Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - SPOILER WARNING

Reviewing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1. If you have not yet seen the movie, I strongly suggest that you DO NOT read this. If you're not intending to see the movie, or you've already seen it, then by all means, proceed! :)

Firstly. The book is SO much better.

But.

Wow. I'm totally amazed by this Potter film. It's definitely the best by far, I think it was quite faithful to the book and I was so engaged the whole time. Sure, it got a little slow in the middle but the book is like that too. Overall I was satisfied with the film and really enjoyed it.

The openings scenes were brilliant - I always get SO excited when the title rolls up, so it was awesome not to be disappointed by what I saw immediately after it. The scene at the Malfoy manor was great, it really looked exactly like how I had pictured it when reading the book, and the death of Charity Burbage was so terrible. That scene really set up how dark this movie was going to be.

I would really love to add more on what I thought of the cinematography, etc, but I don't actually know what I thought of it! I really need to see the film again to be able to talk about details like that. Perhaps this is an excuse to go back again in a couple weeks....

I must say of the trio - Emma and Rupert stole this film. Sure Daniel is the hero as Harry, but as far as acting goes these two outshone him by far. I appreciated Emma Watson in this film much, much more than in the others - I really think she stepped up in this one and honestly, for the first time, I actually felt like I was completely watching Hermione than Emma. I've always had a bit of trouble watching her and Rupert play Hermione and Ron because they don't look anything like how I picture the characters ... I finally forgot all about that in this film.

I'm gonna talk about a few favorite scenes....

**SPOILER ALERT**

 1. The Seven Potters

First off. This scene. Hee. It was quite well-done, the way the characters changed into Harry. I loved watching their expressions and seeing Fred and George behind Harry's eyes, or Fleur's voice as Harry stripped off his shirt. Plus the lines in this scene were quite true to the book, which I love. Especially Fred and George saying, 'Hey, we're identical!' Also loving the way the girls are standing in Harry's body. Makes me giggle.

 2. Ginny and Harry

This shot is the moment when Ginny and Harry break apart from kissing and notice George standing in the kitchen. Hysterically awkward. Love it. Was disappointed that Ginny only had basically one scene in the whole movie. Ginny's one of my favorite characters, after all. Looking forward to seeing her appear again in part two.

3. The Ministry of Magic

Hehe I loved this whole bit of the movie. The three actors who played Harry, Ron and Hermione in this were so good, especially the guy who did Harry - he had Daniel's walk down-pat! So funny. And Ron's line "my wife's downstairs all alone" was so hilarious. Ron, you don't have a wife.

Also, after this scene, when Ron gets splinched - thought that was quite brilliant too. I loved the way they showed Hermione's protective spells when the Snatchers passed by. Great scene.

4. The Locket

As for this scene ... I have no words. I couldn't find a screenshot of what was in the locket ... but we don't really need to see it again do we? I am scarred for life. Thankfully it meant nothing!

5. Malfoy Manor - Hermione's torture

This scene. Oh my word. I felt like throwing up in the movie theatre, I was so freaked out. For me this was always such a chilling scene in the book - Ron's helpless and heartbreaking reaction was bad enough, but then Hermione actually comes up with a lie while being Cruicioed. She's tough, man. In the movie this scene was far scarier - I didn't even think that was possible. I was not prepared at all for them to show any of the torture because in the book you read it from Harry and Ron's perspective, and all you hear are Hermione's screams. It is so much worse when you actually see it happen.

Helena Bonham Carter plays Bellatrix's motive for torturing Hermione slightly differently than written in the book. She's doing it much more for 'fun' rather than the information. It's so chilling. Quite honestly scary. 

Oh ... and when Hermione awakens and sees the word 'mudblood' carved on her arm ... I wanted to cry.






6. Dobby's Death

So devastating. Not to mention it was right after we had to sit through Hermione screaming in pain for several heart-wrenching minutes. What a way to end the film. I love Dobby, and this scene was so so so sad. But so brilliant. I totally teared up when he said how beautiful the place was, and how happy he was to be with his friends. Dobby, you will always have a special place in my heart. Now I have to go on with the rest of this review before I cry....

7. The last screen shot

Oh, how I shiver with delight when I see this image. It's not over. Be afraid.

Other noteworthy scenes that I must mention - the scene in Bathilda Bagshot's house was the second most scary scene. It was the most frightening in the book, and when Harry and Hermione entered her house, the whole scene from the book came flooding back to me and I flipped out in my seat in the cinema and started watching through my fingers. Thankfully it wasn't quite so frightening as I imagined. Still so, so creepy. Loved it.

Another brilliant scene was The Tale of the Three Brothers, when we find out about the Deathly Hallows. Loved how they did that, and loved that Hermione did the voice-over. It was very cool.

Well, that was probably the darkest, scariest, most brilliant Harry Potter film ever. I give it four stars - although that is pushing it a little, because it's nothing compared to the book. Hoping I can give the last one 4.5. CAN'T WAIT!