Movie Review: ‘Deathly Hallows’ Hits Its Mark

By Michael Lopez

Time to crank up the Harry Potter re-watch parties, because the epic journey is almost over. This weekend marks the release of the second-to-last film for the boy (err…young man) wizard and it is truly a sight to be seen! Of course, if you happened to have skipped any of the earlier movie chapters, it may leave you a bit confused.

Image: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1 finds Harry, Hermione, and Ron a little older and a little more emo than 2009’s Half-Blood Prince. Could Daniel Radcliffe be channeling a bit of Twilight into his performance? Either way, it actually works. The characters are much more mature now and it would be pointless to keep them all sweet and cutesy.

As it starts off, creepy Lord Voldemort is still on the loose and determined to strike down our lightning-headed hero down. But Harry’s got a plan; to find and destroy every last Horcrux (which are the keys to snakeface’s immortality). Gathering the scattered pieces proves to be quite the challenge, but they’re getting some familiar help along the way.

Classic HP fans will enjoy tons of cameos from past movies. There’s oversized ogre Hagrid, Dobby the house-elf, the colorful Weasley brothers, and our favorite Spanish spellcaster, Nymphadora Donks. Though their parts are brief, each one brings some very memorable moments to the screen.

And for all of you Slytherin fans, there are plenty of bad guy appearances too (including an incredibly real looking CGI snake!). But ultimately this movie belongs to the Hogwarts trio. A solid chunk of the two-and-a-half-hour epic revolves around the three teens hiding out alone and hunting for Horcruxes.

Fans of fast-paced magical action may find those scenes the slowest, but they do add character development and tighten the bonds between the group. There’s also the breathtaking visuals of the Deathly Hallows story. No spoilers here, but after watching that sequence you’ll understand why it got stuck into the title.

Overall, Hallows is a fantastic cinematic achievement. The direction, the performances, and the amazing effects (which are used somewhat sparingly) guarantee that you can enjoy multiple viewings. Just be sure you do your Harry homework before you see it because most everyday Muggles will have a tough time keeping up!

Are you planning to watch Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows? Tell us in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Harry Potter, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Movie Reviews, Movies, Movies & CineMás