After six films and nearly a decade of appearing on movie screens across the world, the Harry Potter franchise has truly grown up. And if Part 1 of Deathly Hallows is any indication, we can expect as visually satisfying and powerful of a conclusion to the Potter universe's cinematic legacy as fans have hoped for since the final novel was published. Deathly Hallows is the film in which Writer Steve Kloves and and Director David Yates seem to have finally mastered the art of simplifying the Potterverse, striking the right balance between compression, allusion, and invention, while effortlessly shifting between them- though the thematic fabric of the series still takes a hit. This is the result of several film's worth of practice, plus the advantage of hours and hours of banked imagery that allows Yates to drop a single shot of a character, or a quick flash of a past scene and the note rings out, speaking volumes…read more [CHUD]
Warner Bros.' generally excellent adaptation of J.K. Rowling's hugely successful series of novels continues in fine form with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” the second-to-last entry. Or (if you prefer) the first half of the last entry, with Part 2 arriving next July … in (gulp!) 3D. Director David Yates returns for his third “Potter,” and screenwriter Steve Kloves for his sixth.
Equally important is the return of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint as Harry, Hermione and Ron, respectively, along with many of the cavalcade of great actors who have participated along the way. Bill Nighy — the most notable Brit character actor not to have been in an earlier Potter film — finally shows up, if only briefly. (He and Yates have worked together in the past.)…read more [Brand x]
Wow. That's the only word I can use to describe HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE. For me, the end credits of this film signified the moment where I truly became a Harry Potter fan, as up to now the franchise has mostly been something I only followed on and off.
I mentioned in my review of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE that I'm not overly familiar with the Harry Potter world. Although I'm a fairly avid reader, the J.K Rowling books probably came out a little too late in my teens to really capture my imagination. I only really gave the franchise a try with the first few films. While they were charming, I still wasn't all that taken with them. I actually skipped GOBLET OF FIRE, and ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, and only saw the last one because I had to review it for the site…read more [Joblo]
While the Potter series have been growing darker and moodier for some time, the latest film ups the gloom still further. Poor Hermione (Emma Watson) is tortured. Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) now has a menacing sidekick Yaxley (a brilliant Peter Mullan). Helena Bonham Carter as the evil Bellatrix Lestrange is the stuff of nightmares. And anyone with a fear of snakes will eyeing the Exit signs.
As Magic Minister Rufus Scrimgeuor (Bill Nighy) warns at the start, “These are dark times, there is no denying” and, despite its lineage and its 12A certificate, Potter 7 veers frighteningly close to horror territory…read more [Mirror.co.uk]
An eleven-year old Harry prevailed over a trying situation where the ethereal form of Lord Voldemort came out of the back of Ian Hart's head.
He stabbed a giant snake with a special sword and killed a diary with one of the snake's fangs.
David Thewlis turned into a werewolf. Gary Oldman turned into a dog. Hermione turned back time just so some stupid horse thing with wings didn't get its head chopped off by the man from Middlemarch.
Robert Pattinson got killed by Timothy Spall.
Harry tried to find a mysterious prophecy that could have made the series a bit shorter. But the prophecy was destroyed by his clumsy friend.
Gary Oldman got killed by Helena Bonham Carter…read more [Total Film]
The big strength of this movie is that it doesn't rush. It allows time for the three leading performers in a way that the previous films haven't.
Emma Watson, in particular, has matured into a very promising screen actress.
This picture does not have the rich comic invention that was a feature of the first three Potter books, and its darkness will not be to everyone's taste.
On the other hand, the characters have deepened and become so familiar that they invite smiles of understanding as they struggle – in their very heightened way – with the familiar teenage struggles of emotional relationships and taking on adult responsibility.
I can see why J. K. Rowling regards this as her favourite film of the series so far.
It may not be the most lucid or entertaining of her yarns, but her three leads have matured into genuinely interesting characters…read more [Daily Mail]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Video Review
At this point in Harry's anguished saga, the saga doesn't care much about the needs of the newcomer. Director David Yates's film, his third in the string of Potter adventures, will not be for everyone. It takes its time. It has a heavy heart, and a sluggish middle passage. By conventional “wow” standards it offers the least magic and conventional energy of the films so far. Much of screenwriter Steve Kloves' adaptation covers the lengthy road trip in search of the Horcruxes, with Death Eaters eternally threatening and the skies eternally portending eternal doom. Halving the series' final chapter, Kloves probably couldn't avoid fashioning a script that comes with the faint sound of a drumroll, setting up the finale. (The last film arrives in July 2011.)…read more [SunSentinel]
Opening with a zoom into the rapidly rusting Warner Bros logo, followed by a near-silent introduction to the trio of heroes who have seen us through nine years and seven films, plus a death in the opening 10 minutes, the grim tone of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One is set early on.
Following the tragic events of the previous movie, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) are now living in a world where Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is rapidly gaining power, no wizard safe from his determination to destroy the boy who lived.
Mourning the loss of friends and family while on the trail of the Horcruxes which contain the secret to Voldemort's existence, Harry and friends are both the hunters and the hunted as they traverse Britain, all the while attempting to stay one-step-ahead of the Dark Lord…read more [EdinburghNews]
Most gratifyingly, after being somewhat neglected in earlier chapters, Hermione comes into her own in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” with Watson providing the film with its wise and watchful center. In an early sequence, when Hermione casts a spell over her parents to erase herself from their memories, Watson transforms an otherwise marginal episode into one of the most emotionally affecting moments in the film.
Over and over again throughout “Deathly Hallows – Part 1,” she saves the day, most often by digging into a fabulously beaded bag of tricks, where she roots around to acquire the necessary accouterments to beam herself and her friends out of danger. Lean, solemn and supremely self-possessed, Watson's Hermione has become a literal spellbinder – who, like all women, understands the power of a really good purse…read more [Washington Post]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Info
Running time: 145 min
Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence and frightening images
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy,
Director: David Yates
Genre: Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Mystery
Official Movie Web Site
Overall I really enjoyed the movie, it has a runtime of about 145mins but I went into the theatre and it felt like the movie was about 20min long. I would encourage anyone who enjoys the Harry Potter series to not hesitate, and go watch this movie and not wait until it finally releases on DVD. Overall rating 9/10
These guys are a waste of skin. J.K. Rowling is responsible for a whole generation of preteens finding the joy of reading. The entire criticism of the 7th book is due to the deaths of many of the characters and the way the in which Ms. Rowling handled them. The whole point is to show the world which Voldemart would rule and what would happen to those who dare to oppose him. People get killed. The dislike of Ron and other characters seem to indicate these jerks feel they could have written a better story. Thank God for J.K. Rowling and her understanding of her readers. These guys should stick to reading and forget reviewing. They are not credible as critics. This is a tirade by a couple of no talents who take on someone with great talent. Too bad they were given a forum.
This is probably one of the best Harry Potter movies because it doesn’t rush like the other movies that have been made. Personally I think some of the previous movies kinda sucked because not much characterization was involved like the one we can find here especially about Ron and Hermione. I mean, come on, the focus has always been on Harry!
I don’t understand why critics/audience would hate Ron, because he’s just how we all are. We’re all normal and sometimes even losers who can’t do much like him, who try to be funny and get someone who’s a bit out of our league.