This Harry Potter is not for kids. In the opening sequence of THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1, a woman floats ominously above a large oval table headed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The almost lifeless woman is a former teacher at the Hogwarts School and now hangs magically in the air, her broken body contorted by what appears to be punishing torture. And worse still, she has drawn the attention and ire of the evil Lord Voldemort.
What happens next is not for little ones. Although the Harry Potter series of movies may have started with what many of us thought was kid’s stuff, this latest epic turn (part 1 of 2) is deathly serious.
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 is more exciting and self-important than it should be. A laborious and talk-heavy affair, fans of the series will get exactly what they deserve—a patient adaptation that has no intention of leaving stones unturned. The story begins with Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley once again banding together with others in an effort to thwart the evil plan of Lord Valdemort (Ralph Fiennes). That plan, which is not the least bit surprising, is to kill Harry Potter. But as we all know, this is not as easy as it seems. Voldemort explains that he must be the one to carry out the grisly task. You see, Voldemort’s and Harry’s wands share a common core and while each can severely injure the other, neither can, at least with their own wand, kill the other.
Voldemort dispatches a number of death eaters to capture Potter. And these yucky creatures don’t care who they kill in the process. DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 is a chase film in which the three stars scour the earth for answers with Voldemort and his henchmen hot on their heels.
I must admit that I had trouble staying awake during the last Harry Potter adventure. Needless to say, I’m really not a hard core fan, but I certainly admire the series. Like the actors that play the central roles, Harry Potter has literally grown up before our eyes. And in recent months, my children and I have rewatched many of the films in an effort to prepare ourselves for the final two installments. Perhaps, sadly, I don’t think that I’ll be taking my 6-year-old to PART 1. It is intense and from the start, down-right scary. The body count is high and there is a hint of subtle sexual content that is harmless, however, this is a Harry Potter film, young viewers will no doubt take the movie in.
But for older viewers the sophisticated narrative of DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 will be enchanting, especially if like millions of others you’ve read the source material. And while there is a fair amount of action in the movie, there is plenty of lengthy exposition. That means that non-Potter fans may either be lost or will tire as the characters spend time agonizing over their past decisions. And if you’re expecting a happy ending remember this is PART 1, the conclusion of which doesn’t hit theaters until next year.
Action packed but deliberate and intelligent, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 is a mature way to start the beginning of the end.
