It’s probably inappropriate to say that my favorite Harry Potter film is the most recent one, Deathly Hallows, Part 1. I mean, I’ve only seen it four or five times, as opposed to the dozens and dozens of viewings that I’ve enjoyed for all of the others. But, but, but… it’s as close to perfect (although it definitely has distinct flaws) as a movie has come yet.
Hallows 1, more than any of the films, captures the tone of the book that it represents, and because the seventh book depends so heavily on its tone, this is absolutely vital. The music is haunting, but it’s nothing compared to the cinematography. Honestly, this movie should have won armfuls of awards for it, I swear – the scenery is so empty, beautiful, and desolate, just like the book (it’s like you want to be there because it’s stunning, but you know you’d probably just feel lonely and lost if you were), and the colors used are muted, because hey, the world certainly isn’t vibrant and cheery in Book 7. More than anything else, though, I appreciate that the film allowed the characters and plot to have time to breathe. The book centered around the way that war – both the action of it (and the resulting devastation and deaths) and the interminable lulls that are sometimes even worse – affects relationships and emotions; this is why many people believed that, upon first read, HP7 was one giant camping trip. It certainly lacked the constant dramatic twists and turns of the plot, a battle lurking around every corner. But what it did have, and what the movie shockingly included, was the gradual dissolution of seemingly unbreakable friendships and relationships, and by the time you’ve reached the seventh movie and book, man does that affect you as a viewer and reader even more than a big fight scene.
Okay, a couple other quick points about the film: I loved the dancing scene between Harry and Hermione. I know this is a major point of contention among fans, but I felt that it was a perfect portrayal of two platonic friends who have each other’s backs no matter what, but who have always been two parts of three. There are very few times within the series when Harry and Hermione had a strong friendship apart from Ron; how many times did Harry complain that he missed the connection he had with Ron, and that pretty much all Hermione does is drag people to the library? But they do love each other, and when Ron walks out, they are all that both of them have left in the world… so a dance, goofy, awkward, and abruptly ended (upon realization that happiness in that situation might only last the length of a song) is a wonderful summation of all of that, to me. Lastly, the acting of the trio has drastically improved… although Rupert has always been faultless in my opinion. Emma finally seems like she understands Hermione’s character, and Dan has become pretty terrific, I think. But the stand-out is Helena Bonham Carter – god damn is that woman insane and bloodthirsty and terrifying and sexy and WOAH. Absolute, utter perfection as Bellatrix. I absolutely love it when the films make the characters seem more alive than the books, rather than flattening them to the point of no return.
