A Great Addition to an Epic Phenomenon

Rating: 9/10 (22 November 2011)

Okay, so after reading some of the reviews here, I have a couple of responses before getting to my review of the film. First of all, David Yates is a director, not a screenwriter. I'm sure he's included in the process, but people need to stop blaming him for the random things thrown into the movies (Bellatrix setting the Burrow on fire in Half-Blood Prince, for example). His job is to direct the actors, not write the screenplay. Leave him alone. Second of all, J.K. Rowling has been part of the process since they started making the films, and she's been happy with every adaptation. If it's good enough for her, it should be good enough for the rest of you since she wrote the whole series.
Now, to the film itself. Yates sets the tone very well, and it continues throughout the film, even though there were several light moments that took the focus temporarily off the darkness and tension in the film (Harry and Hermione dancing was adorable, even though everyone knows she is supposed to be with Ron). The scenery is incredible, I think that goes without saying. The actors in this film are top-notch and at their best--Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Jason Isaacs, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman--to say nothing about the main three. Daniel Radcliffe has had plenty of experience in this franchise playing vulnerable, scared, and angsty, but in this (and part 2, especially) we see him truly overcome fear and the possibility he could die. He definitely has his moments of vulnerability, fear, and angst, but he also has to deal with his faltering trust in Dumbledore, which happens to be my only critique of this film: it is not explored enough. Emma Watson has truly blossomed into a beautiful, talented actress. She deals with wiping her parents' memories, which was so difficult to watch, as well as Ron's departure and sudden return. Speaking of Ron, Rupert Grint gets to play something different: he really confronts his feelings for Hermione, and his insecurities about being the "sidekick" of the famous Harry Potter. Killing the Horcrux was a great way of symbolically tackling the insecurities and asserting his confidence. The scene where Hermione reads the story of the Three Brothers is stylistically speaking the most amazing thing I have ever seen on film. It was subtle but grim, and it was so so well done. And the scene with Bathilda Bagshot and the snake makes me scream and jump every time I watch it. It's effective but not too over the top.
Overall, the film was a wonderful adaptation of the book. Well-worth seeing for anyone who believes themselves to be a Harry Potter fan.