“And how is it that you just happen to have the Sword of Gryffindor?”
What’s it all about? In what should have been their seventh and final year at Hogwarts, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) search for the remaining Horcruxes, the objects in which the Dark Lord has divided his soul. With two objects already destroyed — Tom Riddle’s diary, and the ring which cursed the late Albus Dumbledore — Harry and his friends are on the hunt for the last five Horcruxes. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART TWO also stars Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort.
Deathly Hallows, Part One By the Numbers
How old is Harry Potter? 17
How old was I at the film’s release? 22
Disconnect: 5 years
How many times have I seen the film in theatres? 1
How many times have I read the book? 2
Harry Potter Nerdery Level: Non-Existent (Waited a full year after the film’s release to see DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE in theatres; Didn’t make the effort to purchase Years 6-7 on DVD; Sighed indifferently.)
I have an odd relationship with HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE. After seeing HALF-BLOOD PRINCE and somewhat loathing it, I sort of fell off the Harry Potter bandwagon. Yes, I already knew that the source material for HALF-BLOOD PRINCE wasn’t anywhere near my favourite of the novels. I knew I’d be lukewarm regarding the film at best. Watching HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, however, I was gobsmacked at how they approached the adaptation. Without those handful of scenes with Draco Malfoy, the film would be almost unwatchable. HALF-BLOOD PRINCE and DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE share a director. I was concerned. And this is coming from a woman who has a hand-knitted Gryffindor scarf. To compound matters even further, a friend or two kept sending me images from DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE of Harry and Hermione making out. So, let’s just say I wasn’t lining up at midnight for the next film in the franchise.
I waited a year to see DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE. I saw it a week before PART TWO hit theatres. Was PART ONE what I feared it would be? Not in the least. This film is gorgeously edited — Have you seen the cold open? — well-written and manages to capture the anxiety and agony of the first half of Rowling’s last novel. One year ago, I wouldn’t believe that I now hold DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART ONE up there with PHILOSPHER’S STONE and PRISONER OF AZKABAN as my favourites of the entire franchise. Consider my wrist slapped.
Favourite Harry Potter Moment: This isn’t a specific “Harry Potter Moment” but rather kudos to the actor who played Harry during the Ministry of Magic scenes. Though each of the adult actors who played the trio were fantastic, maintaining each of their mannerisms and affectations, Marcello Magni (also from DOCTOR WHO) was a joy to behold on screen. Yes, Daniel Radcliffe does keep his arms steady at his sides like that, and it was highly amusing to see exaggerated for comedic effect.
Favourite Ronald Weasley Moment: If this were the book, I’d jump at the chance to say Ron destroying the Horcrux is my favourite scene. Unfortunately, in the film, this scene also includes that wince-inducing image of Harry and Hermione making out in the smoke. I close my eyes and scream nonsense inside of my head when that’s on screen. This moment aside, however, I was ecstatic to see that the director remembered Ron’s character can be used for more than physical humour. Case and point: when Ron stops Harry from running away to find the horcruxes himself. Ten points to Gryffindor for having a true-to-the-books Ronald Weasley.
Favourite Hermione Granger Moment: This is a difficult one for me, as the particular scene I’ve chosen is tainted by some of my nerd-rage I have regarding the film franchise of HARRY POTTER. When Ron leaves Harry and Hermione mid-way through “Deathly Hallows”, the novel displays how distant the relationship is between Harry and Hermione. Without Ron, they do not know what to say to each other and they’re left bereft in his absence. In the films, Harry and Hermione get along very, very well, to the point where Hermione is seen as Harry’s best friend and not Ron. You may have read my rants regarding this in previous posts. I found that the scene where Harry and Hermione dance together perfectly encapsulates both the book’s take and the film’s take on this relationship. You can plainly see the chemistry and affection that Harry and Hermione have between them in this scene, but it is stained by the loss of their best friend. This scene also proves once and for all that Harry and Hermione aren’t meant for the each other. Even though I have conflicting emotions regarding the context of this scene, it really is a beautiful moment between Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
Notes: Directed by David Yates; Produced by David Heyman, David Barron, J. K. Rowling; Written by Steve Kloves, J. K. Rowling; Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans; Music by Alexandre Desplat, John Williams; Editing by Mark Day.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I think this film brought out David Yates’ strength, which is communication between actors that doesn’t involve talking. He’s a bit clueless with action and simply awful at making a conversation engaging, especially with the how-much-exposition-can-I-put-into-one-sentence writing not only of Rowling once she started using books five and six mainly to start aligning pieces but Kloves in his condensations. But he manages to make the largely noneventful movie here seem more engaging than even Rowling’s book, capturing these fleeting glimpses and actions between the actors that, in the case of Radcliffe and Watson certainly, make them seem better and subtler actors than they really are.
That dance scene is a perfect example: as you say, it recognizes the sexual undertones created by the films’ constant pairing of Harry and Hermione, but it also once and for all settles the Platonic nature of their relationship. It’s one of the few scenes in all the movies to stop trying to cram Rowling’s story out and recognize that while they are adapting prose, they’re also meant to make something visual. Yates, erstwhile the least distinctive director of the bunch, managed to make the dullest section of any of these books the most enthralling and emotionally resonant on film. I only like this movie more as I rewatch it.
I said just today that the dance proves once and for all that Harry/Hermione doesn’t work and they just looked at me, gobsmacked. I am very excited to watch this film for a second time. I believe it will grow on me, as it did with you.
I think we’re so conditioned to look at any moment of pure compassion as romantic rather than just human that it’s easy to view that scene as a display of sexual tension or conflicted feelings or what have you. But I think it’s a beautiful show of fraternité, not frisson. It’s Harry not only seeing Hermione’s utter devastation but his own, and the dance is itself is ALL ABOUT Ron. Not in a “Hey, he left, so… *wink-wink*” way but as a mutual display of concern and hurt over him leaving and a reassuring gesture that lets them both get out their pain. I think it was perfectly judged on all counts, from Yates’ direction to the way Radcliffe and Watson play it. They basically played themselves for a moment, friends who’ve shared the majority of their lives and instinctively know what the other is thinking and tries to help simply out of a deep friendship. That to me is far more touching than a trite display of potential romance.
The dance and the animated interlude in this are probably my favorite single moments in the whole film franchise. The latter is such a clever bit of artistry, and the former gave me all the gentle character I’ve often felt lacked from these movies in, what, not even a full minute? Gah, that scene touches me so deeply.
The scene is all about Ron, a fact that I think goes over the head of a great many people. It’s gorgeous and heart-breaking.