After the heart-racing wonder of last year’s “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” it’s time to take a deep breath and slow down for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.” And — yawn — find some Horcruxes.
The sixth movie had the pacing and plotting of a final chapter, so this seventh movie feels like an emotional coda — for both the characters and the decade-long film franchise. (If you like overlong wand fights, I think it’s safe to say “Hallows 2” will deliver next summer.) We know that Harry, Ron and Hermione need to find and destroy all the Horcruxes (pieces of Voldemort’s soul), but that doesn’t really interest me. I think there are seven on their checklist, but the actual process of finding and destroying each one lacks tension. Honestly, did you ever doubt — even when you were reading the book — that the trio would succeed?
But that seemingly major quibble is actually a minor one, because I don’t think “Hallows 1” is supposed to have that kind of tension; I think it’s supposed to be our last chance to revel in this world, to get to know aspects of it better and to see Hermione, Harry and, yes, even Ron earn their Hogwarts degrees — only those degrees will be earned metaphorically in the field rather than for real in the classroom. We’ll get to see them become adults, and author J.K. Rowling — who, like many imaginative people, has a problem with the traditional structure of education — knows that process doesn’t happen behind a desk.
So although we’ve left behind the warm hearth in Gryffindor Tower, we still have the warmth that comes from three friends spending quality time together. Here’s the thing I noticed more so in the movie than in the book: I really like Harry, Ron and Hermione. Three more Horcruxes to go? Fine, I’ll gladly watch them go through the rote, predestined process of tracking down each one.
“Hallows 1” has nice moments of humor even as the trio travels through forests and chilly tundra. Most notably, Ron and Hermione’s maturing (but still cutely immature) relationship offers many giggle-worthy moments. Rowling has always excelled at writing wry little bits that make a reader smile, and after a decade of making these movies, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson know how to exchange glances in just the right way to make a moviegoer giggle with glee. Note the scene where Ron unnecessarily calls for a vote on where they should go next, bluntly jumping at the chance to agree with Hermione so she’ll like him again.
Harry doesn’t have as much to do in “Hallows 1,” but that’s fine; I didn’t exactly crave the familiar sequences of him cringing when his scar hurts, and with the spotlight on Ron and Hermione, Harry comes off as mature and contemplative. The short shrift given to his love life will disappoint some: His relationship with Ginny is underplayed, and I’m guessing they’ll barely have time to bond over a butterbeer in “Hallows 2.” Harry gets more love-esque scenes with Hermione than he does with Ginny; those are cute but tension-free, because it’s already clear that Hermione is Ron’s girl, and that Harry is fine with that.
The supporting characters are used sparingly but wisely. In a funny early sequence, everyone in the Order of the Phoenix takes Pollyjuice Potion to turn into Harry. Later, three adult actors take over for the trio when they take the potion to sneak around the Ministry of Magic, and those actors (none of whom I recognized) do a great job of mimicking the mannerisms of the young actors; I wonder if Rowling was smiling at the possibilities when she wrote the sequence.
I marvel at how well Rowling’s world holds together. The Pollyjuice Potion was introduced in an earlier book/movie, and now works smoothly into this plot; see also floo powder, apparation and a bevy of spells. The use of magic doesn’t make things easier for our heroes, just different. You can apparate out of a bad situation, sure, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get squinched.
“Hallows 1” also explores aspects of this world that had only been teased before — the Quibbler, the newspaper run by Luna Lovegood’s dad; Bathilda Bagshot, who goes from a textbook author to a key in the Horcrux hunt; and Harry’s birthplace of Godric’s Hollow, which is also the place of his parents’ murder. The sparse Christmas scene at the elder Potters’ graveside might be the film’s most beautiful.
I suspect that Rowling’s favorite characters match with my favorite characters, because even though this isn’t a large ensemble piece, we still get a welcome dose of elves Kreacher and Dobby, and the adorably loony Luna. We also meet three previously unseen players who might’ve been cut if this movie was one part instead of two: Scrimgeour, the new minister of magic; the thief Mundungus Fletcher; and Weasley brother Bill.
We spend a brief time in the crowded Muggle world of downtown London; I might’ve liked more fish-out-of-water stuff for magic-raised Ron to parallel Harry’s early days at Hogwarts. But soon the trio is in the woods and wastelands of England, and these almost post-apocalyptic settings are what will stick with viewers. “Hallows 1” only hints at the way Voldemort has turned the country into a Nazi Germany parable, with Death Eaters and Snatchers (stormtroopers) rounding up Muggles (Jews), but it’s an effectively depressing hint. It’s not like we see people being violently murdered, but — the pre-film preview for “Yogi Bear” notwithstanding — “Hallows 1” proves that “Harry Potter” isn’t for kids anymore.
The “Potter” franchise has never before produced such a faithful adaptation, and although I’m sure they don’t mind the extra bucks, I believe the filmmakers when they say doing Rowling’s book justice was the impetus behind the two-part split. As a moviegoing experience, “Hallows 1” doesn’t work as well as “Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Order of the Phoenix” or “Half-Blood Prince.”
But so what? “Hallows 1” is a love letter to the fans, and the filmmakers’ love for Harry, Ron, Hermione and this magical world shines like a lumos charm.
Comments
Sometimes, you comment on how my knowledge of sports or a team translates into a good story, or atleast into useful tidbits that you didn’t even notice as a fan. Well, that’s how I feel here. Great review and spot on. Definitely agree with everything; you just penned it far more eloquently than I could of. I did really enjoy it, even though butter was coming out of my pores and I was effin exhausted. Would have to go back and watch previous Potter films, but thought this edition was masterfully done and one my favorites.# Posted By Seth | 11/19/10 3:17 PM
Seth–
Thanks for the compliment. I wasn’t blown away by the film, but I liked enough of it where I think I’ll learn to love it someday when I’m having a Potter DVD marathon. If nothing else, it’s gorgeous to look at. I’d say it’s one of the best-made films, maybe even the best-made, but since it was also adapting one of the weakest books (and only the first half of it, for that matter), it ultimately falls in the middle of the pack among the movies for me. I’d rank 6, 3 and 5 slightly higher.# Posted By John Hansen | 11/19/10 10:44 PM