Available on DVD/Blu_ray/Digital Download Combo Pack From Warner Home Video as of 4/15/2011
It’s been eleven years since Harry Potter the young half-blood wizard came onto the movie screen in the physical form of Daniel Racliffe. Back in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry and his friends were kids attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where they learned magic and engaged in such innocent pursuits as rousing games of Quidditch.
Just like Harry and his friends, the majority of the audiences who embraced the Harry Potter movies were young kids as well. In the time since, that audience has grown up and so has Harry Potter, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson). Gone of are the days of innocent childhood as the three of them set out on their perilous mission to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) immortality and destruction:the Horcruxes. On their own and on the run, they find out that the wizarding world has become a dangerous place. The long-feared war has begun and the Dark Lord has seized control of the Ministry of Magic and even Hogwarts, terrorizing and arresting all who might oppose him. The Chosen One has become the hunted one as the Death Eaters search for Harry with orders to bring him to Voldemort, alive.
There is no doubt about it, Harry Potter isn’t kidding around anymore!
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt. has decidedly darker and more adult tone to it than it’s predecessors. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have all grown into adults and their characters are all stepping into adult territory. They have left the childhood flights of fancy behind and as a movie goer, I’m not sure that is such a good thing for this franchise. In all honesty, I felt it brought with it a certain level of tedious plotting and heavy handed dramatics. I understand that they wanted to make it darker and more sinister because Harry Potter is coming to the end of his journey and Voldemort has become a very consuming evil. Yet the thing I felt most throughout the movie was boredom rather than edge of the seat suspense. However I think it is good to keep in mind that this is really only the first half of a story being told.
For true Potter fans, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on DVD/Blu_ray/Digital Download is worth having. The movie has excellent cinematography and awesome special effects which lose none of their quality or clarity on the disc versions. The Blu_ray disc has some very interesting special features and behind the scenes looks at the making of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt.1 and a sneak peek look at the opening sequence to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2. Go to the official site for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1 to learn more about the movie on DVD/Blu_ray/Digital Download combo pack.
Grade B