Review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

[Doctor Omega]

Your thoughts on this movie.....

As Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.

On to the next movie....

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2.......

https://www.imdforums.com/threads/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-2-2011.966/


Back to the previous movie......

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE......

https://www.imdforums.com/threads/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-2009.964/

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

Normally, I balk at the thought of a book being split into two movies, because in reality, it's typically done only for box office. This is one of those rare cases where it was necessary, and it greatly enhances it. The first movie can, at times, drag. But it sets up so much, and allows more development for what's about to happen. There are so many great scenes, like Harry and Hermione dancing alone in the tent, them visiting the grave of Harry's parents, the affect of the horcrux on all of them, and of course, the death of Dobby. All in all, a great film, which leads into the action packed second part.

Also, I know I saw a video that said they were glad it was cut, but one of the most touching scenes in the book was when Dudley and Harry say goodbye, and Dudley tells him that he never really hated him. I know it would have slowed the pace, but I love that moment.

 

[Gavin]

The first movie can, at times, drag.

That's in keeping with the book. The first part did drag a bit, but that helped to set up the feeling of hopelessness of the task.

 

[Carol]

What do you make of this whole splitting of the book into two films?

Hi Doc - very good question, but again a nefarious either/or poll where I want a third option. In fact I'd like a Rowling-approved director's cut of the two parts condensed into one. For, as they say, the shits and giggles. And emergencies when a person just doesn't have time to watch both the extant version.
Two parts does justice to a very hefty book, so I agree with the others here so far. Maybe a single film from the start would have been too much for the young core-audience after all.

 

[Gavin]

It's also interesting that the fourth and fifth books in the series were larger than the seventh, but were squeezed into a single movie each. At the time there was discussion about splitting them into two movies and quite a lot had to be cut but both managed to work OK. I'm just in the process of reading the fourth book with my 11yo and I'm realising just how much "extraneous" material there is in the book. It's all fantastic world building stuff and does develop the plot and lay hints for the future but its easy to see now how much of it could be cut without seriously impacting the story. From memory we were about a third of the way through the book before they even got on the train to Hogwarts. And movie-wise they managed to make that fit into about 15 minutes without skipping any vital story points.

Although the final book wasn't as big there wasn't as much world-building or future plot hints, so pretty much everything needed to be kept. It's one of the (very) few cases where I thought the split into two movies was worthwhile.

 

[Elliot Thomas]

I think this padded out entry gave Radcliffe, Watson and Grint the best opportunity yet to showcase their acting talents. That's what I got out of it anyway. The three of them carried the whole film on their shoulders.

 

[Gavin]

I think this padded out entry gave Radcliffe, Watson and Grint the best opportunity yet to showcase their acting talents.

It's interesting seeing how they develop over the movies. It's hard to predict when casting 11/12yo's how good an actor they will be, and their performances in the first couple of movies are pretty average at times. But they all developed really well and by the final couple of movies had developed into fine actors.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

@Gavin You mean to say that it doesn't pain you that they cut all of the S.P.E.W. storyline out of the film?

 

[Carol]

It's also interesting that the fourth and fifth books in the series were larger than the seventh, but were squeezed into a single movie each

To be honest, I think I skipped bits in both of those... and haven't reread them since the films came out. But I really love Rowling for writing as she wants to write - teachers and parents were thinking "don't blow it with overkill now you've got our kids reading"...but those kids just kept on reading however long they got.

It wasn't a foolproof fix though - I was nagging a class who hadn't read their Shakespeare some time ago - and said
"Come on, you're the generation who learned to love reading thanks to Harry Potter" and THEY said:
"Nope, that was our big brothers and sisters, we're the ones who say fuck it we'll wait for the film"

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

"Nope, that was our big brothers and sisters, we're the ones who say fuck it we'll wait for the film"

This. This just...I used to work with this guy who was Mr. Jock in high school, and would constantly chide me for my love of nerd culture (and thought I needed to give up listening to metal and start being a country boy, and I told him to fuck off). He went on one day about "Why should I read a book when I can see the movie?" I tried explaining to him - monosyllabic - about how movies cut so much out of books, and you get a richer experience by reading them. He looked at me like I had just vomited eels and shat an alien. Some people are just what I like to cal, stupid, And people wonder why I have no hope for the human race.

