Since, November 14, 2001, the release of the first Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Hogwarts-loving-circular-spectacles-sporting-magically-enthused Potter fans have been given the opportunity to view the global phenomenon every couple of years. Nine years later, on November 19, 2010, the first half of the last film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, debuted, drawing in 330 million dollars during its opening weekend.1
Considering the film is part one of Hollywood's last taste of the whimsical world of wizardry, both critics' and fans' expectations were set exceedingly high. Fortunately, director David Yates did not disappoint. The film encompasses a combination of adventure, fear, contempt, passion and despair, allowing viewers to journey along the protagonist's (Daniel Radcliffe) hero quest to defeating the dark lord (Ralph Fiennes).2
The adventure truly begins, once Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) arrive in London, England, after having swiftly dodged you-know-who's (Voldemort) death eaters: the trio must set forth to destroy the remaining horcruxes, in order to defeat Potter's arch-nemesis, Voldemort. Each of the three has a special gift that Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) left in his will, to assist them on their dangerous journey; for Ron, Dumbledore left his deluminator, which captures sources of light; for Hermione he leaves "Tales of Beetle the Bard," which contains a collection of wizard tales; lastly, for Harry, he leaves the first golden snitch that Harry captured in his first game of Quidditch and the sword of Gryffindor.3
Radcliffe does a tremendous job depicting a young prodigy who feels lost and forced to venture on an enigmatic quest with his two pals as his guides, using only Dumbledore's gift, the golden snitch, as a reminder of his past achievements. Particularly, in the beginning of the film, Radcliffe brilliantly conveys Potter's torment when he threatens to run away, so that he can fight his own battles to prevent any one he loves from being harmed. Throughout the film Radcliffe truly captures the essence of a young man who has come of age, ready to face the final skirmishes to fulfill his destiny.4
Though Harry Potter may be deemed the hero of the film, Grint truly steals the show and does a magnificent job portraying, a witty, love-struck, jealous-second-hand-man. Not only does Grint extract the most chuckles throughout the film, but he also leaves the audience feeling empathetic as he feels overshadowed by his best friend, Harry, and overlooked by his love, Hermione. One of the catchiest lines of the film is when Ron tells Harry, "We wouldn't last two days without [Hermione]," and then continues with, "Don't tell her I said that."5
After nine years of moving staircases, magic wands and lightning-bolt-shaped scars, Harry Potter is almost finished. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 has done no shame to J.K. Rowling's sensation, and allows viewers to travel alongside Potter towards the last stage of the hero quest of the century.6
