting halls of Hogwarts in this one, the dark theme is set from the opening title sequence and the skies never really clear from there.
The cinematography and musical score play a huge part in setting the tension for the movie. Once the previous cinematographer declined to return, worried he would repeat his work, Eduardo Serra took the helm. The dark and ominous lighting never leaves the screen and even when the sun is out there is always something dimming down the light. Meanwhile, while John Williams expressed an interest in scoring this movie as he did the first three they decided to go with Alexanre Desplat. While I will never speak ill of Williams, Desplat does a fine job making sure the audience is never quite comfortable. There is rarely a moment of relief in this movie as there has been in the others, and much of the audiences’ tension can be attributed to the fine work of these two men. On a side note I would love to go back and look at the other films to see the evolution of the lighting and music as Voldemort power grows through the series. With little doubt I can say this is the darkest movie yet.
The supporting cast is an All Star English team that could rival any ensemble that Team America could dream of making up including: Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Timothy, Spall, Tom Felton, and Peter Mullan just to name a few.
With the book being broken up into two parts and everything being left in we are left with sequences that would usually be cut or at least shortened due to time constraints. Instead left in are our three heroes journeying across the English countryside looking for horcruxes and avoiding death eaters. The scenes rely heavily on Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint and they do not disappoint. It’s been a pleasure to watch these three actors develop their craft and while Radcliffe and Watson have been performing well for quite some time now Grint has finally come into his own. The scenes which have them dealing with their emotions and love for each other, both platonic and otherwise, are gripping and a testament to the casting and development of these three youngsters. Often the other movies have been swallowed by CGI and while there is probably a different foe attacking these children every ten minutes or so, it's the scenes where they are left to their own devices that are truly magic.
For those familiar with the book one of the more impressive/startling sequences in the movie is the retelling of the story of the three brothers. The style and content of the story is a perfect example of the maturity displayed throughout the movie, especially when comparing it to the earlier movies. This series has been all about the rise to evil so there is little doubt that this movie isn’t intended for the younger Potter fans.
The movie ends with plenty of still to come, including a final face off between hero and villain. The world of Harry Potter has changed over the course of seven different stories, times are bleak and Harry and company are rarely far away from danger. It’s been over a decade of people watching and waiting to see how it would all come to an end, and while most of the audience will already know how it all plays out it’s never really been about the ending, it’s about the journey. B+
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devora
November 23, 2010
Great review, Z! I'll mark this movie a maybe :)
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Kort_Kramer
November 22, 2010
I'll certainly be going back and watching the previous installments before watching this..and the conclusion. Thank you for your review.
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Scotman
November 20, 2010
Well done review. Have you read the books? If so, did that help?
zstoner66
November 22, 2010
I hate the books. While the story seems to be good, she is an awful writer and I really can't get past that.
Scotman
November 22, 2010
OK, to each his own.
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woopak_the_thrill
November 18, 2010
I skimmed through your review because I am going to see this flick this weekend. I'll be back to comment further after I've done the deed. Thanks for sharing this advance review, I have featured it.
