Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Released: 19/11/2011
Rating: 12A
The adventures of everyone’s favourite boy wizard are almost at an end, but they’re clearly not going away with out a bang.
The final book has been split into 2 full length features – Part One clocking in at just under 2 hours 30minutes, and Part 2 expected to be slightly longer – and watching this film it’s clear why: so much of the source material is completely integral to the way in which the franchise is wrapped up that cutting even a single scene out would leave the overall film lacking.
For a long time, screenwriter Steve Kloves has been the thorn in many fan’s sides, many looking at his scripts as taking too much liberty with the book and cutting too much, but in this case he has been completely reverential to Jo Rowling’s vision.
Not a single noticeable thing was missing from this half of the story, and in many ways Kloves has managed to take the camping scenes from the middle of the book – in which very little is really happening, and make them feel action packed, without actually really changing very much at all.
This mark’s David Yates’ third film in the franchise (he will have directed exactly half of the films by the time Part Two comes out), and he has continued his scheme of pushing the series darker and darker thematically. There are points in this film which really border on the 12A boundaries, particularly a sequence at Godric’s Hollow involving Harry and Bathilda Bagshot.
Jason Issacs and Helena Bonham Carter both own every scene they’re in (although they’re sorely underused this time around), with Jason’s completely broken and downtrodden Lucius Malfoy a particularly brilliant turn for him.
The show really is stolen by the young actors though. 10 years ago when Dan, Emma and Rupert got started, their acting skills were – and I’ll admit this as a huge fan of the series – not wonderful. In that time though, they have all grown so much both as people and as actors. Dan especially has truly grown into a formidable young acting force, who we will no doubt be seeing on screen for many years to come.
There is a key scene – and those of you who know the books will know what I’m talking about – where Harry and Ron are arguing, and it’s just so amazingly well done. Simply put, neither one of them could have pulled off a scene like this a few years ago.
On that note, it’s nice to finally see Ron’s character used as more than just Steve Klove’s engine for comedy. We finally see the angstier darker sides of Ron in this film, and Rupert does a brilliant job of bringing these to the fore.
This film finally sees the welcome return of the house-elves to the franchise, with both Dobby and Kreacher making it into the film. While Kreacher’s tale is somewhat diminished from the book, the point is still very much got across, and as for Dobby, I guarantee that you will be cheering for him one minute, and crying the next, as the inevitable happens.
The split between the two films was always going to be important, and I think it’s fair to say that the place they picked works well. Without revealing the exact point at which it takes place, it’s fair to say that it’s at a point in which almost all the set-up is done. We’ve done the build up, and Part Two will consist almost entirely of the final battle we’ve all been waiting for.
Part Two is going to have a lot to do to better this though, because this is the finest Potter film to date.
James Gordon
Tags: daniel radcliffe, emma watson, harry potter, jk rowling, london, rupert grint, steve kloves
Mighty fine review there Gordon but I’m still having a different favourite, Goblet of Fire for me.
Did you even watch the film?! It premiered in London two-nights-ago so, unless you’re an A-list celeb, how could you get to see it?!
I worked the red-carpet for the premier on thursday (you can see my interviews with the stars, as well as Jo Rowling herself, at: http://youtube.com/pottercast ) and then attended the press screening of the film last night. So yes: I did see the film before I wrote the review, and while I’m certainly not an A-List celeb, I was on the red carpet rubbing shoulders with them.
well done james, great review! can’t WAIT to see it, i’ll def be bringing tissues along for the tears!!
Superb
You say you won’t reveal the exact point the film finishes and then go onto say “Part Two will consist almost entirely of the final battle…” This is poor reviewing, plus in the first sentence, “with out” should be one word.
Did anybody proof read this?
What about the special effects? The score? Saying the acting of Daniel and Rupert is “amazingly well done” is not a review. There was no “show” here – it was all “tell”. Not a single mention of Voldemort, Horcruxes, Hallows, Snape, Death Eaters, good versus evil.
How can you review anything about HP and not mention magic?
OMG I envy u! Wish I could be there too!
I’ve booked the ticket n gonna watch it this coming Wednesday!
