189) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part One
Director: David Yates
Year: 2010
Plot Summary: As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.
Harry Potter is paving its way to be the most successful franchise in cinema history. But, so far, there hasn’t been a single film in the series that makes J.K. Rowling’s adaptations worthy that accolade. That is, until now.
Under the direction of David Yates once again, he takes The Deathly Hallows in a brave new direction that the previous Harry Potter films haven’t dared to explore. First of all, it’s much darker with many of the scenes packed with scares and suspense. Secondly. instead of being held back by the need to spectacle and action it takes time to explore its characters and their situations. And thirdly, The Deathly Hallows actually flows at a pace that doesn’t feel disjointed and episodic like every single one of the films before it, proving much build up and anticipation.
Even in terms of the way it’s directed, David Yates has stepped up his game and is clearly more confident behind the lens. The hand-held camerawork in the action scenes gives them a tension and realism that you’d never have normally expected from Harry Potter while the monochrome cinematography helps create the foreboding atmosphere of knowing that the three protagonists are on the run from Voldemort’s army.
Of course, it’s not a perfect movie by any means. It doesn’t really stand alone as a film and really requires the viewing of Part 2 before a proper judgement can be made. Moreover, while the intimate scale of it should be applauded, it makes you feel every minute of its 2 and half hours running time. But, most of all, I felt like there were opportunities for it to be very powerful that Yates missed out on. Hermione erasing her parents memory, for example, was very quickly glanced over while Harry visiting the town of his parents didn’t have the impact it should.
Nevertheless, it promises an epic finale in Part 2 and remains one of the most impressive movies in the series by a mile.
4/5
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