Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) BluRay 720p

The Deathly Hallows’ first volley isn’t quite as poignant as The Half-Blood Prince but as a self-proclaimed “road film,” Yates’ penultimate Potter powerhouse is pure magic. Harry and his friends have been protected by their teachers and loved ones for six films now, clutching the robes of far more experienced wizards, half-giants and mysterious benefactors. But for the first time since Potter stepped foot on the grounds of Hogwarts, the trio find themselves beyond the reach of their friends and family with no one to rely on but one another.

Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it was when they were children, devastating betrayal after devastating betrayal have left the young sorcerers exhausted and reeling, and every answer they uncover brings with it countless more questions. Harry, far from the fearless leader or headstrong rebel his allies and enemies believe him to be, isn’t sure of where to go, how to quell the coming storm, or what to do to prevent Voldemort from killing everyone in his path. Hermione, torn between determination and hopelessness, finds her once-unwavering confidence waning the farther she wanders from Hogwarts.

And Ron, caught between his love for Hermione and his loyalty to Harry, does his best to protect their makeshift family while battling many a demon, both internal and external. As the strain of isolation and the constant threat of danger proves to be more than they can bear, the newly declared fugitives begin to turn on each other, putting their fortitude and personal bonds to the test.

The decision to divide J.K. Rowling’s seventh novel into two separate films remains a controversial one, but Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves have taken full advantage of the opportunity the split affords them, forging an introspective, character-driven entry in the franchise unlike anything before it; a sequel more reminiscent of its source than any previous Potter outing to date. Long stretches of the film are spent waiting and wandering, silence and grief prevail as Harry and his friends wind their way through snowy forests and across rocky wastelands, and evil lies in wait every step of the way.

It will undoubtedly bore some to tears, I’ll admit. But for those truly invested in Rowling’s story and characters, it offers a compelling glimpse into the darkest depths of Harry’s trials. This is The Empire Strikes Back of the Harry Potter series; The Road of fantasy adventure films. Scenes that would have been deemed unnecessary in a single Deathly Hallows are given ample room to breathe, blossom and justify the screentime devoted to each one.

Kloves’ slowburn narrative allows Yates to employ everything from carefully honed humor to a gorgeous, masterfully animated sequence that must be seen to be believed. The rest simply falls into place. The cast’s collective performances are excellent (particularly those of Radcliffe, Grint and Watson), Eduardo Serra’s arresting cinematography and Alexandre Desplat’s atmospheric score set a startling stage for the drama that unfolds, and Stuart Craig’s production design opens up the world of Harry Potter and expands it well beyond its former boundaries.

There are drawbacks to Yates’ grim, deliberately paced first-parter. Voldemort is relegated to a few short-lived scenes, several off-screen deaths fail to hit as hard as they could, funny bits sometimes feel a tad disconnected from the rest of the film, the Death Eaters’ coup is largely left to the imagination, and parallels to The Lord of the Rings are a slight distraction.

(At one point, Ron all but hisses “my preciousssss” while clutching a soul-dampening Horcrux dangling from a chain around his neck.) The Deathly Hallows also leaves so much up in the air that declaring it the best entry in the series strikes me as premature. If Part 2 equals or surpasses Part 1, I suspect my movie score will drift up a half notch, meaning the second half of Hallows has the potential to earn nothing but the highest praise from this already smitten writer.

Honestly though, if you haven’t already seen The Deathly Hallows, Part 1, I’d suggest waiting to watch it until the day or two before Part 2 arrives in the theaters. Otherwise, the wait just might drive you mad. Believe me, it’s excruciating.