The first words spoken in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the first half of the conclusion to the mega-franchise, are spoken by new Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour (Bill Nighy), and they couldn't be more appropriate: "These are dark times indeed." And with that, we've reached the beginning of the end. Whether or not you're a die-hard fan of the series, or if you've kept up with all of the books/films, there's no denying that this is end...almost.
When Warner Brothers first announced that "The Deathly Hallows" would be adapted as two films, there was a mixed response. Yes, two films would allow for more of the generally event-filled story to transfer to the screen, but did it really need to? Was this just a shameless attempt to squeeze even more money out of audiences? In some ways, it's both. While David Yates' latest installment in the series (he directed the previous two films as well) is certainly strong, it also has uneven patches that suggest that one 3 and a half hour film might have been a better overall finished product.
Not to say that there isn't quite a bit right with Part I. In particular, the opening scenes, establishing the present situations of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, are solemnly effective, especially a scene in which, for their own safety, the Grangers' memories of their daughter are wiped. The emphasis on scenes not set fully in the wizarding world helps add an constant sense of weight. The days of lightness and charm, so constant in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts even when evil lurked in the shadows, are over. Even in moments of humor, and there are a surprising number of them, a cloud of gloom hangs over, thanks in large part to the phenomenal art direction and cinematography, which mixes in a wide array of sights for the eyes: the gilded halls of the ministry of magic, the decrepit house of Bathilda Bagshot, and a whole host of gorgeously shot landscape vistas. In addition to the understated score by Alexandre Desplat, the film may be one of the most beautifully executed entries in the series, albeit in a much different way from its predecessors.
As for the the story telling, it has its ups and downs. Scenes never feel rushed to the point of being sloppy, but there are scenes that don't seem to reach their full potential, and are lucky to have the general atmosphere as a safety net. This is particularly true when the trio sneak into the Ministry of Magic and have an encounter with Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), now a member of the now-Voldemort-controlled-Ministry. A significant part of the scene involves the heroes being chased by Dementors, figures which drain happiness and literally suck out souls. Yet the screenplay never gives any mention to the presence of effects of the Dementors, as opposed to the way Alfonso Cuaron's Prisoner of Azkaban conveyed their effects so menacingly. Here they feel like props, almost thrown in carelessly. The film also has a somewhat unevenly paced middle section, involving the trio traveling and hiding in the woods. It's not boring, but it's not entirely compelling, and it's hard not to feel that there had to be a better way to execute (and condense) this portion of the story. There is one moment of true narrative brilliance; the tale of the three brothers (the first owners of the Deathly Hallows), which is done in beautiful shades of black and white animation, is a mesmerizing and gorgeously designed piece that would be a work of art even as a standalone work. Yet when the story finally concludes and the movie continues through to its end, it's hard not to be left with a painful feeling of longing for the final chapter.
All the same, there's plenty in the execution that works. There are laughs, as previously mentioned, and a great jump scare, and solidly executed action sequences. Yates might not necessarily have a flair for fight scenes (although I'll always love the Dumbledore vs. Voldemort duel from "Phoenix"), but he makes up for it in tone. Here the magic is generally without flash. Wands are waved, sometimes with words spoken, and then bursts of light send debris flying. A scene in which the trio are attacked in a London cafe feels less like a magical showdown and more like a gunfight. And even though the character injuries and deaths may not register as truly heart-wrenching, the aforementioned atmosphere helps fill in the screenplay gaps and lends the film many moments of quiet sorrow.
So where does the penultimate installment rank among the previous films? It's certainly below Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix, the two best of the films. For now, it's sitting either at equal standing with or just below The Half-Blood Prince as the third best, the major difference being that "Half-Blood" told a complete story arc in its run time, whereas "Hallows" still has so much more to tell. In some ways, it might be better to look back on this film when part 2 is released in July, to see how it stacks up once the book in its entirety has finally been delivered. For now, though, we can only judge it on what we have.
Grade: B
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