Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

It’s indeed the beginning of the end and the series was in much need of a charismatic boost after a lazy effort in Goblet of Fire(widely regarded as the best book/worst movie in the series). The truth is, it’s great that since Order of the Phoenix, the movies have only been steadily improving as they accompany Harry and his friends’ journey to save the world.

Deathly Hallows – Part 1 begins with Rufus Scrimgeour meeting the press expressing solidarity in the dark times they find themselves in. With Lord Voldemort gathering his forces and Death Eaters all the more powerful after Albus Dumbledore’s death, Scrimgeour paints a grim picture as he tries to maintain a face of strength. The film then shifts to Hermione, Ron and the rest of the fraternity leaving their homes to better, safer places. It’s all painted in a gloomy, rainy backdrop so that you don’t feel that even for a second, there is some hope lurking in the corner. Only this film, after the third(Prisoner of Azkaban) gets the mood and the setting perfectly right. And then we shift to Harry Potter.

It’s good to know that the movie hits the right notes with respect to the book. Deathly Hallows being the last book in the series, J.K. Rowling knew that nostalgia was going to play a huge part. There is a passage or maybe a couple of pages where Harry is waiting for his friends in Privet Drive when he takes Hedwig around the house stopping at key places. The cupboard under the stairs importantly. This is the sequence where the reader feels what Harry exactly feels. The nostalgia and the realization that neither the reader nor Harry is ever going to return to this place. In the film, Harry opens the closet and we see him from inside the closet. We don’t see the closet at all. He looks at it and we look at him, we realize the rush of memories that he’s having, we are having. Full points to Steve Kloves for not brushing this off as trivial in an extremely detailed novel.

There is a lot of awkward silence in the film that for some people(especially those who haven’t read the books) might come across as slow/boring. A lot of characters in this book go through some personal/emotional battles. They have their own insecurities. Harry lives with the pressure of finding the Horcruxes while having to see his friends die in the process. Ron has his own fight for some attention from his family and Hermione. Hermione and her bittersweet relationship with Ron coupled with the huge sacrifice she goes through in order to accompany Harry in his journey. Thanks to all these and the locket Horcrux, people say things that they shouldn’t or wouldn’t. And this leads to a lot of silence and brooding in the safehouses they find for themselves. The book does mention how several days pass after Ron leaves and how the atmosphere is entirely silent. Deathly Hallows is also a book with absolutely breathtaking locations. The forests, the riversides, the rocky hilltops and snowy Godric’s Hollow.

But this silence is what leads to one of the most endearing shots in the film. In the grim situation inside their tent after Ron leaves, Hermione sits devoid of all hope, unconvincingly disguising the heatbreak, as does Harry. Harry goes to her and takes her hand and Hermione accepts albeit with a little shrug. At first it’s extremely uncomfortable for them and the viewer but then they both realize slowly how indispensable they are to each other. Especially during these times with Ron gone. Surely one of the loveliest scenes in cinema this year. If that’s not enough, Deathly Hallows gives some stiff competition to Day & Night, that brilliant short animation feature Pixar appended with Toy Story 3. The Tale of the Three Brothers, the story that explains the Deathly Hallows is presented in cleverly directed animation. It’s credit to the director(Ben Hibon) that it’s not depicted with the usual colorful cartoon-y feel but in a more matured format with economical use of colors, shadowy figures and a superb wraith like Death figure. Ben Hibon, take a bow!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is the best in the series so far. I loved the last film, Half Blood Prince , also directed by David Yates, and this one is miles ahead. It’s faithful to the book right up to the tiniest of details and sets up the finale showdown beautifully. I, for one, can’t wait for July 2011.

The Dominatrix

(This is an entry for the Women’s Web Favorite Females contest)

In the world of fantasy, seldom has anyone created a character that is not only intriguing but at the same time an important one in the larger scheme of things. And evil women? J.K. Rowling had the courage to do it. Bellatrix is synonymous with evil, misery and all things violent. Not only is it absolutely impossible to like Bellatrix but it won’t be a shocker if someone flinches at the mere mention of the name. A name feared the world over, real and magic, second only to the Dark Lord himself. She can be a huge favorite for her character arc, but never liked.

The name Bellatrix, originating from Latin means a ‘female warrior’. But when you hear the word Bellatrix, your mind obviously thinks of the word ‘dominatrix’. And that, Bellatrix Black, later Lestrange, undoubtedly was. Born in a largely Slytherin centric family, the evil streak runs through her blood and she carries the legacy over till her very end, unlike a few others in her extended family. This fanatical support for the Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort and unwavering ruthless attitude against anyone in her way makes her one of the most well formed characters in the Harry Potter epic.

The reason she is a favorite is because you could tell that Bellatrix Lestrange was a carefully written character – the disarming gorgeousness of her face when the going for her is good and the terrifying  ugliness of her post-Azkaban days. During the latter, she was the only Death Eater to openly declare her allegiance to Lord Voldemort that bordered on a dangerously passionate romance. She was not only a great duelist, but had the ability pierce you to death with her words. In the Department of Mysteries, when Harry in a moment of desperation, having witnessed his godfather’s death, tries the Cruciatus curse on her, she screams,

Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, boy? You need to mean them, Potter. You need to really want to cause pain — to enjoy it — righteous anger won’t hurt me for long — I’ll show you how it is done, shall I? I’ll give you a lesson — Crucio!

Hatred was part of her repertoire. She was a crusader for the Magic world’s racism – the love for pure-bloods and absolute hostility for muggle borns and half-bloods. Bellatrix is also perceived to be the more intelligent of the Death Eaters, and daresay, cleverer than the Dark Lord himself, for she is the only one who is never confident about Snape’s commitment and questions him at every step.

Bellatrix is admired for the way she was carved in the words of J.K. Rowling and how she unequivocally appealed to every reader, albeit in a negative sense. There have been very few female characters, none greater than Bellatrix, who truly embody the fact that “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.

Th HP6 Reaction

The Potter crazy world is actually divided on Half Blood Prince, the book. A large section of it believes that it is one of the weakest links because A) Nothing much happens, very little action, B) Too many pages devoted to  snogging etc. C) Voldemort doesn’t make an appearance.

I loved the book! I remember reading it from 10pm to 6 am on the day of its release(am a slow reader) because I had promised to give it to someone even if I had not finished it by next morning. It was a masterful examination of Voldemort’s past and a brilliant set piece to the ultimate saga in the series. I mean, seriously, who could have thought!

It’s difficult to believe that Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay for five movies so far leaving out the Order of the Phoenix, which was clearly, the best of the lot. Until the Half Blood Prince came out that is. This is such a beautifully rewritten story that I was quite engrossed from start to finish. It was very well paced, and by that, I don’t mean it was fast. It was understandably slow but there was so much detail in every scene that nothing seemed unwarranted.

And for the first time, every actor – from the kids to the amazing Alan Rickman(Love Actually) – has done an excellent job. Often we associate what is known as wooden acting with fantasies and adaptations. But the performances are so first rate that they make you realize how literally the kids have grown up with the series. And so have we.

Pick the performances? Nothing to beat Alan Rickman as Snape, Jim Broadbent as Professor Slughorn and Micheal Gambon as Professor Dumbledore. Look out for Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. And Luna Lovegood is superb casting albeit in an insignificant role. Watch out for that scene where Harry, very smugly retorts, “But I AM the chosen one!” Damn good!

Revisit the Half Blood Prince. You’ll be reminded of the magic in J.K. Rowling’s writing.