Review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) by Pranav R — 22 Nov 2012

I'm not a big fan of this whole "let's split the final installment of a popular series into two parts" idea. Twilight was slow-paced anyways, the last Hunger Games book isn't suited for two films, and not two but THREE movies for the Hobbit is just a pathetic money-grab in my opinion. However, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the exception. I don't really see how they could have done this last chapter justice within just one movie.

Deathly Hallows Part 1 takes off at a breakneck pace and only slows down after the first half-hour or so. We get a cool (but too short) night chase flying through the sky, but once Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione hit the road, the story slows way down for some good old character development. Be warned, casual viewers, if you aren't caught up with the story, you will be completely lost at this point. Although this is certainly not a very satisfying piece of the story, it's still a very well made and important chapter in the series.

For one thing, the acting is far better than any other part of the saga, thanks in part to a better script than the worse entries in the series (Order of the Phoenix, I'm looking at you). With this setting and slow pace, the movie would have fallen apart without good actors. I'm glad to say it worked out. If I have one problem with the movie, it's the poor action sequences. The aforementioned chase through the sky has a lot of potential but ends to quickly, and the movie's climax is short and disappointing.

Deathly Hallows Part 1 ends with a cliffhanger that makes the wait for the conclusion to the saga a seemingly unfair wait. Know that although this entry cannot really stand on its own as a film, it sets up bigger and better things to come in a smart and exciting way.