Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Movie Review

This is mental.

Completely mental.

The world's mental.

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Director: David Yates
Based on: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
IMDb rating: 7,7/10
Rotten tomatoes rating: 78%
My rating: Story time down below.



Once upon a time, when the Deathly Hallows part 1 trailer was playing on our TV screen at a dark November night in 2010. The little nine-year-old girl in front of the screen was mesmerized by the giant snake making its way over the long diner table (literally the only shot of that trailer I can remember). But she was puzzled. She saw that this was part 1, and was used to the annoying breaks halfway through movies that interrupted the storylines at almost arbritrary moments. She felt sorry for the Harry Potter fans, because they would have to wait for months to see the rest of the movie, which she thought she would find horrible. Later, once she was older and wiser and eventually watched a split movie herself, she dismissed her pity, because now she thought that the movies that were done in two parts actually really made for two movies, with their own climax and plot line, and that it somehow worked for the fans.

Now that I've seen the movie myself, I've changed my mind. It really is half a movie. My sympathy was entirely justified. It was a satisfying set-up, but it's not a complete movie. Mainly running around in the woods and plot building. SO. MUCH. PLOT BUILDING. Still, I really enjoyed this first part and I am dying to see the second. Luckily, I can stop dying after tonight, because I will be turning my weapons to the Death Eaters. Turning my weapons to Voldy! (I still haven't seen part 2 of Mockingjay, and after dying for about ten months, I start to suffer from withdrawal symptoms.)
I do think they could have stuck with the book though. If they'd added these small sentences and scenes, it could've been just a bit more logical and the plot less saint-like.

Spoilers down below! #part1

Guys, please don't split if it's not absolutely necessary. Which of course is a matter of opinion and taste, but still. And if you split, after that. Please. For my sake. Learn to let go. Let it die. RIP.

No, I'm dead Sirius. The villain has been defeated. It's over. I don't want it to be over but I HAFTA MOVE ON. I don't want to be that retired old lady who goes to the sixty-somethingth Hunger Games movie. Let it die. I will mourn it, but I will manage. I'll just cry into my pillow for a while and then I can let go. I can live on. In peace. Forever. And always. For real. Okay?

Who am I kidding?

Let's see. What first?

It pretty much follows the events of the books, which I really appreciate. I like the way they started (even though I wish they hadn't cut out the scene with Dudley and Harry) with the departure from Harry's house. Some things are totally unrealistic, like the total neglect of the fact that the entire highway can see the brooms flying over with people shooting spells at each other. Still, it was decent and the slight bits of action in the entire movie worked well.

What I liked most about DH1 was probably how well they stuck to the characters.

Harry continues to be a total average person with a good heart but human emotions, and not the biggest brain.

Luckily there's Hermione who actually has a clue what she's doing. Ron's right, they wouldn't last two days without her.

Ron continues to be, well, Ron. Endearing and a good friend, but also a little bit dumb on occasions.

He's really sweet with Hermione though.

Voldemort continues to be a weirdo with an unhealthy obsession and extreme cruelty as his greatest allies. Snape continues to be Snape (even though us readers know...). Bellatrix. Well, let's just say that if I had to pick a friend to go to a party with, and it were to be either Umbridge or Bellatrix, that would make for a real hard decision. Why? Well, Bellatrix kills and tortures, while Umbridge only tortures and hurts. But let's face the fact that Bellatrix is evil in style and Umbridge...

 Speaking of killing and torturing, let's talk about the casualties.

1. Mad-Eye. Yeah, I can live with that.

2. Hedwig. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Why?

3. Dobby. I wasn't crying, I was just tearing up, but I have not let one tear drop.

Okay, fine I will take Bellatrix to the party, but she isn't allowed a knife, wand, of any kind of sharp object.

I have no clue what else there is to talk about. The Godric's Hollow part first made me cry and then scared me sh!tless, and there was a lot of camping. The dresses were pretty, the acting was good, and I'm still mourning Dumbledore. See you in a day or two.