Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

Release Date: 19 November 2010
Director: David Yates
Starring: Brendan Gleeson, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Grint
Details: US/145mins 12A

Seven instalments into the inordinately budgeted franchise, tensions finally reach boiling point with the penultimate episode. As the skitter hits the fan, Harry and co. must go into hiding for fear of impending death at the hands of Voldemort. Undoubtedly languid in places; large parts see nothing really happening other than plot exposition, which will grate newcomers, but there is still enough magic left to delight fans - both casual and hardcore alike.

Voldemort is still gunning for Harry, and has managed to take control of the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts, putting the lives of anyone around Harry in imminent danger. Going into hiding with Hermione and Ron, Harry must locate the Horcruxes to have any chance of defeating Voldemort. But dark forces are at play, and lurk around every corner, as the three struggle to find anyone to trust and begin to turn on each other.

Seriously dense in characters, you'd really fear for the welfare of bit-playing British actors when Harry Potter really does end. It seems anyone who can bang out a passable cockney twang has had a role in the series, but it also lends itself to a sense of quirky camaraderie. The acting is considerably less forced than the first couple of (frankly shoddy) films, and although Radcliffe still has little in the way of screen presence, he's grown into the part admirably. Of all the young cast, though, Watson is the one most likely to find herself with a post-Potter acting career.

The film suffers massively from pacing issues. It's long, with a lot of threads that either need wrapping up, or simply more explanation before the final foray into Hogwarts. There's a frantic feel to the opening and closing, with some stand-out sequences in both, but the middle of the film is borderline boring and could have done with tightening up. That problem may lie more with the source material than the execution, but one of the wonderful things about Potter is the world of eccentric peripheral characters. Thus it feels like the film's pandering to the mammoth fanbase by including seemingly everyone from the Potter universe.

In fairness the films have come a long way since they first stained celluloid under the "gee-shucks" direction of Chris Columbus. There has been a consistently foreboding but whimsical tone since The Prisoner of Azkaban, and that isn't broken here. A couple of moments in particular might frighten some of the younger kids, but it's nothing surprising for the many familiar with this world.

There has never been a great Harry Potter film, nor with one instalment left to go is there likely to be. But Deathly Hallows is consistently entertaining, if never spectacular.

Review by Mike Sheridan

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Your Comments

twins

my daughter is obsessed with these movies does anyone know when the irish premier of deathly hallows is on

Posted 25/10/2010 02:00:31

twins

does anyne have premiere tickets for london or ireland they dont want i would gladly pay for deathly hallows

Posted 25/10/2010 02:02:44

Niall

Does anyone know if they are having advanced sdreenings this year?

Posted 11/11/2010 19:19:27

Connie

Shame on you 'shoddy films' lol. I love these as much as my 9yr old nephews! Can't wait for it to be released. I do think they could have finished the last book in one film though but when they see dollar signs :P

Posted 15/11/2010 18:39:17

Lisa

Totally agree with your take on the films but as much as I truly LOVE the books its bound to be hard for them to make that middle bit of the film interesting if its following the plot of the book. Deathly Hallows has a really boring middle section as well that was unfortunate but otherwise they have to be the best stories of my generation. Cannot wait for the film now.

Posted 16/11/2010 15:21:40

monkiscool

hey all you Harry Potter fans, please help a fellow fan and vore for me on cheffactor, I made Butterbeer!! http://www.cheffactor.ie/content/competition-entries/christinas-bewitching-butterbeer-spun-sugar-stirrers

Posted 17/11/2010 09:50:12

kev

HARRY! cant believe its all over these books made me love reading got it the day it came out well my mother did i used to hate reading but thanks to J K rolling i love it

Posted 17/11/2010 17:49:24

Niamh

the irish premiere was on yesterday in dundrum and tickets had ot be won :(

Posted 17/11/2010 17:49:50

Fozz

Kev, with all that reading you did you must have glossed over all the Full Stops....

Posted 19/11/2010 15:51:34

Niall

The only reason it got boring in the middle is because we all missed Ron as his character had a superbly entertaining actor in Rupert Grint. Grint has the better chance of a post-Potter career than Watson in my opinion

Posted 23/11/2010 17:29:14

chell3

My first harry potter movie to ever see and i thought it was really good, jumped a good few times!! ('',)

Posted 24/11/2010 12:22:57

Marti-in-Massachusetts

Shame on you Mike Sheridan. I'd like to see you do a better job with those enjenue kids than Chris did in the first two movies! The problem with screenplay writers is that they are writers - so naturally they think they can tell Rowlings story better than she can. I still don't know why they burned the Weasley's house. But that one faux pas doesn't make the whole series worthless. The problem with critics is by definition, they're critics! Lighten up, Mike. It's fantasy!

Posted 24/11/2010 23:34:56

flower power

no good films?! The 3rd one's great! I'm going to see this one tomorrow! Idon't really see the point of film reviews 'cos it's just one persons opinion and everyone else's is different and shouldn't be influenced by other people's. Like, I'm not condemning it, it was probably a pretty good review as reviews go (i don't read a lot of them!) but you know. Like I mean your one there, marti in massachusetts is being a bit harsh isn't she? i dunno. this is a pretty pointless post but i'm after going and typing it now!

Posted 27/11/2010 22:40:36

flower power

About the review I mean. Like "shame on you" thats a bit much yeah? still i'm here giving out cos i don't like her opinion on yer man's opinon but that's only my opinion you know?

Posted 27/11/2010 22:43:24

sunny j

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! best harry potter film EVER. it was EPIC!!! before this, the 3rd one was my favourite, but this one has become my favourite. pretty much kept to the storyline, ok the odd change, but they've kept to the storyline, cant wait to see this again!!!

Posted 27/11/2010 23:34:46

Lord Sabre

I was really bored with this. Nothing happens.

Posted 17/12/2010 14:07:17

sunny j

oh my goodness, the best of the entire lot of films. storyline stuck pretty much to the book, it was epic. i've seen this film twice and i'm going to see it again next week!!! loved the acting, loved the action. it was perfect, did i mention the best film of the whole lot? well it is. cant wait for the 2nd part :D loved the end as well!!!!! bring on summer 2011

Posted 25/12/2010 21:15:04

Roisin

I Love Harry Potter - The Books And The Films. It's Good That The Story Stuck To The Book But Compared To All The Other Amazing Films, This Was A Bit Disappointing. The Ending Was Great Though, I Don't Think I Can Wait Until July To See What Happens!

Posted 27/12/2010 21:46:29

ashleyone1

whoooawhh they made all this money for making such a boring movie i personally think this was boring but for some reason i want to watch the next one #:L OMG DOBBYS GONE :'(

Posted 27/12/2010 21:58:56

atman

I think this is a good movie but some parts are slow but still I would rate it 5 stars

Posted 02/01/2011 22:35:20

Rebecca

I think if you enjoyed reading the books, it is well worth while to see the film production of each story. As a film series Harry Potter is one of the best ones out.

Posted 09/05/2011 16:29:17

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Submit your review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I now and win cinema/cd vouchers...

Cluttered and complicated, it seems like Part 1 simply has all the elements of the book crammed in, except for the last few chapters. However, the long-awaited fine acting of our young stars and several exciting action set pieces save this Potter from the dustbin of Years 1-4. Part 2 can't come soon enough. - Hanley

Right from the get-go, you know straight away this is quite a different Potter altogether. The comfortable traditions... MORE19/07/2011 01:23:59