Our world has never faced a greater threat.” Nighy sets the tone for the latest film when, as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, he looks right into the camera and croaks, kind of like a British John Carradine, “These are dark times, there is no denying it. In fact, the Potter films are so loaded down with the best of British performers that Bill Nighy, who was added to the cast this time along with Rhys Ifans, wasn’t really kidding when he commented, “For a while, I thought I would be the only English actor of a certain age who wasn’t in a ‘Harry Potter’ film.” Even if you don’t always have enough for them to do.
#ACTORS HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS 1 SERIES#
When studio president Alan Horn said his priority for the series was treating the books “respectfully,” he wasn’t kidding.īeing respectful also means making sure you have quality people behind the camera (Steve Kloves has written almost all the screenplays and the new cinematographer is Oscar-nominated “Girl With a Pearl Earring” veteran Eduardo Serra) as well as top acting talent in front of it. has split the final effort into two films and is likely kicking itself for not having thought of that with the earlier books.Ĭapable and dependable, he can be counted on to make solid albeit unsurprising films that believe in connecting the dots rather than creating risky excitement. Understandably distraught about “Hallows” being the last of the phenomenally popular J.K. There is something different, however, about this Potter movie, and that is the words “Part 1" that end the title. Much of the plot of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” involves the attempt to find and destroy a series of Horcruxes, and if you haven’t a clue about what they are or why they’re important, you might as well stay home. It’s a tribute to how much the series’ true believers are being counted on to carry the film that this latest episode makes little attempt to bring newcomers up to speed about what’s come before. If you haven’t there’s no point in trying to catch up now. What’s the latest Harry Potter film like? If you’ve seen the previous six, you already know. The following review of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 ” was first published on Nov.
From our archives, we’re resurfacing The Times’ original reviews of each Harry Potter”film adaptation. Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first book in J.K.