Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1)

(M) Warner DVD/BD

As conceived by J. K. Rowling, Harry was holed up in a cupboard under the stairs in his Aunt and Uncle’s house after the death of his parents, only to discover he had a gift for magic and an association with an evil wizard who he would eventually have to destroy to restore good in the world.

Tough issues for your standard teenager.

As the seventh adventure begins, he is dealing with the death of another close mentor — Albus Dumbledore at the hands of Severus Snape — and he is in a race to destroy the Horcruxes that are keeping alive Voldemort, who with his army of wizards seeks to kill Harry.

This seemingly impossible mission has Ron, Hermione and Harry on the run, in the wilderness, to avoid detection. And our three intrepid wizards are barely 17.

With this bridging film, director David Yates has made an engaging and scary story (note the M rating) that will please fans but has the potential to bewilder those who haven’t read the books.

That said, Rowling is highly imaginative and doesn’t talk down to her fans. She has crafted a fascinating and ambitious universe, where love ultimately triumphs over evil.

Harry as a character has always embodied self sacrifice and loyalty above all else and this film highlights how important these traits are in the lead-up to the epic finale.

The who’s who of British actors playing support parts are always a treat to watch but, more than any other film, the story rests squarely on the leads’ shoulders.

Adrian Drayton

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