Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Set up, yes. But very entertaining set up.

See this is how you split a book in half correctly! I was very engaged from the start until end credits with this movie, though in all honesty this is the simplest story we've had since the first movie. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are Horcrux hunting and all is not well during their trek, with attacks on Ron's family, greater numbers joining the Dark Lord, the Ministry is being changed into an oppressive almost natzi-esque political system with death eaters infiltrating the organization, and several friends being put through grave peril throughout the film. What really surprised me is though we do get a good portion of side characters, this film is carried solely on our three main leads all the way through. For two and a half hours we follow the gang Horcrux hunting, but it sets the tone a few notches darker than even the last film and is interesting throughout. As I said it is an engaging story, done in no small part to our lead actors who really do seem like they're being pushed to their limits in a hopeless situation and it's done really really well. This is some of the best acting from them throughout the series, in particular Daniel I mean that man is acting his heart out at times. I love the lore building, the tale of the three brothers is one of the best parts of the series and to learn more about this strange symbol that we have seen before is great stuff. There's just enough action, all shot wonderfully, to keep it from getting dull but honestly this film's pacing is spot on. I've met many a person who skip this movie and head to the last film because "Nothing happens in it and it's boring.", and I wanna smack the living hell out of those people. You need some buildup and it's not like a snoozefest from beginning to end, so it's not magical warfare on steroids, who cares? You can have slow pacing to a movie and it still be tremendously entertaining, but again the movie doesn't feel slow at all. I did find one scene just so out of place it's almost inexcusable. What in the flying dutchman was that dance scene? Now I get it, there are moments of humor and happiness to alleviate the serious nature of the story and to liven things up a bit. There is nothing wrong with that, I very much enjoyed the comedic relief in this movie, but this nonsense seems so un-Harry Potter both in tone with the story but also the production. Shock of all shocks it wasn't in the book, and for good reason, I was so perplexed by this choice. It felt like I was watching some rom-com bullshit, not Harry Potter. It was stupid, I hated it, and I want it Obliviated from my mind. Beyond that though, great movie! I loved Luna's dad, the gorgeous scenery in Godric's Hollow was a real treat, the climax in the Malfoy house was great if skin crawlingly disturbing at points, we needed more Ralph and Alan cause the one scene they did have was amazing. That ending though, bit rough to watch I must say. I really do appreciate the very real moments in this film, where it kind of becomes something more than just a movie and really isn't that what the Harry Potter series has meant for so many? It's not just films or books, it's something more that people grasped onto and forged memories worth remembering, and it changed their lives for the better and have a great love for the series, characters, story, and moments. I see the love and I know it is very much still alive today, and I am a fan. Happy to be one, in fact. So to see it end so soon, is a bittersweet thing. But something that must be done nevertheless. Until next time friends, 4 stars, 8/10, this is the beginning of the end.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

How is it that one character has almost single-handedly ruined this movie?

I like this movie, I really like this movie, this and Goblet Of Fire were my absolute favorites of the series when I was younger. And again, it still held up tremendously and I know I will have to fully rank this series once I finish. So Harry returns to Hogwarts after a nasty run in with the Dementors, and things aren't exactly all that better at the school, with the main government body the Ministry Of Magic interfering severely with the inner workings of the school and is trying to usurp complete control with the assumption Dumbledore is making his own private army. A good story, and one that changes the game a bit. Something I've just now noticed is this series certainly isn't formulaic, each story is radically different than the last and to take a more political take on the wizarding world is fascinating if absolutely infuriating. I still heavily stand by what I said in my Fantastic Beasts review, the americans are 1,000 times worse than the british who are already absolute ****bags who could not be more potrayed as antagonistic or corrupt if they tried. Sweet Jesus, do I even need to talk about Dolores Umbridge? The woman is Satan. Wait no, that's an insult to Satan, Satan is a charming and pleasant person compared to that...witch. I offer my sincere and great apologies to Lucifer Morningstar, we'll have lunch as my treat. Just, she is so....

I'm sorry guys. I just need a moment. That...that was pure rage, and I'm just gonna take a break. Happy thoughts. She didn't survive, she was eviscerated by centaurs....and then burned. Now I feel better. And don't you come to me saying that was dark and hateful, EVERY Harry Potter fan wishes her death. I guess I really have to tip my hat to Imedla Staunton, she is absurdly good at being the person we adore to hate, screw Walter Peck this girl man. This girl. Anyway, let's talk about performances. I like what they were trying to do with Harry, expanding on the connection between him and Voldemort and suggesting Harry is turning a bit dark side, and that's all fine and good but we never get a big oh snap moment where he just loses his shit and almost kills somebody so the tension and suspense just isn't there. I appreciate it, but it doesn't amount to much. This is so much the reunion film cause just about every major and side character from past films are here, good and bad with of course new additions. I mean we get the whole Weasley family, Sirius, Lupin, Moody, my boy Jason Isaacs, Voldemort of course, it really does seem like the gang's all here. Biggest new additions we have are Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange, who granted doesn't have a lot of screen time but the impact she has is heavily felt, and of course best witch Luna Lovegood played by Evanna Lynch who shock of all shocks I adore and I may or may not ship her with Neville, she's the unsung hero of this film she practically saves the day twice with giving advice to Harry and flying those rad skeletal horse things. Best witch, I have spoken. So characters and story get thumbs up from me, but how's the rest of the film? Quite good, I'd probably put it above Goblet Of Fire in terms of technicals, the new sets are very well done, the lighting and cinematography is kind of unreal at times how they pulled that off, and the direction is handled very well. There's some real standout moments for the whole series, I mean yeah the wizard's duel between Albus and Tom is great stuff to be sure, and honestly any shot with Snape, especially the little training segments with Harry is kind of a big deal which we'll talk about later on, is brillaint but what really struck me the most is when Harry really breaks these almost legendary exploits of his and admits that it sounds heroic but is really downright terrifying and that most of the time it was luck that could have went very badly. I don't know, just something about that acting and dialogue really struck me as something very real and brutally honest. I was kinda shocked how good that scene was. All in all, I would proabably put this slightly below the 4th movie but the stuff they get right is done really right, and there are plenty of moments to love and enjoy. 4 stars, 8/10, Prisoner Of Azkaban still top dog but we got three more movies to see which is truly greatest of all. I suspect the next potential candidate is the next film, so join me for The Half-Blood Prince.