Genre: Adventure/Fantasy
Release Date: 17 November 2010
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Running Time: 147 minutes
Directors: David Yates
Producers: David Heyman, David Barron, J K Rowling
Writers: Steve Kloves (screenplay) based on novel by J K Rowling
Casts: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes
Plot: The final chapter of the "Harry Potter" saga comes to the screen in this feature adaptation of the popular novel by children's fantasy author J.K. Rowling, with series veterans Steve Kloves and David Yates writing and directing, respectively. The "Deathly Hallows" will be split up into two films, with Part 2 set for release in 2011.
THE VERDICT
Harry Potter franchise is no doubt the largest movie franchise over the last decade, claiming more than US$ 5.4 billion in a series that has spawned 6 installments. Here comes the 7th which is also the part one of the epic finale, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the last of the book to go. All the previous Harry Potter movies were merely good, despite lingered with much bitter-taste of boredom. The visionary is however are always clear and to a susprise it was a great story to venture. For me, the third and fourth movies were the best in the series, while the second and the fifth were the 'worst'. To be more precise, Harry Potter movies are never a comfort outside the big-base fans and the seventh movie will serve no differences at all.
On the first part of the finale, Harry Potter and his ever charming friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are on their final quest to search for the remaining Hocruxes belonged to the Dark Lord Voldermort. Meanwhile, the three learnt about the Deathly Hallows, supposedly the three most crucial items that Voldermort is looking for in order to complete his full ressurection and rise into power. In the dangerous world they are leaving in, the three have no choice but to desert their family and living in the wilderness, plotting each and next moves to counter the rise of the evil nemesis.
This is the first movie under the series that has not sets in the Hogwarts. The three friends dropped out of the school following Dumbledore's death. The opening one hour of the movie is in fact very intriguing, handsomely done by the accomplished and visionary director David Yates. Just like the director of the third movie Alfonso Cuaron, they are not only a great story-teller. They incorporates visionary scope into the movie, the characters and the tone. The opening hour presents viewers into stumbling an intensifying story of the escapes from the ambushing Death Eaters in the romping car chases to the infiltration attempt into the Ministry of Magic, filled the movie with echos of dark nature, excitement, intutiation and humor at the same time.
The seventh installment will not be a cliche one. It doesn't discusses the verge differences of dark and light, neither does it deals about excitement in growing up. The nature of the story becoming even darker, more serious and more unsettling phenomenon of approaching adulthood. David Yates managed to capture that moments very well, timely with coordinated story that does not abandoning the holy text he adapts. The movie is also a chance for movie-goers to evaluate what in the past been and you will definitely been bombarded with tonnes of jargons and refreshing the memory by watching the previous installment or bringing an encyclopaedia of Harry Potter movies are highly recommended.
But things turn a little downhill in the final hour of the movie. The plot becomes a bit sloppy just like what they did on HP6 and HP2. The camping in the wilderness aren't supposed to be the central of the movie but judging that the need to fill it up, the moral question of whether it is necessary to split the movie into two parts come into play now. The plot on the second act has been dragged and the deja vu sense of boredom comes back into my mind and I don't like that feelings. However, I have to give credit to Yates again for leaving the sense of beautiful crafts on the story still. Even in the boredom, the movie manages to capture the essential emotions of growing up and allowing the characters to cope up with the lonesome, sexual maturation, deaths and determination. Nevertheless, would appreciate they ended the movie right there.
The cinematography is at times very sketchy. The chase in the wood is another example of annoying handheld camera shakes that no one would love to watch, but other than that the settings and tones of the movie is pretty decent.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is just another movie that will pleases the hardcore fans from the bottom-up. There is however some distinguishly upbeat feelings about this movie. It is getting darker and the story is beautifully and sensually correctly made by David Yates. However, the second part of the movie destroys some of the early excitement it builds but never tarnishing the movie in the whole.
THE RATING
Story - 3.5 stars
Casts - 4.0 stars
Cinematography - 4.0 stars
Effects - 4.0 stars
OVERALL - 3.5 stars
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 15.2
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS is hallowing on the cinemas nationwide beginning 17 November 2010.
