Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One

This is a great film. It is the most beautiful of the Harry Potter movies. Not much happens in it in retrospect, but while you're in it, it feels endless. That is not a bad thing, for it feels like its own world (one that we return to every once and a while). The first Harry Potter is about magic and loyalty. It thrusts you into a magical world that every kid at some point has wanted to be in or thought about tenderly. But the movies and the books grow gradually darker. Harry Potter 7 is the darkest. It is about being alone, and old titans you thought were invincible falling. I had reservations about the film before going to see it, for I felt Yates' (the director) adaptation of the sixth book was not well done at all. But this is a trenchantly tender film. There is little action and much brooding. It is gorgeous and has two specific scenes of absolute great acting. The first is by Emma Watson (a star) when she wipes clean the memories of her parents. She is doing it to keep them safe, we realize, but the way her face contorts itself and her solitary walk alone is one of great power and nuance. We realize the metaphor of this film of leaving the magical world of childhood and entering the vast, dark world. The second great scene is when Alan Rickman (Snape) watches one of his old friends killed by Voldemort. This is another scene where the nuances of Rickman's face are just perfect, foreshadowing the greatest reveal of all the Potter books and Snape's intentions are made clear. That scene will no doubt be in the second installment. HP7P1 has great acting in it, not only by the myriad of great british actors who play all of the supporting roles, but by the three leads, who are so comfortable and natural in their roles. Harry Potter is a tender and nostalgic film, however it is bothersome that there is still one more installment. That should be great, and together they will make an outstanding finish to one of the greatest movie franchises ever.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: ★★★1/2