Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Although there have been many successful film franchises launched in the first decade of the 21st century, the ones that will likely be best remembered are those films based on J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels. For one thing, there are more of them than many other franchises, and also it has taken ten years to convert each book into a film.

But, as most of the world knows, the Harry Potter series is coming to an end. However, Warner Bros. (and in all likelihood Rowling herself) is not about to let this financial gold-mine wrap up just yet. Instead, they have split the final Potter chapter into two parts.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I is not like the previous six films. One of the opening scenes has Harry already fighting for his life as he is escorted to a safe house by those willing to give their lives for him. Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his Death Eaters have pulled out all the stops. He wants Potter dead—now.

But Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione's (Emma Watson) adventure doesn't take place in the usual setting. Early in the film, they are forced to flee an interrupted wedding, and so they spend the rest of the movie in the wilderness seeking out the Voldemort's horcruxes. Considering Harry Potter's popularity, though, I will leave the plot synopsis at that.

The word "dark" has been a favorite adjective when describing the Harry Potter franchise. And maybe it's applicable at times, but not for this particular chapter in the series. The moment Harry, Ron and Hermione escape into the forests of England, the brooding nature that we're used to vanishes.

Proximity is often the key to suspense, but with sweeping shots of lakes and beautiful mountains in the background, it's easy to forget the dire predicament the film's heroes are in. The dimly lit halls of Hogwarts are far away, and even though the film makes a point to shoot many of the outside scenes at night or in a chilly blue tone, the atmosphere doesn't compare to the claustrophobia of those long, dark passageways in the castle we've all become familiar with.

There is one scene, however, that will likely raise the hairs on the back of your neck like the first time you watched poor Harry fall into that foggy cemetery after seemingly winning the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Due to various plot turnings, Harry and Hermione follow an old and strangely mute woman into the house where Harry's parents died. It is in the closeness of this house that you become drawn in with the unsuspecting heroes. The horrible secret of the old woman indeed reveals the darker side of Rowling, and one wonders how popular the movie would have been had the other 135 minutes been just as tense.

Yet I said this movie wasn't dark and, in fact, much of it isn't even about Voldemort or saving the entire world from his tyranny. No, what it's really about is sex—or, at least, the irrepressible sexual tension among Harry, Hermione and Ron. Out in the woods alone, the three are suddenly very much aware of each other. We see, before the action sets in, that Harry and Ginny have become more open with their relationship (in a scene involving the franchise's first true "make-out"). However, this does not stop Ron from assuming there is something besides friendship growing between Harry and Hermione.

At one point, we are even led to believe that this possibility may not be so far-fetched. In a scene both awkward and charming, Harry dances with Hermione, but we can see there is something beneath the surface, a longing neither of them will act on out of trepidation. Perhaps they are not meant for each other, but the film wisely leaves us with the impression that had they been forced to live in isolation, things may have turned out all right.

But the true indication of where Harry, Ron and Hermione are in their sexual awakening is seen through Ron's eyes at the end of the film when he is tasked with destroying a horcrux. The evil object tries to dissuade him from annihilating it by conjuring images of Harry and Hermione telling him they want nothing to do with him because they have each other.