In 2010, the first half of the huge finale to one of the most successful film series of all time was released to raves and great success.
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 does a terrific job setting up the finale, but sometimes you can feel the film straining under the weight of anticipation for Part 2.
Our bad guy Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has taken full control of Hogwarts & The Ministry and has split up pieces of his jet black soul and hid them all over the world.
Our trio of heroes Harry, Hermione and Ron must find all the pieces or V remains immortal and makes the future a rather dark and gloomy prospect.
The search for the pieces or "horcruxes" takes them on some interesting adventures, including a plunge deep into the "Brazil" like bowels underneath the Ministry.
The film stalls a bit when our trio seems eternally stuck in a gloomy forest for the back half of the film, but Daniel Radcliffe and his co-stars are all excellent and keep you interested, if not riveted as the move through all the mechanics necessary to set up the spectacular finale.
Its definitely a more adult film than many in the series. Dark, foreboding, with torture and many life threatening situations for our heroes.
By this time, the Potter film crew is well established and at the top of their game, executing Director David Yates vision to perfection.
As the "Empire Strikes Back" of the Potter series, Part 1 is an enjoyable chapter in its own right, but not nearly as good as Part 2, which was released the following year.
Part 1 gets a B.
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