Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1, **HERE THERE BE SPOILERS** You've been warned!

[journeymom]

OY! You there looking at this opening comment from outside the thread! Careful there!

Dobby! 

Wow! Best HP movie in a while! Beautiful to look at.  The trio did their best acting ever.  Ron, HURRAH! finally got a substantial part.  And Rupert Grint has beefed up a bit.  I liked and didn't like the dance between Harry and Hermione. 

The movie dragged in the same placed the book did.   But really, I don't think it dragged at all, they just finally had some good, quiet parts with lots of brooding and angst.

[annettemarie]

Loved, loved, loved it!

Let's see, my only issues were

1. The Burrow-- it burnt down, yet there it is.

2. The dance part was weird.

3. They didn't include where the Potter house turned into a Wizarding memorial.

Everything else was just lovely. And yes, I agree about the dragging. I heard on NPR they described it as "a giant nature walk". LOL!

For some reason, I thought the break was at a different spot and I was not emotionally prepared for Hermione being tortured. :(

[joensally]

So, what are your thoughts on the movie for kids?  8 year old DS walked out of the last one in the first scenes, so a year and a half ago at 6.5.  Since then he's watched all the movies on video and read all the books.  He cried at Toy Story 3 - he regularly cries at movies, and formerly found death eaters, the snake and Voldemort shocking - he used to cover his eyes, and then moved to just jumping.  He knows the movies well now, so does not jump anymore, but I don't know how it'll be in a theatre.  He was ok with the deaths in book 7, which surprised me.  Just small cries.  Did I mention he's a delightful, sensitive soul who loves magic and wonder?    He considers himself a big HP fan, along with his older sis and dad.

He's convinced that we're cruel if we don't take him.  DD and DH want IMAX!  Thoughts?

[StoriesInTheSoil]

I had such a fun time at the premier!

joensally- I thought the movie was pretty frightening at parts and personally wouldn't be super comfy with a child that young watching it before I'd seen it myself. 

[journeymom]

There were a couple of really startling, scary moments with Nagini, so if your son had a problem with the snake last time, definitely think twice about letting him see it on the big screen.

When Hermione was being tortured Ron didn't react the way he did in the book.  He was supposed to be frantic and agonized at the sound of her screaming, to the point that he couldn't think straight. I think that they didn't portray Ron that way was a missed opportunity for some good drama. 

Oh, oh! Wasn't Wormtail supposed to die in that scene?? His silver hand chokes him to death.  Instead they knocked him out? Or Dobby did? 

[jeanine123]

I loved the movie. I thought the beginning was really well done and my heart was breaking watching Hermione erase her parent's memories and all traces of herself from all pictures and everything else in the house and then leaving alone. I like how they handled the 7 Potters and everyone leaving and I thought that Hedwig's death in the movie was much better than in the book. Instead of being locked in her cage and stuffed into the side car Harry had released her and she chose to come back and do her best to protect Harry. She knocked one Death Eater off his broom before taking an Avada Kedavra curse that was aimed at Harry. It was also her that tipped the Death Eaters off to who was the real Harry. The fright and confusion at The Burrow when everyone was arriving was well done. I was a little bummed they didn't fully remove George's ear but there was still more than enough blood. The scene with Scrimgeour was well done IMO, though having the movie open with a close up of his eyes before pulling away during a speech he was giving at the Ministry was creepy.

Snape's reaction when walking into Malfoy Manor and seeing Charity Burbage suspended over behind the table was perfect. It didn't last long but in the second or so they paused on his face you could see the conflict within him. They also did a great job conveying how beaten Lucius Malfoy is and how frightened and repulsed Draco is. As we also discover later, Lucius has apparently started hitting the bottle.

The only part of the wedding we see is them erecting the tent and the dancing at the end, right before Kingsley's Patronous appears. We hear some of the conversation between Harry, Doge and Auntie Muriel as well. I thought they did a great job again of conveying the terror and chaos that ensued when the Death Eaters started arriving in the midst of the wedding guests and the conflict that Harry felt between leaving and staying.

