Literary Analysis

This is the Harry Potter movie we’ve been waiting for.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1”, director David Yates’ third contribution to the eight-film franchise, is a rich, dark adventure story that transcends its genre. Just like its predecessor, “Half-Blood Prince,” this new installment works not just as another Harry Potter movie, but as a strong film in its own right. (Note: for the purposes of this discussion, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” will be evaluated on its cinematic merits alone. A more comprehensive treatment of the Harry Potter worldview is forthcoming.)

The movie opens on a world on the brink of war. Evil Lord Voldemort is growing stronger by the day, and is even making incursions into the non-magical world. And the three protagonists – Harry, Ron, and Hermione – are in the very center of the gathering storm. In the wake of Headmaster Dumbledore’s death (at the end of the sixth film), Harry faces a seemingly impossible task: locate and destroy the six Horcruxes, magical objects that prevent Voldemort from being killed.

It all sounds pretty complicated, and it is. Newcomers will probably find it difficult to follow the tangle of interweaving plot threads, but longtime fans will appreciate the film’s rigorous attention to detail. That’s not to say that Yates adheres too closely to the source material – a few well-integrated changes improve the story without compromising the book’s richness. (He even throws in some self-referential inside jokes for diehard HP fans.) A particular highlight: the story of the eponymous Deathly Hallows is told through a visually stunning shadow-puppet animated sequence.

Cinematically, the movie is wondrous to behold. Beautifully paced and filmed, with seamless CGI effects, it balances fast-paced action sequences with quiet, tender moments shared between friends. And this is where “Deathly Hallows – Part 1” finds its surest footing. For most of the film’s latter half, the narrative becomes a “character-driven” story rather than a “plot-driven” story. Harry, Ron, and Hermione become far more believable as they struggle with very human weaknesses, including jealousy, frustration, and despair. Having grown up in their roles, the three leading actors are certainly at their best in this penultimate chapter. For all the talk about magic and epic confrontations, “Harry Potter” is very much a story about friendship, and this movie accurately captures that spirit.

This is a slow-burning installment – all things considered, there’s less action than, say “Goblet of Fire” – but with “Part II” slated for a July 2011 release, fans won’t have to wait too long for the dramatic finale. And the slower pacing of this film is the very reason it’s so potent. For example, a lingering shot of Hermione’s agonized face as she erases her parents’ memories (to protect them) is genuinely moving. Rather than following his contemporaries’ lead – packing the final installment of a series with innumerable explosions and frenetic action scenes – Yates opts for a quieter, more emotional approach. If this movie has a significant flaw, it’s the lack of a real climax and conclusion. Considering this is Part 1 of the movie, however, it’s an understandable weakness.

In keeping with its subject matter, this movie is dark. There’s more violence (some of it bloody) than in previous installments, and elements of torture are also present. (Voldemort’s regime has strong Nazi overtones, leading to a pervasive sense of menace, and the Dark Lord himself has emerged as a genuinely frightening villain.) A few mild profanities also turn up. Most notably, a sensuous scene between Harry and Hermione – in context, it’s an illusion designed to deceive Ron – is racier than anything seen in earlier HP films. In all honesty, this is absolutely not a kids’ movie. It’s far too intense for anyone under 11 or 12, and certainly earns its PG-13 rating.

Should you see it? If you’re a longtime HP fan, this is an absolute must-see. It perfectly captures the essence of the final book, and the few changes it makes feel “just right” in the context of the story. The cast is in top form, making the movie a strong film on its own merits. Highly recommended…but do leave your young siblings at home.

VERDICT: 9.5/10
A deep, complex and intense beginning of the end. The best “Harry Potter” adaptation yet.

Normalized Score: 8.7

When I first saw the trailer for “Megamind” – DreamWorks Animation’s latest comedy-action adventure – I thought it looked like a shameless ripoff of “The Incredibles.” Both deal with superheroes, and the movies even use similar styles of animation. That being said, the premise – two superpowered beings, Megamind and Metroman, choosing opposite sides and engaging in a never-ending series of showdowns – looked amusing enough. All in all, though, I didn’t think it looked that good.

Fortunately, I was mistaken. “Megamind” is an entertaining, family-friendly adventure, that also has a few good things to say about good, evil, and human nature.

The film opens with a brief prologue: two super-powered infants are launched from exploding planets and fall to earth (a la Superman). One falls into the care of a wealthy family, while the other lands in a prison. Their lives take very different courses from that point on. The pampered infant grows up to be superhero Metroman (voiced by Brad Pitt) who makes a career out of doing good deeds. On the other hand, his counterpart Megamind (voiced by Will Ferrell) emerges as his supervillain nemesis. Suffering from blue skin and a lightbulb-shaped head, he’s comfortable being demonized by the inhabitants of Metro City. The two quickly fall into a “comfortable” arrangement – Megamind kidnaps the pretty reporter Roxanne (voiced by Tina Fey) and Metroman subsequently saves her.

That is, until one of Megamind’s plans actually works – killing Metroman.

Megamind – although stunned at the inadvertent success of his plot – quickly takes over Metro City, wreaking havoc for the sheer fun of it. However, he quickly becomes discontented with his life of villainy. Hoping to regain some sense of purpose, he decides to create a new superhero nemesis for himself. Unfortunately, his designated recipient of superpowers turns out to be anything but a hero.

On the surface, “Megamind” seems like little more than a slickly produced, well-made animated feature. The voice acting is strong, and the film employs 3D effectively. But there are a few elements here that elevate “Megamind” above other DreamWorks endeavors.

For starters, this film is squeaky-clean. There are a few moments of mild violence (as one might expect given the subject matter) but practically nothing that would put the movie off-limits for viewers of any age. (This is a refreshing change from the innuendo found in earlier DreamWorks movies…e.g. the Shrek series.) It manages to be funny without being crass – a seeming challenge, but one that modern animation studios (Pixar et al.) are effectively overcoming.

Second, some of the messages in “Megamind” resonate on a Biblical level. Megamind’s initial despair over his lack of purpose is consistent with a Christian view of sin – it may be briefly pleasurable, but it fails to satisfy in the long run. The movie also highlights (in several ways that I won’t go into for fear of spoilers) the fact that all humans are basically self-serving and villainous at heart. These sinful actions may ultimately lead to a meaningless outcome, but people pursue them nonetheless – concerned only with the joys of the moment. Although the animators probably weren’t intending to convey a spiritual message, some of the predominant themes in “Megamind” are backed up in Scripture.

Third, the film shines on a technical level. As previously noted, the animation and voice acting are top-notch. A strong soundtrack, including selections from Michael Jackson, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses – is integrated with perfect comic timing. I found myself enjoying it not just as an illustration of spiritual concepts, but as a good movie in its own right. Even the most jaded viewer will probably be entertained.

So, should you see it?

This isn’t a movie made for adults – it’s a kids’ film at heart – but as family entertainment, it succeeds marvelously, and even includes some surprisingly deep messages. Recommended for families looking for a well-made, clean movie that provides substance for good discussions.

VERDICT: 7.5/10
Not the best animated movie ever made, but a surprisingly substantial film. A “family-friendly” movie that manages to entertain kids and adults alike.

Normalized Score: 4.6