Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1: Having read the book, I knew what to expect going in. Like the novel, the film drops you right into the thick of things as Harry and his friends and allies are on the run from Voldemort and his cronies, and the body count continues to climb. This part of the story focuses almost exclusively on Harry, Hermione, and Ron, many of the supporting characters relegated to glorified seconds-long cameos. It’s also a much darker film, with the Death Eaters taking over the Ministry of Magic, turning it into a quasi-fascist, racist organization, while Harry continues his pursuits of the artifacts that will lead to the destruction of Voldemort, possibly at the expense of his friendship with Ron and Hermione. So we’re not talking light children’s fare here (also, we get some weird implied nudity and a big scary snake). All that being said, it is a well-crafted movie, this the third Potter flick from director Peter Yates. The acting is good, with Emma Watson as a standout. And apparently every British character actor under the sun is going to be crammed in the last two parts, with Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Peter Mullan, and David O’Hara here this go-round. But dramatically, it can’t help but be a letdown - it’s a movie without a climax or a conclusion. Granted, there is a lot of ground to cover in the last book, but that doesn’t mean you can’t craft a dramatic arc. And neophytes to the series beware - the film doesn't offer any opportunities for you to catch up. It’s a good film, but not a great one, aimed squarely at veteran fans of the HP juggernaut. Woodchuck sez, “Worth a look.”
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