Review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) by Li O — 21 May 2014

Disappointing! Definitely not a stand-alone film. You really need to have watched the previous movies and/or read the books to really "get" everything in this movie. In spite of both seeing the previous movies and reading the books, the time-lag between my last "revision" of the material meant that I felt a little bit lost at bits of the story. (like I couldnt remember what that shard of glass Harry kept looking at was :/).

Although on the whole ok, the movie felt poorly edited in parts, with some parts of the script sounding quite overdramatized or unrealistic. Example of overdrama: bad guys talking sounded too much on the mwahahaha levels. Unrealsitic parts example: when Ron returns to Harry and Hermione and explains his absence, it feels a bit like a recited speech rather than a normal part of a conversation. Poorly done.

Some bits were also rather cringeworthy: there were a few but one that stands out is the dancing scene.. what was that?? That wasnt in the book was it? It had the audience snickering, though I suspect because it was surprising and unnecessary.

All in all, I was sad I didnt enjoy it as much as I wanted to. Perhaps that's what happens when you expect a lot from a film.