 

[ant-mac]

This. This just...I used to work with this guy who was Mr. Jock in high school, and would constantly chide me for my love of nerd culture (and thought I needed to give up listening to metal and start being a country boy, and I told him to fuck off). He went on one day about "Why should I read a book when I can see the movie?" I tried explaining to him - monosyllabic - about how movies cut so much out of books, and you get a richer experience by reading them. He looked at me like I had just vomited eels and shat an alien. Some people are just what I like to cal, stupid, And people wonder why I have no hope for the human race.

I live in rural South Australia and have had some very similar experiences.

Of course I happen to like country music, while many of my peers didn't...

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

I dig older country music. Johnny, Willie, Waylon, Merle...but modern country is lost on me. That and most top 40 radio pop. Other than that, my musical taste is pretty eclectic. Rock, metal, blues, jazz, Motown, just about anything.

 

[ant-mac]

I dig older country music. Johnny, Willie, Waylon, Merle...but modern country is lost on me. That and most top 40 radio pop. Other than that, my musical taste is pretty eclectic. Rock, metal, blues, jazz, Motown, just about anything.

I prefer classic country to new country...

Why do I suddenly feel like I'm talking about DOCTOR WHO?

 

[Carol]

He looked at me like I had just vomited eels and shat an alien. ... And people wonder why I have no hope for the human race.

Dearest Mr Metal - if THAT is your party trick I'd say the human race has vast untapped potential that needs investment, big time AND I'd pay good money to see that.
As for your Jock friend, when his ex-Jock knees pack up on him and the steroids deliver on their promise of impotence he'll have a lot more time on his hands and a man can only wank so much of an evening. Then the books'll come and get him.
(You do know I live in a fantasy world on Bank Holidays especially, don't you?)

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

(You do know I live in a fantasy world on Bank Holidays especially, don't you?)

As everybody should. And a happy Walpurgisnacht/May Day to you, m'lady!

 

[Carol]

a happy Walpurgisnacht/May Day to you

Thank you kindly, same to you.
A fun thing was happening on the radio when I woke up yesterday morning - BBC radio's usual Sunday breakfast Godslot was featuring inter alia cheerful pagan music requests and blessings for Beltane celebrations. First time I've heard them do that that - a little bit of inclusiveness in our wonky world.

Don't know if this link will work for you but it's worth trying - a much younger me had several driving lessons through this village, featuring trying not to knock this bugger over.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-leeds-39724443/village-maypole-gets-health-check

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

I love that someone stole it in 1966 and demanded 5 pounds ransom!

Sorry, damn American keyboard. No foreign currency symbols.

 

[Carol]

someone stole it in 1966 and demanded 5 pounds ransom!

£5 could make you the toast of the town on Saturday night back then - see Python's Yorkshiremen sketch for details!
I think I was on 2 shillings pocket money, if that, back then. (Old money: 20 shillings to the pound) Just enough for a Superman comic and a quarter of wine gums - luxury.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

£5 could make you the toast of the town on Saturday night back then - see Python's Yorkshiremen sketch for details!

And you know? If you told that to the youth of today, they wouldn't believe you.

I think I was on 2 shillings pocket money, if that, back then. (Old money: 20 shillings to the pound) Just enough for a Superman comic and a quarter of wine gums - luxury.

I remember my mom telling me years ago about how, growing up, she would get a quarter, and go to the drug store, and get a comic book and a bottle of soda, or a soda and candy. I always seemed baffled by the whole prospect, since I remember when comic books jumped drastically from $.35 to $1. Then in no time, comics were $3-4 a piece, and the comic industry can't understand why they started losing readers. Between lackluster stories, having to buy multiple titles for storylines, and too many titles, all at these prices, it's no wonder.

 

[Carol]

@chainsaw_metal1
Evening, sir! Thanks for that heart - I only wandered back on here at the halfway point in Ken Branagh's Henry V and found the place buzzing... Shakespeare can have a cup of tea and a biscuit till I'm good and ready to go back.

Oh Muppetry! Our posts overlapped and I'm being a good citizen and not double posting and I don;t know how to quote your last into this edit...and I'm slightly sloshed into the bargain