Can Harry weave his magic one last time?

I have to admit I gave up on the books at the third one. I loved the Prisoner of Azkaban, but after that one I had not really any interest moving forward with the rest of them. I just let myself wait for the movies, and really didn't go to the movies to see them. I waited for DVD, and working at a video shop for many years, I got to borrow them out for free. But something inside of me wanted to go see the new one at the cinema. I had no interest when seeing the preview (sorry Warner Bros. your marketing didn't work on me) but something inside of me wanted to know how the whole story was going to conclude. I must admit I found the last movie extremely boring (and took many stops and starts on the DVD player to finally finish it). But I must admit I am really glad I went to this one at the cinema, as this is what the books were all about. An extremely dark tale, filled with magic and great characters taking you on a journey. What made this movie work was that everything, I felt, aligned extremely well. I'm talking about the acting, the directing, the screenplay and especially the music and cinematography. But before I tell you the good parts, let's start with the story.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One takes up after the last film, (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince) after the death of Dumbledoore. In the last film, the three characters were out to destroy Horcruxes which once all destroyed will eliminate the evil Lord Voldermont (Ralph Fiennes). The Ministry of Magic after the death of Rufus Scrimgeour (Bill Nighy in a blink and you will miss him cameo) has been taken over by Lord Voldermont and his evil followers. They are out to destroy all muggles and get their hands on Harry Potter. The world is in danger and it is up to our three heros Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermonine (Emma Watson) to finish this battle once and for all. With the help of old friends and new ones, everything must go to plan or else Lord Voldermont will have his way on our world. Where does the Deathly Hallows come into it? Can't tell you that, it is all apart of the journey you must take, but let me tell you it is a very exciting world to get into.

This movie in my mind, shows what happens when talent and vision come together. The actors, now grown up, look like they know their material inside out and portray the characters with great depth and test themselves as actors with many of them having to pull off some major emotions. I must give special praise to Emma Watson. She annoyed me in nearly all of the pictures. Her character was annoying and her onscreen presence never did much for me. I was wrong about her in this one. I don't want to offend the Potter fans, but she blew the boys out of the water with her acting. She, I feel, has turned into a very good actress and will have a great career after the film series is finished. But I must say all of them have turned into great performs having to carry the film mostly all the way. With such talents also being involved in the film (Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Julie Walters, Alan Rickman, Brenda Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Robbie Coltrane, Imelda Staunton) this was not going to be an easy task, but all three lived up to the challenge.

Filmed beautifully by David Yates (who helmed the last three films) he gives us a gloom filled movie filled with fear, excitement and a bleak look at what has started to happen to this beautiful world these characters used to live in. Capturing some of Britain's hidden treasures in their countryside, Yates uses the land to create a more realistic vision of a world that we all could be living in, instead of a made up vision for these characters. Yates also brings the action hard and fast, and does not worry about this being a so-called "children's tale." The children part has very much left the building and now adults fill most of the cinema, as with the books they have become more about adult fiction than children's. It is actually quite scary the message that the book and films now portray, as my friend pointed out, something that I missed all along. Have a look when you watch it, it will make sense in a lot of scenes, as it has taken inspiration from one of the most horrific events this world had ever seen.  Be warned though, there are many dark parts in this movie and does not play on the light factor due to it staring young actors. This is why I felt it worked so well. I am thinking with such a wicked character like Lord Voldermont, you can not exactly make the action and fear this character oozes with bunny rabbits and rainbows.

The only thing I do have to complain about in this movie is I was so developed in the story and the movie, that I felt someone yelled, "stooooooppppppppppp" and put the brakes on the film half way through. To me it dragged a little. I know it is based on a book and they need to cut parts, but I think in the editing room they could have edited this a bit more. You will know what I am talking about when you see it, but it just felt like the story kinda stalled until they felt it was appropriate to start the film at a rapid pace again. But let me assure you I walked out of this movie wanting the next chapter. I was like "no don't stop the movie, I want the next part and I want it now, don't make me wait." That is good film making in my books, as none of the other movies have come close to receiving that reaction from me. Congrats gang, you are all turning into very good performers and this reviewer wants you to continue casting you magic over me for the final chapter. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 8/10