Certain movies are immune to reviewers. Movies that people have long since decided to see or not see by the time they read a review about it. Nothing written by a film critic is going to persuade someone not to see such a film when they’ve already decided to and vice versa. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1” is one of those films.
The “Harry Potter” franchise the books and the movies based on them have proven to be both extremely polarizing and incredibly popular. Fans of the boy wizard are going to pack the theaters this weekend regardless of what any lowly critic has to say about the film. Those people out there who loathe the magical world of Hogwarts and haven’t read a single word of the entire saga aren’t about to change face now because of what they may read about the latest film installment. What is the point of reviewing it then?
The point is to inform those people those indecisive few who are on the fence about Harry Potter whether this latest addition to the HP movie canon is worth spending their money on this weekend. The point of this review is to address those of you out there who have mostly ignored the whole Potter spectacle not out of hatred but simple indifference. Should you put aside your ambivalence and for the first time really invest yourself in caring about Harry Potter and his magical cohorts?
No.
The movie itself in terms of quality presentation and aesthetic is actually quite good. Visually it is on a level of quality that is rarely seen in movies today. It is epic in scope and everything from the haunting score to the beautifully grim production design contributes to its grand status as pure unadulterated spectacle. The performances namely those of Daniel Radcliffe Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are solid; although there’s a lingering question as to whether that’s due to great acting or the fact that they have been so defined by these roles for so long now. The most impressive aspect of the film and rightfully so is the awesomeness and incredible amount of the special effects. They somehow manage to be both mesmerizing and seamlessly integrated into the film for an effect that is simply pun very much intended magical.
But that’s pretty much where the magic stops. If you haven’t read the seventh book then following the story in the film is just short of impossible. The film epitomizes the notion of preaching to the choir as the faithful will be enthralled but any newcomers will be looking for a road map. This is somewhat ironic as the basic plot of the film seems to follow the beats of a classic road trip movie. Except that in this road trip film the main characters aren’t looking for a raunchy videotape— they’re seeking horcruxes to destroy which will then allow them to kill an evil wizard overlord. Or something.
The film is quite dark thematically and stylistically which comes across as off-putting once you remember that these books were originally written for children. It is admirable that the subject matter seems to have grown up with its core fan base but the fact that children today still read the books and watch these films is a little worrisome.
There is also something generally hollow about the entire film as it doesn’t really serve as a Part 1 so much as a teaser and anticipation builder for the second film and overall climactic installment. There’s a certain disappointment when the film ends knowing the second half of the story you’ve just invested yourself in won’t play out until the summer. So unless you are a die-hard Harry Potter fan who has had tomorrow circled on their calendar for months now don’t bother investing your time money or energy into the film.