Looking back over the last nine years, the changes in the Harry Potter movies are apparent. From the trivial (such as the aging of the three stars) to the technical (the confident directorial “wizardry” of the later films to the first chapters), this series has become a well-oiled machine that successfully captures the hearts of viewers from all age demographics. Unfortunately, in the first component of the final plunge, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, relies too heavily on the audience’s devotion to the prior films and lacks the strength in narrative and wonder most of the previous installments delivered.
In the latest adventure, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) leave the school grounds in exile to find and destroy the Horcruxes, in order to defeat Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Concurrently, the forces of evil gain in power and in Third Reich fascism take over the Ministry of Wizardry and hunt Harry and his cohorts.
Director David Yates (who directed the last four chapters of the cycle) takes an extraordinary amount of time to tell the story (150 minutes) with only sporadic moments of energetic drive and visual flair. When he does so, the movie soars. Disappointingly, they are only moments and the darkness of the current material lends the movie a melancholic gloom: not what the audience wants in closure from the highest grossing film franchise of all time. On the plus side, the three leads continually grow in their rapport and range, and it is hard not to root for Harry and his compatriots.
By the time Harry Potter will face his final battle with Voldemort on the big screen, we will have been watching this battle for over 10 years. During that time, the innocence of the actors to the awkwardness of the initial directors has given way to a reliable fantasy franchise. Here’s hoping that the last chapter can reveal something more than just dependable. C+
Ari Silber is a Loyola MBA student. Before graduate school, he worked for nine years in the Los Angeles film industry, focusing on marketing, publicity and distribution.
Ari Silber can be reached at
