(Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint seem to be looking into their futures, unsure as to what it will be. My prediction? They'll be just fine.)
In what should be expected as all build-up and no payoff, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a blessed gift for fans longing for insane and intrepid detail. Which means it’s bittersweet knowing that this book was split up into two movies. While I enjoyed Part I and its beautiful cinematography (and some very solid direction once again from David Yates), I couldn’t help but feel that sometimes less is more. Still, given the fact that Part II will be a full-scale action picture, it was nice to take some time with these emotional characters before we see them hit the battlefield. When all is said and done, it is another successful entry in what has felt like an everlasting franchise.
After Part II is released in July, it will be the first time in ten years that a Harry Potter film won’t be gracing the multiplexes. While I’ve never been a die-hard fan of the series, I must give the franchise the credit it deserves. The art direction and cinematography are some of the finest of any recent blockbusters. And even though I have a hard time remembering which film is which (a lot of these films are very similar in terms of story arc), most of these films are absurd visual treats, to the point where audiences seem to be taking them for granted.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are now in the ultimate center stage of what will become the highest grossing film in the franchise (this or Part II). Reprising their roles as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley is comforting, considering how many franchises out there that go through so many casting changes (adding and dropping new and old characters) it’s as though it doesn’t feel connected to the prior films (Iron Man 2 and Spiderman 3 are recent examples). Here, we are deeply invested into the characters, so we know their emotions are real.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron venture away from Hogwarts to finish what Dumbledore has started: defeat the Dark Lord. Voldemort is getting more powerful by the minute and it’s only a matter of time before things start to spiral out of control. The film feels as though everything is in a matter of time, causing the loss of some necessary urgency. But as the dynamic Trio gets taken to the edge, their raw actions start to surface. To find the rest of the Horcruxes, the three must avoid letting their fears come between them, considering all they have to take it out on is each other.
When it comes to a franchise as big as this, one must applaud the cast and crew for their dedication to detail and excitement. I cannot tell if this is the weakest chapter in the Harry Potter series, but I do know that it’s earned enough merit to award a strong recommendation to fans and a mild one for all other interested viewers. Because once the credits start to roll, there is this feeling that something huge is about to happen.
We’ll find out July 15, 2011.
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