Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I ***** (2010, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson) – Classic Movie Review 578

School’s out – that’s right, after these last two Deathly Hallows movies in 2010 and 2011, no Hogwarts! And this time Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are trying to find and destroy the missing horcruxes in their quest to bring down evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), whose power is growing stronger and now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is the darkest, grimmest and scariest Potter movie so far. It’s a bleak ride taking in the rise of the Death Eaters, the creepy Ministry of Magic, the nightmarish snake Nagini and the deaths of major characters.

But there are some jolly moments too: Harry and Hermione get up-close and personal and do some dorky dancing, the Polyjuice potion produces seven Harrys, one in a bra!, Grint adds welcome laughs and Helena Bonham Carter’s Bellatrix Lestrange is splendidly unhinged.

J K Rowling still has imagination and energy left to introduce some new characters, including Xenophilius Lovegood (Rhys Ifans) and minister Rufus Scrmigeour (Bill Nighy). But Deathly Hallows also sees the welcome return of beloved characters such as house elves Dobby and Kreacher and Alastor ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody (Brendan Gleeson).

It offers full value at nearly two and a half hours (146 minutes) of fast-paced, event-packed glossy entertainment, full of character, incident and menace. But its best achievement is focusing on the polished performances of the three young stars. My, how grownup they are in every way!

Two Oscar nominations – for the visual effects and the art direction by production designer Stuart Craig and set decorator Stephenie McMillan. But an Oscar still eludes Harry Potter.

Dave Legeno, who plays the werewolf Fenrir Greyback in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Parts 1 and 2, died while hiking in Death Valley, California, on July 6 2014, age 50.

Veteran British character actor David Ryall, best known as Harry Potter’s Elphias Doge (replacing Peter Cartwright), died on Christmas Day 2014, aged 79.  His movie credits include 2008’s City of Ember, 2004’s Around the World in 80 Days and 1980’s The Elephant Man.

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© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 578

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