So is this all gut-wrenching set-up and multiple inhalation cliff-hangers to give our assorted Muggles, Demontors, and Dobbies a deserved send off a la The Empire Strikes Back and The Two Towers? Or is it simply padding to accommodate the doorstep dimensions of J.K. “£5 a second” Rowling’s book? Revealious Answerocious …
Sadly, and for the first time since the Chris Columbus Potterverse tenure, it is more a case of the former, as the magic only simmers beneath the melancholic musings and page-to-screen procrastination of the narrative.
Shorn of the guidance from Professor Dumbledore and the cosy familiarity of their iconic school, now in the clutches of “he who must not be named”, our trio of graduates must take up the mantle left by the late headmaster and collect the remaining Horcruxes to defeat Voldemort (whoops, I’ve gone and said it) and his army of Death Eaters.
Whether it’s the source material or the studio bean-counters that are to blame for the ponderous structure of HP7: Part I, there is still enough here to sate those that queue up dressed as their favourite Weasley, and those that see the franchise as a good night out at the movies.
Much has to do with holdover director, David Yates; there are some magnificent flourishes of cinematic genius and for all its pacing flaws, Deathly Hallows is never less than stunning to look at. The opening segment is harrowing, hilarious, and exhilarating as the remaining members of The Order whizz through London at breakneck speed.
There is also a wonderful animated segment that superbly avoids making some key exposition tedious; it’s a Grimm Brothers tale by way of Tim Burton.
But without a shadow of a doubt the stand-out moment is one of beautifully measured tenderness amongst the carnage, a brief moment shared by our young actors dancing in a tent.
From Philosopher’s Stone to Half Blood Prince, enough has been said about the evolution of the child actors from autocue reading moppets to involving performers, but the dramatic focus on them in this episode only emphasises the sheer brilliance of Ms Emma Watson. Confident and charming, she takes control of every scene involving the trio and wrings it to the emotional core with effortless ease, often showing up the gurning Grint and overwrought Radcliffe.
Take heed though, Hallows is definitely too scary for the younger Muggles in the audience (thematically, and when it comes to big scary snakes), but most of the grumbles are minor (not enough Alan Rickman and Robbie Coltrane’s Hagrid is completely sidelined).
Part I will surely improve when viewed consecutively with the impending final battle. Wands at the ready.
[etRating value=“ 3”]
