Expectations are a tricky thing. I could barely contain myself all in anticipation for HP7 last week. Alison and I watched all the previous movies (and added our own hilarious commentary). I read the last few chapters of book five and six. I read the entire book seven. I spent hours watching HP-related online videos (do yourself a favor and watch these.) To say my excitement was at fever pitch would be an understatement, but expectations? I had been disappointed by Potter movies many times before. Anger at what was cut out. Frustration at what was added. And I was fully prepared for it to happen again.
This time it didn't happen. The cuts made sense. The additions didn't bother me; some even became my favorite scenes. First a quick recap:
Harry, Ron and Hermione have left the relative safety of Hogwarts in search of Horcruxes (objects in which Voldemort as encased pieces of his soul) in the hope that when destroyed Voldemort can finally meet his end. The film has been billed as a "road movie" and it is fair to describe it as such. The trio is in hiding and on the move for the majority of the film. Slowly collecting and figuring out to destroy Horcruxes and learning about the Deathly Hallows. Tensions run high within the group with Ron especially frustrated that Harry doesn't have more of a plan. Along the way we see snippets of the full out war the wizarding world is engaged in plus Voldemort's movements toward destroying our hero.
Yes, there is not enough of Snape and Co., but they'll be back in due time. The film does a great job showing the trio's complete isolation from the rest of their world. It's tough out there for the chosen one. There are moments of lightness (a stolen kiss, a piano lesson, a dance in the tent) but mostly the film is dark literally (the color palate is all grays and blues) and emotionally (their task seems insurmountable).
Anger at fallen father-figure Dumbledore bubbles out of our trio at every turn. These scenes are where it becomes apparent that these three kids have grown into actual actors. Now I've seen Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway (and yes, naked) so I knew he had grown into his acting chops. During our marathon, I was reminded that Emma Watson has long been the weakest link, an increasingly pretty face and not much more, and Rupert Grint was really only given a chance to say a few silly lines. I was impressed with both of them this time around. There are looks on Watson's face during the controversial Harry-Hermione dance that have more nuance and emotion that all her scenes in the first two movies combined. Ron and Harry's fight in the tent gives Grint his chance to do more than look confused.
The movie has its flaws, as all Potter films do. There have been complaints it moves too slow, shouldn't have been split up in two films, those may be valid, but nothing could ruin it for me. It's the most emotive, the best acted and most cinematically engaging of all the HP films. It served its purpose—it left me trying to reign in those tricky expectations for Part 2.
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