It’s been a long time coming, but the final installment in the Harry Potter series is here. That’s actually a bit of an understatement as the producers have seen fit to split this last book into two films. Quite why they felt the need to do this (it’s not the longest book, nor the most action-packed) outside of the financial gains is beyond me. But luckily what they’ve left in this, the first half, is more than worth the admission price.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is based upon the seventh and final book in J. K. Rowlings million-pound selling library. I don’t know about you, but the last 2 or 3 books and films have all been a bit of a muddled blur that fell off my radar. I don’t think I even bothered watching 5 all the way through it was that mind-numbingly tedious.

So it’s with relief that this film packs a much better punch than it’s predecessors. The worry of it being three kids stuck in a tent for 2.5 hours are safely eschewed in favour of varied locations, multiple shoot outs and a good set-up before the last film.

Overall this is worth seeing, purely to catch up on what the hell’s going on and be prepared for the final part which arrives next June(!). Worth seeing.

My rating: 7/10