The beginning of the end is finally upon us. J.K. Rowling must be happy knowing that the success of the Harry Potter series has blown minds world wide. The seventh movie has been broken down into two parts, and the first part did not disappoint. (Not unless you’re a fan of the books, then perhaps you may be slightly disappointed.) How did this film compare to it’s previous movies? Read more after the break….

Ron, Hermione, and Harry Potter are back and they are amidst the beginning of a war within the wizard world. Harry has finally come of age, and finally started on his final journey to defeat Voldemort for good. The Durselys are forced to go into hiding so that Voldemort’s Death Eaters will not torture them for information, and Harry sets off with Ron and Hermione on a difficult quest to find and destroy the last of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Only once those have been destroyed, Harry knows, can Voldemort truly be killed.

The film has everything for the average viewer. Starting the film off is the set up for the film and followed with an action packed introduction to Harry’s predicament.  With Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) dead, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) get serious in their efforts to at last defeat super-evil you-know-who (Ralph Fiennes), who’s getting stronger and stronger every step they take.

The film takes place within the muggle-world (the earth with no magic), and the wizard world is setting up to destroy all muggle-born and half-blooded wizards and witches to keep the wizard world full of pure-bloods. The feel of the film is hard to adjust to as the characters keep moving between the two worlds. The drama between the characters are drawn out quite nicely, and it seems that after 6 movies, the actors have grown into their character’s skins very well. The acting was not disappointing, and the story was well put together. There is a part in the film where Hermione and Harry are exposed in a rather risque manner, not going to spoil how they get into such a situation but the naked kissing scene is definitely a little different from the previous movies. The kids sure have grown up. It may seem a bit slow at points, but it sets up for part 2 very well.

A lot of twists and turns. Feelings fluctuate through the audience as the story moves forward, you will definitely feel the action and drama. You will laugh, and possibly cry. In the end you might even feel a bit disappointed because you have to leave the theater, but that’s what part 1 was supposed to do for you. The movie definitely left me wanting more and cannot wait until the next film comes out.

John Williams who composed some of the series’ earlier masterpieces, may have been outdone by Alexandre Desplat in this movie. The screenplay looks as if it sticks pretty close to the novel though a couple things may have been changed. CG is at it’s best for this film, and it looks as if they are pulling everything they can out for the audience to enjoy. The film opens strong and ends strong.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be upon us July 15, 2011.

I give the film 5 reels out of 5.