Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Director: David Yates
Rating: ***

How do we keep it going? Split it in two. The idea that Rowling’s Deathly Hallows is such a dense story, only two films can do justice to it works as a marketing strategy. As a standalone film, I’m not so sure.

It has the sharp, impactful start you’ve come to expect of theHarry Potter franchise, so get there in time, guys. If you miss the first 10 minutes, you might as well go home and catch the next show. The pace slackens as the trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione go on their Lord-Of-The-Rings-ish must-destroy-horcrux mission. And then, it just ends, without the salvation of a climax.

This is a movie for fans — you see it because you’ve seen the other six, you’ve read (and re-read last week) the book, and you’ve been on YouTube checking out the trailer a month ago. For those uninitiated to the world of spells, Voldemort, Death Eaters and romantic angles, you might at least want to read up on Wikipedia.

This is no longer children’s fiction. A meeting of the Death Eaters sees Voldemort use the killing curse on a Hogwarts teacher and feed her to Nagini. The familiar corridors of Hogwarts and the assuring presence of Dumbledore are gone, and the trio are out in the real world, traversing spectacular locations and CGI-created scenery. These are dark times, and the mood is literally maintained with dark settings; even the mornings are consistently smoggy. A storytelling session of the legend of the Deathly Hallows allows for a brilliant five minutes of animation.

But this movie is as much about magic as it is about raging teenage hormones. We’re not just talking sedate kisses between Harry and Ginny. The now-gorgeous Emma Watson makes for a stunning Hermione, and neither Harry, Ron, nor director David Yates can ignore that. There’s overt chemistry between Harry and Hermione, and that makes Ron jealous. That along with the classic tired-of-being-the-sidekick syndrome makes him desert the duo temporarily. His apparition also shows the two making out. It’s not real, says Harry, hardcore Potter fans might agree, but we’re not complaining. Hermione’s magically expanding bag also allows her to pack by far the best wardrobe — Burberry trenches included.

It’s the second horcrux down at the end, and Voldemort has just acquired something powerful. We’re seeking the same answer we sought at the end of Half Blood Prince—how does it end? For me, this one was an incomplete film. But does it work as a two-and-a-half-hour lead up to a climax? Hell yes.

- Sarit Ray

This review was originally written for gqindia.com (Click here to see...)

Review: Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Director: Zack Snyder
Rating: **

Think 300. Then replace blood-spilling Spartan warriors with cute little barn owls, acting out the slow-mo fight sequences with apparently epochal consequences. It’s 90 odd minutes of pure joy, as far as the animation is concerned. Wish I could say the same about the story. This is what happens when Zack Snyder (of the 300and Watchmen fame, and anticipated Sucker Punch hype) makes a kid’s movie. The action is intense, the characters look capable of being dark and menacing; it’s almost a Frank Miller take on an innocuous genre but without the same brilliance.

It’s a morality tale of good over evil, good brother versus bad brother, and the coming of greatness of a common man, err, owl. A mercenary tribe is out to take over the owl world (read, evil) using an army of moonblinked owls (nocturnal bird equivalent of being brainwashed), and some mysterious material (owl equivalent of nuclear weapons, let’s say). The bad brother, Kludd, is taken under the evil owls’ wing, while the good brother, Soren, escapes and finds the fabled guardians (read, heroes). The guardians live in a mythical place that could be Na’vian Pandora. The ultimate showdown makes for a breathtaking 3D SFX orgasm, and you can tell that Snyder’s love for graphic action sequences takes over here, stopping just short of a bloodbath. Kid’s film, remember?

The trademark Snyder slow-mo action looks brilliant, and they would have been the highlight of the movie, if there wasn’t one every two minutes. Some of the best moments are Soren’s soul flight in the storm, and the laser-show-like climax. The voice talent is some of the finest—Jim Sturgess as the voice of Soren, Helen Mirren as the sorceress Nyra.

I’ve not read Kathryn Lasky’s books, on which this is based, but Tolkien’s influence is evident—the defeat of the super-villain has similarities to the first fall of Sauron.

Don’t expect this one to blow you away like Wall E, or even warm your heart like Up. Watch it nevertheless for the animated extravagance.

- Sarit Ray

This review was originally written for gqindia.com (Click here to see...)