For those of you who feel the Harry Potter film franchise is strictly for fans of the books, your opinion probably won't change after watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I. And in fact, most of the folks I've talked to who are fans of the books are very smitten with this latest installment in the film series. Those who haven't read the books are likely to have issues with the film. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of The Deathly Hallows Part I is that it feels incomplete. Maybe that's because it is incomplete (Part II opens next July). I don't know that I feel entirely comfortable reviewing this film in its current state because it is but half of a whole. In that regard I'm prepared to give it a little slack. On the other hand, the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings trilogies featured entries that were part of a bigger story arch, but they still managed to work spectacularly well as stand alone films. In this first portion of a two part finale, Hogwarts takes a back seat to the real world as Harry, Hermione, and Ron set out to on a mission that will help them put an end to the dread Voldemort and his villainous reign.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I is certainly stunning to look at. Sumptuous art direction, stellar special effects, gorgeous cinematography, and a haunting score by Alexandre Desplat. The three leads are in top form and they've come a long way since the first film which hit theaters nearly ten years ago. The most intriguing aspect of this series has been seeing these young children grow into confident, mature performers. Props to original Harry Potter helmer Chris Columbus for his casting choices. The biggest problem with this entry in the series is the story itself, and that falls into the hands of JK Rowling. It isn't that the film is void of substance, (there are plenty of dramatic flourishes throughout) but there's something a little less engaging about this venture and the plot is so dense, its nearly impossible to keep up with everything. Again, I'm speaking strictly from the perspective of a movie goer who's never read the books, but I shouldn't have to. A film should stand on its own two feet, and Deathly Hallows Part I doesn't quite pull it off. Take for instance, an appearance by house elf Dobby. From what I understand, he appears in all the books, but in the films, he hasn't been seen since what...The Chamber of Secrets? In Deathly Hallows, he makes a comeback, and while it's a somewhat amusing comeback, his biggest moment in the picture isn't half as powerful as it should be because he has less than ten minutes of screen time.

Also confusing is a plot thread involving a locket with supernatural powers. As Harry struggles to keep this locket safe, I was reminded more and more of a vastly superior Lord of the Rings. I get what director David Yates is going for here. The sense of magic that Columbus was going for early on is gone, but that makes sense because Potter is an adult in the real world now. Therefore, the grim and slightly bleak nature of the piece seems appropriate. I also accept that this is more of a character piece than an action film. I guess I'm just looking for answers. What, if anything, does it all mean? I can only hope that come next July, my questions will be answered. That's when I'll offer up a grade.