Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One

Remember when I blogged on Megamind about there being seven films in 3d coming out in the last two months of the year? Well, this one would’ve been the eighth. But rather than risk conjuring up yet another crummy 3d conversion, Warner Bros. flattened Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One for all theaters.

Gimmicks aside, this half of the last Harry Potter story is just that, half a film. But it’s also a good film on its own that’ll satisfy its fans in time for the next installment.

In the last film, good ol’ Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) was struck dead by Snape (Alan Rickman) while Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) watched. Now, he and his best chums Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are on the run from the evil Death Eaters, who have taken over the Wizarding World.

The evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is immortal, but he can be killed if the objects carrying the fragments of his soul, the Horcruxes are destroyed. Naturally, it’s up to our three heroes to get rid of them. That is, if they don’t end up cracking and get rid of each other.

Even at two and a half hours, director David Yates keeps the action going. So much so, in fact, one’ll be surprised that it is two and a half hours. There’s plenty of action here, and the main three go well together.

But then again, the worst part is that at the end, one can’t help but want the next installment sooner than later. Or, maybe it’s a good thing? I don’t know. The next installment comes in July, supposedly in the 3d this film lacks, and I’ll be there to review it.