It is sort of difficult to review part one of the two part split of a movie adaptation of the final book in a seven book series but here goes. The movie is never as good as the book. Right up front that should just be understood. In the Harry Potter series in particular, the movies have gone from bad to uneven to passable to good depending on how you feel about the choices made in the adaptation. For instance, while I thought Chris Columbus was faithful in his adaptations of the first two books the choices of what to emphasize and show differed pretty wildly from what I would have hoped for. Other directors have done better or worse jobs and here we are.  So before I get into this review it should be noted that I acknowledge this in the beginning and I understand that even when you are splitting it into two parts if you are dealing with a 784 page book some things are going to be left out and some things are going to be reworked for the screen.

What we get with the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is essentially a best of collection of scenes from the novel that still manages to tell a compelling story even if it feels a bit truncated and barren. Director David Yates captures the feel of the final book very well and the desperation and isolation the characters feel are well conveyed. Unfortunately that also makes the picture drag. It is a mixed but ultimately successful effort and, while it is  not going to win new fans, it should keep those fans who can let go of comparisons to the book satisfied.

The plot finds Harry setting off to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes so he can finally defeat the evil Voldemort, who is closing in on him. Friends Ron and Hermione come with him and the three set out on a race against time as they are pursued by Voldemort’s minions, the Death Eaters, all through London and the English countryside. This cat and mouse game takes its toll on the young wizards and puts their friendship to the test.

There is a lot going on here and it is easy to tell why the material was split up. It would have been impossible to cover all this ground and still do justice to the final battle we will see in Part 2. Still, it is odd that a movie that has so much to do spends so much time with long panning shots of not much at all while the characters sit there or stand looking longingly into the distance. It is weird to feel like you’ve just watched a lot of material crammed into a small container and still manage to be kind of bored in the second act because nothing much is going on.

Despite moments that drag, the film does a really good job of setting the mood and delivering on the drama and action. In previous Potters, the action sequences have been adequate but one thing that Yates brings to the table is an ability to make something that could look enormously silly instead look enormously bad ass. The wand duels and chases really pop and are very exciting to watch. Part of this is due to the ramping up of action in the source material but it is delivered very well puts this movie head and shoulders above previous installments in the action department.

As far as the drama goes, the acting found here is a well oiled machine of pretty much every talented British actor working today so the heavy scenes are carried out with deft skill that makes even the silliest sounding dialogue carry weight. This is another thing that Yates does well. Everything thing feels important and that helps everything come off as more plausible. What’s more when the few deaths that occur in this part of the book  they carry real emotional weight. One in particular made me cry just about as much as it did when it happened in the book. Yeah, I cried. Laugh it up.

Probably the best part of the movie has to be the cinematography. The film is absolutely gorgeous and shot with confidence and skill. It is one of those movies where any given still could hang in a museum, particularly any shot that features Emma Watson. This is a great looking film and even when it drags it is pretty to look at.

Conclusion [8.5 out of 10]

Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a very good effort based on a very good book. The book is in no danger of being eclipsed by the film but the film is one of the better Potter adaptations. The performances fire on all cylinders, the visuals are gorgeous and the action and drama hit their mark. The over all feeling is pretty spot on to the source material and even when it is slow it is still great looking. You could do much, much worse if you are a Harry Potter fan. If you aren’t a Harry Potter fan then you can do much better. That is what it comes down to at the end of the day, if you are a fan or not. I am a fan and I liked the movie.