They completely cut out the scene of Lupin visting the trio at Grimmauld Place, as well as all of the casing of the Ministry of Magic before they broke in. There wasn't much time spent at Grimmauld Place, enough for them to find Sirius's and Regulus's rooms and figure out who RAB was. They shortened the scene with Kreacher and removed most of the emotion from that scene. It ended up being Kreacher and Dobby bringing Dung back to Grimmauld Place.

They added a scene where the Death Eaters stopped the Hogwarts Express to search it for Harry. I liked the foreshadowing where they had Neville stand up to the Death Eater and tell him Harry wasn't there.

The break-in at the Ministry was handled well as well I thought. They hit all the high points they needed to and got the locket. The scene where Ron was splinched was very well done, especially by the actress who plays Hermione. She really shone through in this movie. Ron really grew too, you could see he was less happy go lucky and more moody, angry and towards the end willing to take charge.

I liked the montage showing the trio wandering the country and camping in different spots. While it played we heard the Wizarding Wireless reciting names of those who were missing or killed. They handled Ron's leaving differently than the book but it still worked well and they did a good job of conveying the frustration and hatred that had built up. I also liked the scene where Harry tried to cheer up Hermione by dancing with her. Yeah, it wasn't in the book but it worked well.

The trip to Godric's Hollow was very shortened. I teared up when Harry and Hermione were at his parent's grave. And Bathilda was quite creepy, especially her house. And the scene were she turned into Nagini was great, creepy and horrifying.

After Godric's Hollow came the scene with the Silver Doe. And yes, the ball of light did turn into a doe to lead Harry to the pond. You didn't know right away that it was Ron who pulled Harry out of the lake after the locket tried to strangle him which was cool. You pretty much realized it right as Harry realized it. The scene with the Horcrux Harry and Hermione was horrible, terrifying and creepy in a great way. Did a really great job of conveying Ron's insecurities and how the bit of soul fed off of it and twisted it around to torture him.

I was a little disappointed at how anti-climactic almost the scene were Ron and Harry go back to the tent and Hermione sees Ron. IMO there should have been more screaming and beating of Ron about the head with his rucksack.

The trip to Xenophilius's house was also good. I liked the animation while Hermione read The Three Brothers tale. When they left Xeno's house they managed to Apparate right into a group of Snatchers. That led to a great chase scene. Malfoy Manor was terrifying. Draco was petrified, Bellatrix was maniacally happy and Lucius was three sheets to the wind and more than eager to sell out whomever he could to regain some semblance of dignity and status. Hermioine's screams were heart wrenching, they really conveyed her torture and terror. Loved how Dobby came to rescue them all and take them to Shell Cottage. Cried when he died in Harry's arms and when Harry buried him.

The movie ends with Voldemort breaking into Dumbledore's tomb and taking the Elder Wand.

Yes, it was a bit of an awkward ending and rather anti-climactic after everything that happened at Malfoy Manor but they had to end it somewhere and I think that was the best spot for it. I'm also very glad that they chose to break this final book into two movies. Part One felt somewhat rushed. Not annoyingly so but borderline close and I think that if they had tried to cram the whole book into one movie, even a three hour one (this movie was just shy of 2.5 hrs) they would have needed to cut too many important bits of the plot and really rushed it which wouldn't have done it justice IMO.

Yes, Wormtail was supposed to choke himself to death with his silver hand and instead Dobby took him out.  It wasn't clear if he was stunned or he died though.  And yeah, Ron could have been/should have been more frantic.

[KYCat]

joensally -- The moment when I thought - my kids won't be seeing this one for a while - was right near the beginning when Cheryl Burbage was hanging over Voldemort's table and the deatheaters are all seated around. She is hanging there looking so tortured and helpless, it made me feel sick and I would think that this would be very disturbing to a sensitive child. Yes, Nagini is terrifying, I'm pretty sure that I screamed, but you can run from a snake chasing you. But to see a woman who has clearly been abused, hanging there bruised and bleeding and to see her ask for help and for no one to help her but to laugh was horrifying. My stomach was clenched through the entire movie. I loved it, but for me it was very intense.

