Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Thoughts
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
It freaks me out that only a short nine years ago this movie franchise debuted, and now we are only eight months away from the last film being released. I decided a few years ago after experiencing the atmosphere of an opening night crowd when watching The Dark Knight that I would make it to a midnight or opening night screening of any future big movie, and for me it doesn't get bigger than Harry Potter. I went to a Harry Potter Marathon AMC had on Thursday that started at 6pm with Order of the Phoenix, followed with Half-Blood Prince at 9pm and then the midnight premiere of Deathly Hallows Part 1. Then on Saturday Morning I went ahead and saw Deathly Hallows again this time in IMAX.
There's a lot I want to say but I'll try to keep it as short and concise as possible. On the trailer front, 127 Hours looks AMAZINGLY PRODUCED but i'll never see it, Yogi Bear actually looks funny, Cowboys & Aliens looks PHENOMENAL, and the Green Lantern trailer I need to see more of it and also didn't have it in front of the IMAX HP so big blow to the movie if it's not on IMAX.
I'll start with the small negatives I had with the movie. I was disappointed that neither Viktor Krum or Charlie Weasley were in the movie especially during the Weasley wedding. I know Charlie hasn't been casted in prior movies but he was mentioned in Goblet of Fire when Hagrid showed off the dragons from the first task to Harry and with the wedding it seemed like the perfect opportunity to include him. And with Krum, since he was actually in Goblet of Fire I thought that it would have been natural to include him for a small scene. Since it was the last film I hoped they would make an effort to bring everyone who had been in the previous movies back for a cameo. I think Krum confronting Xenophilius Lovegood about wearing Grindelwald's mark would have brought intrigue to the Deathly Hallows symbol and a connection to Grindelwald. Also having maybe Hermione take Krum away from the confrontation would have been an opportunity to make Ron jealous.
Another minor negative I had was that the Taboo around the name Voldemort was not mentioned to explain how the snatchers were able to locate Harry, Ron and Hermione. During the first viewing I thought they they had just decided to ignore that aspect, but when I watched DH the second time I noticed that Hermione actually said "Voldemort" while they were in the diner explaining the snatchers subsequent appearance and I don't remember if it was like that in the book but I loved how Xenophilius Lovegood said "Voldemort" to bring the Death Eaters to his home. I wish after they escaped the diner (when Hermione realized it was Harry's birthday and talked about her and Ginny preparing a cake for him - adorable!) that Ron or Hermione had commented that there must have been a Taboo created.
And the other minor negative I had was that in the Godric's Hollow scene, there was no memorial statue of the Potters showing the importance the Wizarding World has for the event that led to the downfall of the dark lord through their sacrifice. One of the many things that have been sacrificed in the translation of the Harry Potter story from books to movies is the celebrity aspect of Harry Potter. It's not a heavy focus in the books but it is there if you look hard enough, and you honestly only see it in the movies when everyone turns on him when he is selected as a fourth champion in the Goblet of Fire, the very beginning of Harry's Hogwarts experience during Sorcerer's Stone and the slight comments about 'The Chosen One' in Half-Blood Prince. I think the memorial statue was a perfect opportunity just how treasured the Potters became because of that magical stand and why Harry was so revered.
Something that was originally a negative after my first viewing but not after my second was the fact that the beginning of the movie seemed to consist of a lot of small scenes that would fade to black and seem off-putting. I think a lot of that had to do with not expecting what I would be seeing during that first time and noticing the fade to black more than a normal viewing experience. It felt much smoother a second time probably because I could relax and pay attention to other aspects of the film.
And those were my only qualms with the movie. Now the rest of my thoughts.
I was really surprised to see the Charity Burbage death scene make it onto the screen. Even more surprised with how intensely grim and evil they chose to portray it. Definitely one of the reasons the movie got a PG-13 rating, honestly that was almost more than that should be for that rating. It was definitely a "Wow..." scene.
I absolutely loved the Seven Potters scene. I had thought the scene in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End with the many Jack Sparrows was an amazing scene, but this scene with Dan Radcliffe playing different characters pretending to be Harry blew it out of the water. As much as he shined in Half-Blood Prince, Dan went to another level in this scene and the writing was perfect to match. As Fleur saying "Don't look at me, Bill, I'm hideous,", to acting like the twins "We're identical!", and even showing off Hermione's nervousness almost as well as Emma.
I also greatly enjoyed the entire Ministry of Magic infiltration scene. The actors they chose acted incredibly and it really felt like it was Harry, Ron and Hermione in disguise. But I have to admit the one that stole that scene was the actor (David O'Hara) playing Harry as Albert Runcorn. The whole awkward lurching gait was fantastically humorous to watch, as was his silent nonchalance upon walking out of Umbridge's office. Although I thought the actor playing Ron as Reg Cattermole was written brilliantly - Ron worrying about the wife he didn't have and then his explanation to Mary to leave before he changes while she kisses him. Hilarious.
