Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
- Year:2010
- Rating:M
- Director:David Yates
- Cast:Ralph Fiennes, Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson
- Release Date:November 18, 2010
- Distributor:Warner
- Running time:146 minutes
- Film Worth:$12.50
- FILMINK rates movies out of $20 - the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
The latest installment is a darkly thrilling ride punctuated by moments of humour and surprise.
Did the final Harry Potter installment really need to be split in half? No - they're bleeding this fat franchise down to the last magical monetary drop. But frankly, the fans won't give a damn. This is a cracking piece of entertainment. It may sag in the middle of its near two-and-a-half hours; there's no map for latecomers; and when the already reported Potter pash happens, there'll be laughs that director David Yates, who helmed the last two Potter flicks, did not ask for. Yet Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is, for the most part, a darkly thrilling ride, which, surprisingly, feels self-contained.
Potter's roaring success lies largely in its casting, with the loveable trio - Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, Rupert Grint as Ron, and Emma Watson as Hermione - once again giving their all, supported by a crème de la crème of British thesps, including Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Imelda Staunton, to name a handful.
The story happens outside the walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with Harry on a continuing quest to dethrone the evil, fascist-like Lord Voldermort (a deliciously wicked Ralph Fiennes). There are moments of genuine humour and surprise, while the Ministry Of Magic set and an animated sequence - a story-within-a-story - are magnificent. The seamless special effects are perhaps not quite as impressive as previous offerings, but they're still wondrous.
If there's any trouble with Harry, it's in the storytelling. It lacks clarity. Potter movies hardly require excessive brain work, but anyone hazy on the mythology is advised to brush up.
The penultimate Potter isn't, however, about plot. It's about people - specifically Harry, Hermione and Ron. If you've gone the distance with this franchise, you already care about them. But here, you'll care that much more.
