Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 Review
I have a tendency to obsess and if you read my blog and or facebook then I'm sure you are aware of this. What can I say ... there is just something inside me that can't love something half-way. It's either all or nothing with me. Obsessing for me is usually whittled down to entertainment - TV, books, movies, and music. They all play a role in helping me be a nerd. Still there is one fandom that really got a hold of me when I was 25 and never truly let go - Harry Potter.
Yes, it's a kids book series, but by it's popularity you can tell that not just kids read it And if you've read all the books then you certainly know that as Harry has aged through seven books, so has the storyline. It increasingly became more adult and darker. The same can be said for the movies. So, it was a no brainier to tell my daughter no when she asked to go along with Sam and I to see 'Deathly Hallows' last night. Good thing too. I remember when I first bent back the spin to read Deathly Hallows I was struck by how genuinely creeped out I was at the sequence where Voldemort is torturing a woman by suspending her in air over a crowd of who's who of Death Eaters. It set the tone for the book and eventual movie.
I think the fact that the last book takes place outside of Hogwarts adds to the grownup factor. No more are these wizards and witches sitting in classrooms learning spells, potions, and herbology. Much like in 'Lord of the Rings' Harry, Ron and Hermione are on a quest taking them away from Hogwarts and into more life threatening situations. There were many more white knuckle moments for me with this movie than any other ... and I've read the books, so I knew what's coming next. Still I was afraid for the trio.
But, then there were also the quiet scenes that I enjoyed just as much. The little dance sequence between Harry and Hermione, put a smile on my face and for a slight second I could almost imagine them as a couple. Reading the books I was always for Ron and Hermione eventually getting together, but there is just something between Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson - their chemistry. It's something that I don't feel is there between her and Rupert Grint. It's sad, because this is my only qualm with the movie. It really can't be helped. These actors were chosen when they were 11. Who knew if they would grow up to contain any amount of sexual chemistry between each other.
For Emma and Daniel it just all feels so natural. Their scenes together were some of my favorite in the film. Her relationship with Ron (Rupert) felt forced and it broke the heart of the Ron/Hermione shipper to admit this.
But, that's a tiny part of the movie. The action, the characters, the pace ... it all meshed well for me, so much so that by the time 2.5 hours were up, I barely noticed that I had been sitting in the theater that long. I felt like there was more to tell after Voldemort lifted the elder want up and lit the night sky with his curse.
I suppose there is more to tell, because after all I have a Part 2 to look forward to next year and then ... it will be over and the tears I shed for Dobby the House elf will be nothing compared the emotions I will feel as the series finally comes to an end in it's movie form.
Yes, it's a kids book series, but by it's popularity you can tell that not just kids read it And if you've read all the books then you certainly know that as Harry has aged through seven books, so has the storyline. It increasingly became more adult and darker. The same can be said for the movies. So, it was a no brainier to tell my daughter no when she asked to go along with Sam and I to see 'Deathly Hallows' last night. Good thing too. I remember when I first bent back the spin to read Deathly Hallows I was struck by how genuinely creeped out I was at the sequence where Voldemort is torturing a woman by suspending her in air over a crowd of who's who of Death Eaters. It set the tone for the book and eventual movie.
I think the fact that the last book takes place outside of Hogwarts adds to the grownup factor. No more are these wizards and witches sitting in classrooms learning spells, potions, and herbology. Much like in 'Lord of the Rings' Harry, Ron and Hermione are on a quest taking them away from Hogwarts and into more life threatening situations. There were many more white knuckle moments for me with this movie than any other ... and I've read the books, so I knew what's coming next. Still I was afraid for the trio.
But, then there were also the quiet scenes that I enjoyed just as much. The little dance sequence between Harry and Hermione, put a smile on my face and for a slight second I could almost imagine them as a couple. Reading the books I was always for Ron and Hermione eventually getting together, but there is just something between Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson - their chemistry. It's something that I don't feel is there between her and Rupert Grint. It's sad, because this is my only qualm with the movie. It really can't be helped. These actors were chosen when they were 11. Who knew if they would grow up to contain any amount of sexual chemistry between each other.
For Emma and Daniel it just all feels so natural. Their scenes together were some of my favorite in the film. Her relationship with Ron (Rupert) felt forced and it broke the heart of the Ron/Hermione shipper to admit this.
But, that's a tiny part of the movie. The action, the characters, the pace ... it all meshed well for me, so much so that by the time 2.5 hours were up, I barely noticed that I had been sitting in the theater that long. I felt like there was more to tell after Voldemort lifted the elder want up and lit the night sky with his curse.
I suppose there is more to tell, because after all I have a Part 2 to look forward to next year and then ... it will be over and the tears I shed for Dobby the House elf will be nothing compared the emotions I will feel as the series finally comes to an end in it's movie form.