Both of those scenes were great examples of how well the movie was able to mix in humor amongst the serious/tense scenes. This is clearly the darkest/most grim movie of the series yet I might also declare that this was the most I've laughed during a Harry Potter movie. It's an interesting combination that makes Deathly Hallows Part 1 so brilliant.
There was also a lot of tough emotional scenes that easily got to me: Hedwig flying in front of the Avada Kedavra curse to protect Harry, Dobby's death with Harry's pleading, Hermione obliviating her parents and the displaying of her disappearing from their lives and of course Hermione's torture at the hands of Bellatrix - just thinking about her screams is giving me chills right now as I type this. If the quality of writing, acting and film making continue with Part 2 (and I have no reason to doubt that) I expect to be a mess when it comes time for the forest scene and Harry's time with the resurrection stone.
I think it started in Half-Blood Prince but this movie was just more proof that all three of these kids that have grown up before our eyes have the potential to be great actors. Dan was fantastic, this was Emma's most memorable performance as Hermione since either the first or second film when the character was still not that complicated and Rupert's portrayal of Ron as he grew discontent with their situation and lashed out at Harry and Hermione was a breakout performance/stole the show much like the Harry under the influence of Felix Felicis scene in HBP.
The inclusion of Dobby & Kreacher in Deathly Hallows Part 1 while necessary made me wish that WB had been able to have the foresight to include a small minute or so cameo or even just a mention of Dobby in GoF or HBP and the same with Kreacher in HBP just so that there wouldn't be that awkwardness when watching their scenes in this movie and not feeling like "Hey Dobby, haven't seen you in 8 years (5 in movie time)!" Maybe if they had included Hermione's pursuance of house-elf rights in Goblet of Fire and having Ron mention that Dobby has been avoiding her ever since she tried to slip the house-elves clothes.
I also thought the Harry/Hermione dance was great, and I can understand why shipping fans might quibble with it, but as much as I've become re-ignited with Harry/Hermione I couldn't help but feel by the end of the dance it felt like closure to anything they might have. Hermione walking away afterward really had that feeling of "Oh, that was sweet and in another world maybe, but it's not what I want now."
I know some fans have complained that Harry and Ginny have no chemistry in the movies but I think those expecting expansive focus on relationships is missing the point of the movies. The books had very little and they were from Harry's perspective, the movies have always been more about the trio's relationship more than just Harry. Unfortunately that means cutting out moments where Ginny and Harry connected, like when she stood up to him when he was angry in Grimmauld Place and the Chocolate egg scene in the Hogwarts library. I can't deny my eyebrow didn't rise when the zipping up Ginny scene happened but on the second go-around I could see the time given to their intimacy and then the makeout being seen by George was just hilarious.
The one thing I didn't understand about the Godric's Hollow scene was when Harry was battling Nagini they broke through the wall and landed in some type of brightly colored nursery. Was there a point to showing us this room? This wasn't the Potters place right? It's been awhile since I read the book (at least two years) and I thought they went back to Bathilda's home. It was just weird and felt out of place with the whole dark and damp house.
I've had qualms since Chamber of Secrets with the size/design of the Sword of Gryffindor. I thought it looked dinky and fake in that movie, and when it reappears again in this film, I can't tell if it's the same sword or not or if they changed it and it just looks small because it's in the hands of adults instead of kids. I hoped for a more majestic looking sword and I'm hoping in another rewatch or in the second part I can tell if the sword was improved upon or not.
Since I knew that this Potter movie brain trust was not afraid of adding movie-only scenes I was expecting them to add some scenes of Hogwarts under the rule of Snape and the Death Eaters, perhaps even using the Marauders Map and Harry looking at it - possibly when he was looking for Ginny's name to use as a way to transition to Hogwarts for a small scene here and there. So I was surprised when they didn't go that route and instead only included a small scene of Death Eaters stopping the Hogwarts Express and searching for Harry. Next time I watch the movie, I really need to see who else was in that section of the train, as I only noticed Ginny, Neville and Cormac and there were quite a few other characters that were credited in the movie that I didn't see.
I do miss Hogwarts though, and I felt that more in the movie than with the books. Since the books always spent time with the Dursleys and Grimmauld Place and the Burrow there was variety but with the movies it was more often than not just at Hogwarts. It makes me yearn for the days of Sorcerer's Stone & Chamber of Secrets when they filmed more on location for Hogwarts than on sets and the trio would be walking on those grassy grounds.
Surprisingly the movie didn't feel empty without Hogwarts scenes and as a movie that is only telling half of the story I was worried that the film would feel stretched as a result and it didn't at all. In fact the movie felt like a really fast watch, and I thought they picked a perfect cliffhanger point with Voldemort thinking he had just become invincible as the most powerful wizard alive with the Elder Wand. The brilliant decisions and execution of Part 1 has me so excited for Part 2. Eight months seems like forever and too soon at the same time. Totally giving this movie an A grade and writing out my thoughts makes me think this movie will quickly become my favorite HP film within a few more viewings.
ETA: I started this post 10 days ago, and busy life kept me from finishing until today. LONG POST AFTER ALL. :)