[kittywitty]

It was great! I admit I did not like the last 3 movies almost at all. They were very disappointing. But this one was great. It was very true to the book for the most part and just the right pace that you got a real feel for what was going on, emotionally. My kids loved it but there were a couple scenes (you'll know which ones to cover the little ones' eyes for if you've read the book) that were scary for my youngest. She has seen the other movies and is not scared of them-but they were more surprising than anything, so we covered her eyes and talked to her through them to let her know it was ok and she was fine with that. My 8 and 9 year olds were fine with it, and my 6 yo but they've seen LOTR and all the HPs many, many times with no issues.

The only issue I had was keeping my 2 week old happy and her ears covered during loud parts.

[Ornery]

I loved how the Three Brothers story was done and absolutely loathed the dancing scene!

[Oceanone]

I just got back from seeing it and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  Even the parts where they took few liberties (like the dance scene) worked really well for me.  I thought that scene expressed Harry and Hermiones' relationship quite well.   It was the one movie in the last few that I haven't been bored or bewildered in places.  It was very intense, dark, moody and had a great look about it.  I am really looking forward to the next one now. 

[Smokering]

Just got back from seeing it. My thoughts, in no particular order...

Emma Watson has improved tremendously. Halfway through the film I realised "Hey, I don't want to stab her with a fork". A few of her scenes - the essence of dittany scene and some comic moments with Ron - were actually, like, good. Also, I liked her coat.

Man, that locket Horcrux round the neck thing is Lord of the Rings-y!

I missed Professor McGonagall. I know she had no business being in the film, but I love her - she was THE perfect piece of casting for the series, IMO. Her and Dolores. :)

They kinda downplayed the Ginny thing. I thought they'd at least show Harry watching her footprints on the map, and that kiss had no fire to it at all! (Loved Fred sneaking around the kitchen though.)

And I'd swear the movies were all written by Harry/Hermione shippers. I don't just mean the dance scene, but she's ALWAYS always touching him and rubbing her head against his neck. Apart from some awkwardly-engineered moments between her and Ron, she has way more chemistry with Harry and just plain seems to like him better. They improved on it a bit in this film, but if I'd watched the films without reading the books I think I'd have been expecting a last-minute change of affections. Anyone else get this vibe?

Also, the naked shiny Harry and Hermione making out thing? That was definitely... odd.

Did JK Rowling produce the previous films? I noticed she was listed as a producer on this one.

Carving "Mudblood" into Hermione's arm was DARK! Wow. Did not expect that. And she lost her dittany, poor girl! Is everyone in the film going to end up with word-scars on their arms?

I still don't buy Fiennes as Voldemort. He just seems so... mundane. He should be terrifying every moment he's onscreen - which I realise is a hellishly hard thing to convey - but he just stands there and talks and looks vaguely silly. The movie did a good job being dark and scary nonetheless, but no thanks to him and his nose-slits.

I really, really wanted to see Luna's bedroom, with the photos strung together with the word "Friends". That's probably my favourite moment from the entire series - it's so poignant and adorable and illuminates her character so beautifully. And yeah, I know the film had more pressing things to do than illuminate Luna's character, but I was still really hoping they'd put it in. Peter Jackson spoiled me in that regard - he managed to cram heaps of those moments into the films, including bits of Elvish poetry, so I had hopes... Oh well.

Hermione swears! Have the kids done that before?

Funny to see Julie Walters, Bill Nighy and so on essentially as cameos. Man, that is one sprawlingly impressive cast. I bet every British actor who wasn't in the films feels pretty snubbed. :p

I didn't get such a vibe of grandiose bleak vistas in the book for the camping sites, but it worked nicely.

Loved the animation of the story of the Three Brothers.

