I started reading the HARRY POTTER series of books around the time of the third being published. They hype was building and I wanted to find out about them. After reading the first, I was hooked and quickly caught up. From the 4th book on, I was buying them the weekend they came out (but never dressing up, or lining up at midnight).
With the films, it has been the opposite. For the first 3 or 4, I was there opening weekend. Since then, I've been waiting for the DVD release. I am only now seeing the latest, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.
It isn't that I don't care about the films. They have been doing a good job adapting them. But, having read the books, I know what happens, and there is no mystery to them.
It has been a few years since I read the last HARRY POTTER book. Since I have read many books since then, I have for the most part forgotten what happened.
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS is PART ONE, covering the first half of the book. The second part will be released this summer.
Harry, Hermione and Ron are not at Hogwarts. Instead, they are on the run, trying to track down and destroy the Horcruxes, magical items that will aid in his destruction of Voldemort.
Harry's nemesis, the evil Voldemort, and his followers have taken over the Ministry of Magic. Harry is now a wanted man and many of his once friends are in hiding, or dead.
As a film, beware, this is just the first part. It ends without any resolution to the story. It also ends on a major cliffhanger moment as well, that will have you waiting for the next part.
The special effects are first rate. And, as for the human cast, Helena Bonham Carter seems to be having a lot of fun as Bellatrix Lestrange.
Extras on the Blu-ray include "Maximum Movie Mode" where the film is shown with actors introducing it and, at times, interrupting with additional videos and on camera explanations about various aspects of the film. I must say that these are a lot more fun than standard commentaries.
A second disc of extras include 10 minutes of deleted scenes, along with a few short "Making Of Featurettes". The set is also including a first look at the opening scene of Part Two (this was not on my review copy however).
A third disc contains a DVD / digital copy of the film.
Fans will be looking forward to the final film of the series, and the Blu-ray should get them ready.
I most likely will be there to see the final film theatrically.
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART ONE will be available on DVD and Blu-ray on Friday April 15, 2011 from Warner Home Video.
