HP7-1 Review
CAUTION!!!!
This is a review of
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.
It contains very detailed spoilers.
Do not read below the cut unless you want to be seriously spoiled!!!!
You have been warned.
First off, nothing is more fun than having an IMAX theater to yourself (and about 50 co-workers). We arrived around 7 PM, having been told they would try to have the movie spliced and ready to run between 7 and 7:30. We armed ourselves with snacks from the employee break room, snagged the seats at the top (the best ones) and settled down to await the start. Apparently it took longer than they expected and we started getting rather rowdy, as most of the group were under 30s. We were discussing trailers and what we expected to see or not see when we found out that one of the girls in the row behind us had not read any of the books yet. Her theory was she would see the films then read the books, so it would 'just get better and better'. We found out when the guy next to her said something about one of the twins dying. She literally screamed.
From then on, intelligent conversation deteriorated into general sillyness, including searching the internet for naked pictures of Dan Radcliffe. Finally around 8:30 the theater went dark, and the familiar WB logo melted onto the screen.
The opening montage was great. I could have stood a little wider a shot of Scrimgour, but it was effective. I really wanted more of the Dursley's departure. None of the wonderful dialogue ('I don't think you're a waste of space') was there. They left on their own, no wizards to help. :( But the bit at the Grangers was wonderful. Emma did an excellent job showing her emotion, yet keeping it internal. Her eyebrows did not do all the acting this time. I'm sorry they cut the ghoul in the attic, though.
Malfoy Manor was dark and scary. Rickman chews scenery as always and the nuances in his eyes during this scene is a full 40 hour course for a drama student such as myself. He literally tells a story with the twitch of an eyelash. Jason Isaac is beyond excellent as well. He is beaten and it shows. I cannot explain how well he portrayed this. Bonham-Carter is over the top, as always, but Isaac is every bit as subtle in his portrayal as Rickman. Such a treat to study such skilled actors.
The seven Potters was, as I'm sure you've seen in the trailers, fabulous! They all did a good job of mimicking Dan and vice versa. It goes fast, so this'll be one to enjoy on the DVD when you can freeze frame it. The chase sequence was just as fast and confusing as in the book (and I say that in a good way). Hagrid and Harry land in the bog around the Burrow rather than the Tonks' house, but I really didn't mind that. Judicious editing. Hedwig's death is a bit different, but it advanced the plot better than in the book, in my opinion.
By the way, 'Saintly' makes it in!!!! :D
The reading of the will was done at a good pace. Not dragged on, but not too fast. Information was compacted, and Hermione didn't get a good argument with Scrimgour, but the important points were touched upon.
The scene with Ginny and Harry was a bit out of no-where. It's a good snog, to be sure, but without the build up in HBP, the movies-only girl behind me muttered 'Whoa, where'd that come from?' And if anyone can tell me what George sticks in his ear, I'd be grateful! Even with his head 20 feet high on the screen, I couldn't tell what it was!
The wedding (really just the reception) scene went very fast. The Patronis that interrupts is not identifiable, but I rather liked the way that it showed the ministry falling. The escape of the trio is good, although for some reason it drops them in the theater district. Look for the Equus poster on the wall of the cafe!
I loved 'Old Dusty' in Grimmauld Place! It was exactly as I pictured it when reading the book. Unfortunately, Remus doesn't come for a call, so even by the end of the film we don't know that Tonks is pregnant. She starts to tell Harry at Privet Drive, but is interrupted by Mad Eye. Kreacher doesn't look as dirty and nasty as he did in Order and we don't see the dramatic transformation of him, nor do we hear about him being taken to the cave. He does beat up on Mundungus, but no fry pan. :(
The ministry scenes are excellent. They stay fairly close to the book, which is a pleasant surprise that repeated itself all throughout the film. Then we're on the camping trip. It went very fast, but it worked. Rupert has been serious under-utilized in films 3-6. He really shows his acting chops in these scenes. Emma has finally learned the art of subtleness in some of these scenes. Dan, as always, is a bit over the top, but nothing was too overt. I'm sure you've seen the fight leading to Ron's departure on the trailers, and it is well done (except for a bit of overly staged, awkward blocking in one bit) and builds well.
The dance scene so dreaded by the H/G camp worked. I am a serious anti-H/H shipper, and was dreading this, but at no time do you get the impression that Hermione is dancing with Harry in a romantic way. It's a very brother/sister type scene, till the end, when the expression on Harry's face makes you think he realizes he has no chance with Hermione and regrets that. The movies-only girl mentioned (as we left the theater) that it's so sad that Hermione is so obviously in love with Ron, and Harry so obviously has a crush on Hermione. *sigh*
The doe Patronis/lake in the sword was great. Again, almost verbatim from the book, which is always a treat. The destroying the locket scene was fantastic! The Riddle Harry/Hermione looked exactly as described in the book (like Hermione, but more beautiful) and the taunts were word for word. Ron's return to the tent was great. 'All you can say is 'hey'?' Emma didn't get quite as shrill as I'd have liked, but she whaled the tar out of him.
The trio are captured during a chase through the wood by Snatchers. Oddly enough, Greyback is in the background and not even mentioned except for having attacked Bill. A line I loved from the book is in 'What's happened to you, ugly?' and with a nod to CoS's 'I didn't know you could read', the Snatcher says to his cohort 'I wasn't talking to you.' I loved it!
Back to Malfoy Manor. Harry is barely recognizable, but you can tell that Draco knows who he is. I'm not sure Tom Felton had more than two lines in the entire movie, but you can tell he has studied at the knee of Rickman and Isaac, as his eyes say volumes. The torture of Hermione is not as graphic as I was expecting, and Ron's response was not as violent. You cannot tell if Wormtail is simply stunned or killed, but they do get his wand and the silver hand does not come in to play.
Unfortunately, Dobby gets far more lines both in Malfoy Manor and at Shell Cottage than he needed, but his death is still touching. There is no funeral, just Ron and Harry burying him.
The screen went dark and I really expected credits to role, then a mist rolled over and you saw an island in the middle of a lake and zoomed in on the white tomb. It opened and Voldemort took the wand. Then the screen darkened again and the credits rolled. The entire group shouted 'No!!!' in unison.
Overall, I was very pleased with Kloves' ability to stick to the book in his script. I know it is impossible to adhere religiously to a book when screenwriting, but am still annoyed at his leanings toward Harry/Hermione and his beatification of Dobby.
I was pleased with the film and throughly enjoyed it. I don't think you will be disappointed.
BE WARNED...
The comments also contain possible spoilers!