OMG i REALLY CANT WAIT to see it!!
i heard that david yates ruined the harry/ginny and ron/hermione things, that obviously david yates is dan/emma (harry/hermione) shipper. lol. seriously, i’m really getting more disappointed with david yates. i never really like any of his and his scriptwriter’s work. I would say the first 3 parts are the best of them. i just hope i would enjoy the ‘Run’ parts there.
I think Rupert Grint is the actor to be talked about, and less of emma watson just showing her *** on the premiere and everything about her lifestyle. seriously, i’m getting bored of this. Rupert Grint have the best talent of them. Dan is just the second. With Helena Bonham Carter acting, that’s one thing for sure I am looking forward too, which i’m sure i won’t get disappointed. i was excitd about hbp last year because the trailer are so greats and pics until i watch the film.
Sasah: There was very intentionally a reason why I avoided talking too much about the story, about the Hallows, abotu Voldemort, etc, and that while myself, and you, are clearly fans of the series, there will be plenty of students reading this who only watch the film, and as such I had to skirt around these issues alot. If you email me at film@platform-online.net I will be more than willing to discuss the film in a far more in depth way
(as regards Snape: he is in the film for less than 2 minutes, so I didn’t make a big deal to mention him)
Mymy: There is a scene in the film, which is not in the books, involving Harry/Hermione. That scene I have heard people say is very much a H/Hr ship moment from Yates and Kloves, but honestly, given where it comes in the film, and its actual context, its actually very clearly supposed to be a scene in which we say: Harry and Hermione are just friends. If anyone who watches the entirity of the film (and not just that particular scene which I have seen several sites reference in the past few days) I honestly don’t see how anyone can call this film anything other than the confirmation of Hr/R on screen.
As for Harry/Ginny, they share one scene together in the whole film, which is the same scene they share the book, and again: it shows they’re madly in love.
(And yes, HBC is a goddess, no two ways about it)
Personally I thought that was a great review ! thank you for writing up about the movie we’re all waiting in angst for !
Sasah, you came across as incredibly rude and aggressive there.
I think that having a go at someone who is just giving their opinion of something they obviously like is below the belt. I myself am a huge fan and am really looking forward to later this week when I too can see the first part of the final book of Harry Potter. My only disappointment as that it won’t be in the advertised 3D. But then again, I don’t really see this as being a 3D type movie. And it is the first part, so it’s bound to be something of an anti-climax when it comes to expectations. Most people are waiting for the final showdown, and we all know that it won’t come until near the end of the second part, so we have to be patient and hold on…
Hoo roo!
Anyway! I liked the review mate, and it certainly made sense to me. Of course you can’t tell where it ended, or give away too much. For years many of us die hard fans who’ve READ THE BOOKS have moaned about what the current director has chopped out, or in the case of Half Blood Prince, used creative license – the torching of the Weasley house – Why would we be upset if this time they are actually following the book almost to the letter. Isn’t this what we want? I know that has been a big issue as to why many fans were disappointed in the last couple of films because they weren’t true to the books. But hey, bring it on! This book is one of the very best I’ve ever read and I can’t wait to see how it looks on the big screen! And let’s hope Mr Kloves has got it right this time
As for the scene with Harry and Hermione, wasn’t that an inferred scene in the book when Ron has the Horcrux around his neck poisoning his brain? I think it just added to the fight between him and Harry – jealously and despair amplified by the presence of the horcrux.
I wanna see it NOW! Oh well, ask me in a few days
This movie was BOOOOORRRRIIINNNNGGGGG! How could you seriously like this film? Nothing ever really happened in this film. I saw the main character in the woods a lot, but that’s about it. This was such a let down for me. The beginning of the movie was amazing. The pacing was fantastic, and then all of the sudden they decided to drag the rest of the movie out. I thought they were going to make two movies to include all of the important stuff, but all the did was make a indie weird version of Harry Potter. Emma Waston was fine though.
To each their own. I can absolutely see where you’re coming from about the bit in the middle, but: that’s what the book was. Lots and lots of camping. So the middle of the movie had to be lots and lots of camping. They couldn’t just add a random action sequence, or otherwise everyone would just complain about that (a la the Burrow attack in HBP). I actually think if anything they did a better job of the camping sequences than the book did.