The Deathly Hallows Impresses
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I is turning out to be one of those movies that causes arguments among everyday moviegoers. I’ve certainly had to defend my stance, which hasn’t changed since two Fridays ago, to many people who seem to have just as much to say against it. And being one of those movies, and an extremely popular one at that, you’ve probably already made up your mind on which side of the spectrum you’re placing yourself. I happen to be one of the admirers of the seventh installment in the Potter franchise.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I (it’s a mouthful) begins right after the murder of Albus Dumbledore. The movie starts with a montage of the three best friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione, getting ready to set out on their final journey towards destroying He–Who–Must–Not–Be–Named. It’s a nice touch to look back on the place where everything started, as we watch Harry inspect his old home, the cupboard under the stairs. It’s obvious that the characters (and actors along with them) have grown since the first chapter of the series. The once pint–sized wizards are now adults complete with awkward beards and chest hair. The journey in question is their last stand, their only hope of killing Lord Voldemort by destroying the bits of his soul he has encased in Horcruxes that make him immortal.
Although at first questioned, the choice to turn the conclusion of J. K. Rowling’s book series into a two–part movie experience (that’s what they’re called these days, right?) worked out extremely well. Fans questioned the motives of producers, saying that they were only extending it to make more money, and be that as it may, it worked out in the favor of integrity. This movie follows the book closer than any of the movies before it, and with wiggle room to add in new bits.
Die–hard Harry Potter fans will agree that while the movies are a great amount of fun, they normally fail to supersede the magic of the books. However, I think that in the two most recent Potter movies, the balance has begun to shift. Director David Yates, who directed the fifth and sixth installments as well, shows a knack for being able to add in new scenes or magnify old ones without damaging the original version. For example, during their quest for the Horcruxes, Harry and Hermione find themselves estranged from Ron, and the mood becomes very grim. Disheartened and alone, Hermione is shown listening to music. Harry walks up to her and holds out his hand, and they start to dance together. Nonexistent in the book, this scene is probably one of the most touching throughout the film, and seeing the two best friends’ incredibly strong, platonic love for one another drives home one of the overriding themes of the entire series: there is nothing more magical than friendship.
Okay, gotta shake myself off a bit, that last paragraph used all of the pent up cheese I had left in me — now to the more technical aspects. This movie is beyond gorgeous. The trio may be justified in their anger relating to the Horcruxes, but they pitch camp in some of the most beautiful locations I’ve ever seen. Why don’t people vacation in the United Kingdom more? The cinematography by Eduardo Serra keeps the mood tense and lonely, showing the vast landscapes in contrast with the small characters. The incredibly depressing cold is almost tangible, but then again, that could just be the air conditioners in the theater. In any case, this movie is without a doubt the darkest and least cheery of all the films, brightened only by periodic comic relief. The movie takes itself seriously, but not too seriously.
As in the rest of the series, Hallows uses subtle visual nods to alert the viewers. In the scenes where Harry, Ron and Hermione infiltrate the Ministry of Magic, these visual indications are most frequent and most powerful. For example, the uniforms worn by wizarding law enforcement officers in the Ministry are incredibly similar to uniforms worn by Nazi S.S.
officers in World War II era Germany. This communicates a powerful message without shoving the idea in your face, the idea that the conflicts within the wizarding world are not so different from problems we’ve had in our own world. This insertion of metaphor is what makes the Harry Potter series, books and movies alike, slightly more relevant than their would–be imitators and other fantasy competition. Much like the Phillip Pullman’s Dark Materials series with religion, Harry Potter addresses problems like racism and discrimination through the lens of an imaginary, magical world.
All of these elements would fall by the wayside if the acting wasn’t convincing, but it seems like after ten long years of acting their way through the series, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint’s acting chops have matured greatly.
In a time where everything is either Team This or Team That, it’s safe to say that if you are not a fan of the Harry Potter series, you will not enjoy this movie. I, for example, am not a fan of anything written by Stephenie Meyer and therefore don’t really care to watch the Twilight movies (the difference being one is a literary masterpiece that has enchanted millions, and the other a Grade B, tawdry fantasy dreamed up by a thirteen–year–old girl who is living inside a woman’s body). In any case, it’s obvious that this movie would be close to unintelligible for those who don’t know the background from Rowling’s books.
So, maybe this movie can’t be great on its own because it doesn’t pander to the needs of those who haven’t followed the series. It cannot stand alone and be a good movie for anyone who wants to see it. Fortunately, I am one of the people who is lucky enough to connect with the series and get to enjoy this movie, because it truly is the most artfully done of all the Potter films thus far. David Yates has mastered the balance between the books and his own creative license to create movies that are both true to J. K. Rowling’s story but evolve and improve on ideas that are better expressed through film.
With that, I can’t really say anything else but this: holy shit, I am excited for July 17th!
Comments
Post new comment