Hermione's hair wasn't elaborately curled, yay! It wasn't exactly bushy either, but they did a pretty good job of making her look windswept and giving her the odd practical updo. I was afraid they were going to go all-out on the glamour.

Why'd they leave Fred half an ear? It wasn't like they were going for "light and Christmassy".

None of the three deaths so far moved me, but they didn't in the book either. I'm sure they'll pull out all the stops for George and I'll bawl like a baby, though.

Didn't like the wedding scene - seemed slow and vaguely pointless. I got the impression Hermione was supposed to do something that got cut out?

All this probably sounds pretty negative. That wasn't my impression - I quite liked it, and thought it was vastly better than the Half-Blood Prince. I didn't mind the general dreary hiking theme, because it would be impossible to skirt round that and maintain the grim spirit of the book (not to mention the plot). Plus, as previously mentioned, I'm a Tolkien fan - I can handle long scenes of dogged travel. :) I think some bits of the film could maybe have been cut a tad, but it was much better than rushing it. Looking forward to part two!

[jeanine123]

Another thing I really liked was the extreme closeup of a strand of Bellatrix's hair drifting through the air and landing on Hermione.  No question about how the trio ends up with that!

(George is the one who lost an ear and Fred's the one who dies)

[raelize]

Originally Posted by Smokering 

And I'd swear the movies were all written by Harry/Hermione shippers. I don't just mean the dance scene, but she's ALWAYS always touching him and rubbing her head against his neck. Apart from some awkwardly-engineered moments between her and Ron, she has way more chemistry with Harry and just plain seems to like him better. They improved on it a bit in this film, but if I'd watched the films without reading the books I think I'd have been expecting a last-minute change of affections. Anyone else get this vibe?

dh has only seen the movies with me and never read the books and through each one he asks if its harry who ends up with hermione or ron.  he always forgets cause she is always so harry crazy in the movies
 

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by raelize 

dh has only seen the movies with me and never read the books and through each one he asks if its harry who ends up with hermione or ron.  he always forgets cause she is always so harry crazy in the movies
 

 Harry only ends up with Ron in some fanfiction. 

[StoriesInTheSoil]

Saw it again last night.

So here's the deal, when I was a geeky middle school kid I had to learn to appreciate the films and the books at a completely separate media so that I wouldn't drive my non-HP-obsessed family completely insane with my blathering about which things were changed and left out and whatever.  I'm sure they appreciated my effort ;)

Anyway, I liked the movie a lot.  I don't think it was a cinematic masterpiece but I liked it MORE the second time I saw it and I'm really looking forward to July and the second half. 

I didn't mind the dance scene as there are things that work in print that don't in film (they technically should have been polyjuiced in more scenes but that would have been taking the main characters out of half the movie!) and things that work in film but not in print (silly dancing between platonic brother/sister characters that conveys their ages, their loneliness, and their boredom all at once.)  I DO however think that it took up time that they could have put to better use elsewhere, for instance showing Luna's room as I agree that the mural is once of the greatest character development points of the series.

Speaking of Lovegoods, Xeno didn't look or play much like I'd imagined him.  That was weird for me.

The things that would make me hesitate to bring a young kid to it were the scene with Charity Burbage which I found completely brutal, the scene with Nagini in Godric's Hollow which was just intense, the scene in which Hermione is tortured as I found it really upsetting, and the scene in which Dobby dies because that seems like a lot for some kids.

The second half of the movie is certainly going to be action-packed huh?  They still have the whole Gringott's thing AND the battle which will take forever.

Also, isn't Voldemort supposed to get the wand just before they go to Hogwarts, not before they've gone to the bank?  Am I wrong on that timeline?

Anyway, it was fun!

[Smokering]

(George is the one who lost an ear and Fred's the one who dies)

Er, oops. I wasn't sure I'd got that right. Is it wrong that I find them interchangeable? I mean, are they supposed to have distinct personalities? They speak in bally unison half the time, I can't keep 'em straight. :p

Speaking of Lovegoods, Xeno didn't look or play much like I'd imagined him.  That was weird for me.

