Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)

Directed by: David Yates | 146 minutes | adventure, drama, fantasy | Actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Jamie Campbell Bower, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Evanna Lynch, Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, Timothy Spall, Clémence Poésy, Warwick Davis, Helen McCrory, Julie Walters, Toby Regbo, Imelda Staunton, Dave Legeno, David O’Hara, Rade Serbedzija, Stanislav Ianevski, Natalia Tena, James Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Domhnall Gleeson, Oliver Phelps, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Michelle Fairley, Nick Moran, Harry Melling, Sophie Thompson, Mark Williams, Chris Rankin, David Bradley, Jon Campling, Andy Linden, Paul Khanna, Carolyn Pickles, Matyelok Gibbs

All good things come to an end, even the most successful film series of all time: the Harry Potter saga. However, the wildly popular sorcerer’s apprentice says goodbye in style. The seventh and final book from writer JK Rowling is spread over two films, so that all the events leading up to the great showdown between Voldemort and Harry Potter can come into their own. At least that’s the reason the makers give. Cynics argue that this choice was made not from an artistic point of view, but from a commercial point of view: after all, two Harry Potter films make more money than one. Now that the first part, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1’ (2010), has been launched, the big question is: is splitting the seventh book justified? If you look very critically, you will come to the conclusion that a lot of superfluous material could have been removed from this first part, as happened in previous films. Fans – and who isn’t? – probably won’t mind. They are treated to not just two and a half hours of Potter spectacle, but a double portion!

In many ways ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1’ is different from its predecessor. The trend of the films becoming increasingly grim and bleak (the film is introduced by newcomer Bill Nighy, who warns Rufus Scrimgeour, the minister of magic, that dark times are upon us), continues here as well, and Harry, Hermione and Ron become increasingly mature, both in appearance and behavior. Most remarkable, however, is that Hogwarts is nowhere to be seen in this film. The wizarding school has always been a beacon of peace and safety and also provided the magical atmosphere that has always characterized the films. In this seventh film, all the familiar has been taken away to emphasize that the young threesome is all alone. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) are on the run from Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), who feels himself growing stronger, especially now that he is in control of the Ministry of Magic. Death Eaters lie in wait to take Harry out and bring him back to the Dark Lord (which makes it clear for a moment that he and only he is the one who will kill Harry).

The Order of the Phoenix – with many old acquaintances – is called in to bring Harry to safety via a ruse. The way this is done is as ingenious as it is hilarious: six of his friends drink Polyjuice Potion, making them look just like Harry. In this way, the Order, led by MadEye Moody (Brendan Gleeson), tries to mislead the Death Eaters. Voldemort, however, is so powerful that he soon notices Harry; they haven’t got rid of him yet. Harry, Hermione and Ron have now figured out how to take out Voldemort: by destroying the horcruxes that contain part of the Dark Lord’s soul. One of those horcruxes can be found at an old acquaintance: Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton). The trio infiltrate the ministry to get hold of the gem. Director David Yates, for whom this is already the third Potter film adaptation, is old-fashioned at the beginning of the film. The two scenes above are right on target. The effects look passable, but he also scores emotionally, especially in the scene where Hermione says goodbye to her Muggle parents.

A good start is half the battle, you might say, but after a resounding start ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1’ falls away quite a bit. The middle part, in which the illustrious trio roams through the woods to stay out of sight of Voldemort and his friends, is intended to give space to the despair and emotional struggles of Harry, Hermione and Ron and to express the mutual tension. between the three. However, it doesn’t turn out as well as hoped: Radcliffe, Watson and Grint clearly still have to grow as actors – although they show that they have learned a lot in the past ten years. The aimless middle section bounces happily when they learn about the deathly hallows in the curious house of Xenophilius Lovegood (an unfortunately somewhat colorless Rhys Ifans). The legend is brought to life in a truly brilliant animation scene: a very clever move by Yates. Unfortunately, the film then gets bogged down again in the aimless wandering of the three heroes, underlining once again that more could have been cut in this 145 (!) minute film. Only towards the end does ‘Part 1’ come alive again, including a heroic act and a death, only to end quite abruptly. There’s no real cliffhanger, but the ending definitely sparks the desire to see part two soon.

The film looks to be passable, the special effects are even better than last time and the production has been taken care of down to the last detail. Many old acquaintances pass by, even if it is often just for one scene – even Alan Rickman’s Snape is barely featured – and a number of newcomers have been added to the cast. House elf Dobby (voice of Toby Jones) steals the show, the actors mainly remain in the background to give the three young protagonists all the space to shine. The cinematography of Eduardo Serra is beautiful, as is the music of Alexandre Desplat, who took over from John Williams. The score is different, but certainly effective and gives the film its very own atmosphere. All ‘preconditions’ are therefore perfectly in order. The fact that this first part is a bit disappointing has to do with the slow, almost dragging middle part of the film. Screenwriter Steve Kloves and editor Mark Day could have been a little more critical here, as half an hour could have easily been left out to achieve the same effect. These scenes don’t justify making two films of JK Rowling’s seventh book – at least not from an artistic point of view.

Everything shows that this first part is an appetizer, in the run-up to the grande finale. An appetizer that tastes great, but that doesn’t leave you feeling satisfied. Enough highlights pass in review – with the undisputed gem being the animated legend of the deathly hallows – but the film is too erratic to rank among the best in the series. But even a lesser Potter is more than worth watching. The fireworks have undoubtedly been saved for part two, a film in which you only get more excited after seeing part one. Let it be July soon!