Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

I guess I had hoped that if I waited long enough one of those magic feather pens would write this review for me but since it doesn't seem to be going to happen that way...I present to you without further delay the review of the seventh installment in the Harry Potter octrilogy (if that is a word) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1... (click highlighted area for movie trailer)

As a small disclaimer remember that I am not a Pott-head (patent/trademark/copyright) so I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books though I did see all of the movies. I think I (my kids) may even own them all.

The film follows the further adventures of three, what started out as young, wizards: Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint). The main premise of the film is that Harry and his mates uncover the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizard world - the Deathly Hallows. Once they uncover the secrets and powers of The Deathly Hallows good will prevail over evil once and for all.

All of the Harry Potter films have centered around every other wizardly being trying to protect the chosen one (Harry Potter) against the dark side (no, that's the Star Wars sextology if that is a word)...the Nazis (no, that's World War II)...Satan's demons and sin (no that's the Bible)...well, you get the idea; it's all of the good creatures trying to protect all that is good and all of the dark-arts creatures trying to turn everything evil and this one is no different. Protecting Harry should probably be what this movie was called.

There is a death in the film of one of the characters that has appeared in several of the films and I heard most of the audience sniffling. It was sad but I guess I wasn't as emotionally attached as the Pott-Heads (tm/c/pp) that were at the movie.

The film is action-packed and visually spectacular. I was riveted to my seat the entire time except for a few minutes when the 55-gallon drum of Diet Pepsi (ca-ching) was being drained from my refreshment storage area. It didn't really matter that I didn't remember what exactly happened in the previous six movies though I may have even enjoyed the movie more had I paid attention and gotten better grades in Harry Potter class. That's right I said "enjoyed" (talk about a spoiler alert).

It seems, as you may gather by my previous comments, that the Harry Potter story follows all of the major story-lines throughout history, mythology, religion, literature and film; a bunch of "good" beings are fighting against a bunch of "evil" beings to control the world or our souls or whatever is worth controlling. I don't know how the next movie (Part 2/number 9) is going to end but my guess is that good will conquer evil.

I recommend seeing the movie and it probably is good to see it in the theater with all of the visual and auditory effects but since a lot of us have television screens and sound systems that aren't far from movie theater quality it may be okay to wait for the DVD release which my guess will be Easter or next Christmas. If you are a Pott-Head I am sure you have already seen it but if you haven't you will no MATTer what I say. The one draw-back that I will say is that there is A LOT of stuff happening in this film. I guess that's what you want in a movie but you barely wrap your mind around one thing and the next thing flies (pun intended) right by you.

I give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - 3 1/2 magic wands.