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More Harry Potter and the Deathly H... reviews
Having secured a seat at a local sneak peek premier (all it took was dressing up like Mad Eye Moody!), I had the grand opportunity to check out Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I last night. I must admit that I wasn't a fan of Potter until the first film came out. After that, I was hooked. I've gone on to watch all of the films and read all of the books. Deathly Hallows, as far as I can remember since … more
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Admittedly, I haven’t been the biggest fan of the “Harry Potter” movie franchise (though I still saw each and every film after “The Sorcerer’s Stone” on dvd); I thought they were decent movies but I just wasn’t its intended audience. Well, the last two sequels caught my attention since they became much darker and more exciting, so I decided to see the first half of the final chapter of J.K. Rowling’s magical fantasy series called “Harry … more
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So, Harry James Potter finally grows up and the series is coming to a halt? Hmm, not sure if I like that. Harry Potter was not only legendary but he's truly cute and adorable as a child. I know, I know, we all have to grow up... Yuck, that takes the fun out of life, don't you think? Before we get on with life, as we all do, let's take a look at these kids who have made the series of films such a joyful journey, even for the adults. Cute, aren't they? Reminded … more
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Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows is an entertaining movie. The tone is dark and the plot is a little hard to follow some times. I enjoyed the movie nonetheless. This movie sets up the last picture that will be released next year. The plot of the Deathly Hallows has Harry Potter and his friends looking for Horcruxes. Horcruxes are objects that can be used to destroy Lord Voldemort. He is the bad guy in the movie. He is played brillantly … more
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I’ll go ahead and clear the air here; I’m not the biggest Harry Potter fan in the world. Not to say I don’t like the films or the books though. I saw the first two films whenever they came out in theaters, and I remember seeing and really enjoying the fourth film. Until now I’ve not seen either the 5th or the 6th films, and I’m not a big reader, so none of the books ever really caught my eye. I can also say that I’m not the biggest fan of the latest installment … more
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I finally made it to the theater to see the newest addition to the Harry Potter series, and i will start off by saying that all the fears and doubts that i had after the terrible movie that was The Half Blood prince where completely dissolved by the time the end credits were rolling. More than any other in the series this movie reminds me of The Sorcerers Stone in the way that it follows the storyline in the book almost perfectly, right down to the majority of the script. There are even parts in … more
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review by Stephanie_Smith19.
December 24, 2010
Finally! After weeks of anticipation and quiet thoughtful patience, I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1. And may I say, I was not disappointed in the least. It was every bit what it marketed itself to be and everything I expected. I expected an epic penultimate film to lead to the last film, and that's certainly what I got. Some may not agree with me but I think this is the best Potter film to date and I can't wait to see how the second part will top it. … more
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review by CRSwanson.
December 03, 2010
So here we are at last. Part one of the last film of one of the best series of movies in a very long time. The Harry Potter series, books and movies both, have been generally very good, very well-received and very profitable. Part one of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is very good. In many ways its better than the first half of the book it’s based on. It tells the tale… well, you all know what it’s about. Harry and friends go hunting down the various parts … more
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So after an unsuccessful attempt at rallying a large group together to go see this film (stupid Thanksgiving holiday), I opted to go with a few frat brothers late last night. Of course I was dressed up all day as a Hogwarts Ravenclaw student (faux blue-striped tie and all) amping myself up the whole day. Plus I’ve been reviewing the Deathly Hallows by listening to the audio book (which is extremely well done) and was ready to test … more
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Is anyone going to come to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 who is not aware that it is two unfortunate things: part of a series and a tease? If you’ve been in a coma for almost a decade and think that Part 1 means the first part of the series then you will be lost and nothing in the movie or this review will change that. If you cannot read, then explaining, in print that “Part ONE” means that the movie will stop instead of end would be similarly wasted. … more
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About the reviewer
zstoner66
Member Since:
Nov 15, 2010
Last Login: Dec 11, 2012 10:01 PM UTC
Last Login: Dec 11, 2012 10:01 PM UTC
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About this movie
PG-13
For some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images
Cast:
Helena Bonham Carter,
Richard Griffiths,
Ralph Fiennes,
Jason Isaacs,
John Hurt,
Jim Broadbent,
Miranda Richardson,
Maggie Smith,
Michael Gambon,
Fiona Shaw,
Toby Jones,
George Harris,
Rhys Ifans,
Alan Rickman,
Robbie Coltrane,
Bill Nighy,
David Thewlis,
David Bradley,
Timothy Spall,
Peter Mullan,
Brendan Gleeson,
Daniel Radcliffe,
Emma Watson,
Rupert Grint,
Warwick Davis,
Julie Walters,
Tom Felton,
Harry Melling,
Bonnie Wright,
Evanna Lynch,
Natalia Tena,
Imelda Staunton,
Helen McCrory,
Mark Williams,
James Phelps,
Oliver Phelps,
Joshua Herdman,
Frances de la Tour
Director:
David Yates
Genre:
Adventure,
Drama,
Fantasy
Release Date:
November 19, 2010
MPAA Rating:
PG-13
Screen Writer:
Steve Kloves
Runtime:
146 minutes
Studio:
Warner Bros. Pictures,
Heyday Films
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