MOVIE NEWS: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
And the award for longest blog post title goes to… MOVIE NEWS: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1! Take a bow, blog post! You’ve earned it.
Anyway, if you’ve read the “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Harry Potter” feature in the November issue of OWL — or pretty much any other website, newspaper, or magazine in the last six months — you know the first part of the final chapter in the Harry Potter film franchise comes out today. I saw it at a preview screening earlier this week and I’m here to share some thoughts.
At this point in the series Hogwarts is pretty much a distant memory, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione are wholly engaged in a battle of good vs. evil with the fate of the entire world at stake (no pressure!). They need to take off on their own to find fiendish Lord Voldemort’s horcruxes* in order to make him mortal.
Here are a few observations I had about the movie:
1) It’s engrossing. From the very first minute we’re locked into the action and it doesn’t let up until the final scene. Even the quiet moments for Harry, Ron, and Hermione are infused with tension and drama. That’s all thanks to great acting from the film’s three stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson.
2) It’s scary. Fans know that the books and films get darker and scarier as the series goes along. However, let me reiterate: this is easily the darkest and scariest film in the series. Voldemort is ruthless and our favourite characters are in mortal trouble at all times — they spend loads of time running from danger and hiding in dark woods, etc. Also, the “Deathly” in the title is no overstatement. Like I said: mortal trouble.
3) It feels like a Part 1 of 2. Better yet, it feels like a Part 7 of 8. What I mean is a lot of the movie feels like it’s devoted to setting up the final movie — not telling its own story. For instance, we find out what the Deathly Hallows are, but we don’t see how they come into play. I know this set-up will be integral to understanding the next movie in the series, but it doesn’t stand on its own as well as the other flicks.
Overall, I liked this movie for what it was. It’s also made me really anxious to see The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (which comes out July 15, 2011), which promises to be an action-packed climax to end all climaxes.
Finally, while Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is an absolute must-see for fans, it’s not a good introduction to the series for non-fans. If you don’t know the series, start with the first book and movie and work your way up to this one.
Talk to you next week, all!
Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com
* For non-fans: Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling once described a horcrux as a “receptacle in which a dark wizard has hidden a part of his soul for the purposes of attaining immortality.” The more you know!
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OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw this movie and it is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would recommend it to ages twelve or thirteen and up, though.
I Looooooooved this movie!!!
I recomend it for 12 and up.
Its quite scary/vilent
Now i know who you are, Amy Elizabeth! U were talking bout me in that other post! 😛 And yes, i do remember bout Ross……
Marissa 😛
Harry Potter rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMGOSH I LOVE THIS MOVIE SOOO MUCH everyone like 12 and over shud see it!! it has some VERY scary moments
@marissa
i do remeber when ross….
And that cookie…
ron is more funnery in this movie in all of lem can’t wait intill 2011 july 15
i saw it and my sisters are 5 and 7
Thanks for the comments, Emma! I thought Ron was pretty funny in this one, too. I’m curious: did your sisters see the movie, too? If so, what did they think? Were any of you scared?
Cookie? not sure Any Elizabeth. but I do rememder the popcorn! do you?
Marissa 😛
This movie was really good. But I have to say, the last two movies have been really dark. Not just in the content of the movies but also the fact that the sun never comes out.
I think some children under the age of 11 wouldn’t like it, as there are some inapropriate and scary scenes.
Lachlan
Ah yes…i remember the cookie now!
Marissa 😛
Hi Craig!
I’ve never seen any Harry Potter.
And Tia, you are crazy! So…many…exclamatiom…mark’s!
Don’t worry, Tia! Crazy funny, not crazy…what ever you thought.
My friend has ‘Harry Potter fever’!
What are you guys talking about, Marissa 😛 and Amy Elizabeth? Cookie? Popcorn? What!?!
Oh, and I’m not trying to criticize you, but… some of you are putting little letters where you need big letters.
Long post! Sorry! Just had to say all that!
From Hannah
Hi!
Who is Ron? And is Ron and Ross the same people? Or not?
From Hannah
Hannah, Ron is the character in the Harry Potter movie….Me and Amy Elizabeth are freinds….so Ross is just someone we know.
Marissa 😛
And the popcorn and cookie things are just things between us that happened earlier.
Marissa 😛
Hi Marissa :P!
Thanks! I told you I’ve never seen any Harry Potter! Now I get it!
Thanks!
ok…..kool!
Marissa 😛
Night all!!!
lol ross wuzz so funny 2day!!!
ron is like this dude inm harry potter.
acctuly ron is his bff.
ross is this dude who goes to my school
<3 Amy <3
Your funny Amy!
Very funny Amy Elizabeth!! Can I just call you Amy?
no….she is my bff!
Marissa 😛
thanks
Yep.
I go by Amy
Ok.
Why can’t I call you just Amy?
um….she said u can!
Oh, ok. Sorry, I didn’t understand!!
oh…thats ok!
Oh, good! I was worred that you would stop talking to me!! I’m glad you didn’t!!!
Saw harry potter yesterday.OMG the visuals were soo amazin!Follows the book
more then the others thank goodness:)I’m 12 and my little brother who is 10 both loved it.
I recommend it for ages 10(if they are more mature) and up gives you a lot of thrills and chills but beware DARKEST MOVIE YET IN THE SERIES
Ever since I read the series when I was 9 (I’m 10 now), I’ve been a MEGA HUGE fan of Harry Potter. I’ve been waiting and waiting to see Part 1 the final film, and I finally did this month. It’s the best movie EVER in my opinion. I’m going to vote it as the “BEST MOVIE OVERALL” in the Owl Movie Awards. It’s so dramatic, scary, intense and it’ll have your eyes glued to the screen. I reccomend it to everyone 9 and up. Make sure you read the books, too! They’re just as fun as the movies. Harry Potter is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!