As the wizarding world crumbles, Harry and his friends set out to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes.

Rating: 9/10 (7 November 2013)

As the seventh installment in the famous Harry Potter series, The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is a two and a half hour escape from reality. The wizarding trio that fans have grown to love sets out to tackle their greatest challenge yet. As a fast-paced, jam-packed adventure with perfect character chemistry, incredible special effects, and a whirlwind plot line, you will be sucked into the magical wizarding world to follow Harry (Radcliffe), Hermione (Watson), and Ron (Grint) on their journey.
At the beginning of the film, the sacrifices that Harry's friends are willing to make for him are demonstrated. A group of friends, mentors, and professors meet Harry at his house to transport him to a safe house. As soon as they leave, they are met by Death Eaters and engage in a battle. Many of those who helped transport Harry were either killed or seriously injured. Harry remembers this and repays them later by fighting Lord Voldemort, risking his life to destroy the Horcruxes, and putting himself in front of his friends during other battles. The willingness of characters to sacrifice for each other displays the chemistry between them.
The bond between Harry, Hermione, and Ron is the strongest, although there is jealousy and romance at times. Harry and Hermione are very close—but only as friends. Ron thinks otherwise and develops feelings of jealousy and anger. These feelings cause him to leave the group for a short amount of time. However, Ron is drawn back to the group by his friendship with Harry and love for Hermione. The character dynamics and chemistry of this film—the sacrifices, friendship, romance, and envy—make it one that all audiences can relate to on a personal level.
The film is relatable on a personal level as well as realistic on a digital level. The special effects of The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 make it believable. Whether it be the characters flying through London on broomsticks to destroying a locket with a sword creating a cloud of shadowy figures to an old woman transforming into a giant serpent, the special effects make the film seamless and realistic. They make the impossible seem possible. They turn the scary scenes terrifying, the dramatic scenes intense, and the suspenseful scenes into nail-biting, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrillers.
The special effects would have no purpose if it weren't for the incredible scenes they were needed for. The entire two hours and 26 minutes is packed with attention-capturing scenes. Some scenes stimulate your mind as others tug at your heartstrings. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment in this film. The opening scene leads into a suspenseful fight guaranteed to raise your pulse. Immediately following this scene is a humbling interaction between brothers where it is uncertain if one will live to see the next day. Although there are a few moments in the middle of the movie that create a lull with Harry, Hermione, and Ron deciding their next move on their journey, it creates a great contrast to the following action scene. When reflecting on the film, no moments of true boredom come to mind.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 combines character chemistry, special effects, and an eventful plot line into a masterpiece of a film. You get it all—romance, jealousy, fights, magic, and more. For anyone who has read the books or takes a liking to action and suspense, this film is for you. Younger children may want to watch it with an adult simply because certain dark characters may be seen as frightening, not because of language or graphic/sexual content. All viewers will enjoy at least one aspect of this film, making it a temporary escape from reality and into the magical wizarding world of Harry Potter.