Yeah, he seemed too intense and scared and not dreamy/vague/Luna-y enough, I thought.

Also, I quite liked the dancing scene. I was a little afraid they were going to kiss, but in general the actors did a really good job of conveying a lot of subtext there. And I'm not too sold on either actor, so that was impressive. I'm sure it'll appear in dozens of YouTube Harry/Hermione vids, though...

Forgot to say - I really liked Hermione obliviating her parents, and the subtext when she later cast the same spell on the Snatcher. JK Rowling really shortchanged the drama of Hermione doing that in the books, I thought! I mean, it was a HUGE sacrifice, not to mention presumably a complicated bit of magic, and it was barely mentioned. At least we got a glimpse of it this time.

[KYCat]

Just a quick comment on the dancing :

I think that as others have said, in the movies, they have not made it very clear that Hermione loves RON, not Harry. I think that their touching totally makes sense because of their relationship, but since the movies have had to skip so much we're always seeing the big intense things and times that Hermione is trying to comfort Harry. I feel like they needed to establish that Hermione does like Harry and love him as a brother but she does NOT prefer him to Ron and is not looking for alone time with Harry. If they didn't clear this up then, when the horcrux does its thing, it could confuse the audience as to whether or not it was accurate instead of just playing on Ron's fears. I thought the dancing scene did a good job of showing an awkward teenage friend moment and making it clear that Hermione is missing Ron in a way that Harry cannot fix. Oh, I also loved when they were sleeping and their hands were right next to each other. The naked Harry/Hermione thing from the horcrux was awkward but totally seemed how the horcrux would push Ron over the edge. 

I loved the pacing and the tone.

Come on part 2!!!!!!

[jeanine123]

I think it's pretty easy to get them confused.  They're really not all that different, at least until the ear thing happened and they certainly delight in confusing people and making them think they're the other twin. 
 

Originally Posted by Smokering 

(George is the one who lost an ear and Fred's the one who dies)

Er, oops. I wasn't sure I'd got that right. Is it wrong that I find them interchangeable? I mean, are they supposed to have distinct personalities? They speak in bally unison half the time, I can't keep 'em straight. :p

[Smokering]

Thing is... and bear in mind I'm Aspie and didn't really have any male friends until I was 16 or so... but is it normal for teenage opposite-sex friends to touch that much? It seems surprisingly mature for the average teen friend-couple to have that level of physical affection without romantic involvement. I've never been huggy even with my female friends, but I can certainly see why Ron was jealous of Harry - she was constantly hugging him and hanging off his arm and holding his hand and resting her head on his neck and so on and so on. It doesn't ring natural to me. Being comfortable with someone doesn't equate to being that touchy-feely, you know? And they've been at it for a few films now, when the teenagers were at an age a lot of kids would still be "Ew, boy germs!".

[StoriesInTheSoil]

Originally Posted by Smokering 

Thing is... and bear in mind I'm Aspie and didn't really have any male friends until I was 16 or so... but is it normal for teenage opposite-sex friends to touch that much? It seems surprisingly mature for the average teen friend-couple to have that level of physical affection without romantic involvement. I've never been huggy even with my female friends, but I can certainly see why Ron was jealous of Harry - she was constantly hugging him and hanging off his arm and holding his hand and resting her head on his neck and so on and so on. It doesn't ring natural to me. Being comfortable with someone doesn't equate to being that touchy-feely, you know? And they've been at it for a few films now, when the teenagers were at an age a lot of kids would still be "Ew, boy germs!".

Oh gosh that was completely normal for me and my opposite-sex friends in high school.  I mean right down to platonic hand holding, cuddling during movies, head on shoulder when talking, hugs, dancing, etc.  I won't say that I'm sure that all teenagers are like that but I know my whole friend group was!  We even shared beds in a non-sexual way with some frequency.