Harry Potter 7: Darkness Before the Light

Yet another Harry Potter movie has descended upon the moviegoers of the world. Remarkably, but not surprisingly, the seventh installment to the franchise has managed to out earn the previous six episodes. In just one weekend; according to sources such as Box Office Mojo, the film has already made over $125 million in the United States alone, breaking the franchises own records for opening weekend earnings.

At any rate, this is not about how well the movie is doing, but the film itself and my response to it.

For the record, I agree with the overall consensus that Harry Potter Seven is dark because of the looming shadow that is Voldermort and his fearsome Death Eaters who seek to oppress and destroy those who stand in their way.  Although there is a sense of almost overwhelming doom throughout the story, there are moments of humor and blissful reverie contrasted by the muggle murders, and disappearances of half breeds. One of which is a very sweet, tender moment between Harry and Ginny-a stark opposite to the heart wrenching trials our hero is about to endure.

For most of the film, Harry and his two best friends, Ron and Hermione are on the run from Voldemort’s followers, while at the same time they decide to hunt for and destroy the remaining horcruxes. The trio manages to commandeer the third horcrux through a brilliant infiltration of the Ministry of Magic now under Voldemort’s control. This particular part of the adventure provides much of the humor in the movie as the three literally take on the likenesses of adults who work at the Ministry. Once they have hold of the small, but ominous charm, our would be heroes soon discover  that the cursed item has an affect on each of them as they wear it- not unlike a certain ring in another popular film franchise-causing each of them to experience anger or depression to a heightened degree. Thus, they hasten to find how the item can be destroyed.

Overall, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 is very well put together and does an amazing job setting the stage for part 2. It is akin to the first act of a tragic play, or the first few chapters in a masterfully written novel. Whether you have read all of the books or have only watched the movies, Deathly Hallows Part 1 will have you on pins and needles waiting for the ultimate outcome after seeing the last scene. Surely, the darkness before the light.

I enjoyed the film because it gripped me from the beginning and once again brought me entirely into Harry Potter’s world as it teeters on the edge of a dark abyss. I felt for Hermione, Harry and Ron as they battled the odds, barely escaping death time and again only to watch as others perish around them. For me, Deathly Hallows Part 1 only proves that the story of Harry Potter is as intricately crafted as a tapestry on a wall to be admired for years to come.