Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Warner Bros) is the wildly successful franchise film based on J.K. Rowling's fantasy novels. As in Rowling's final volume, the tone here is darker, the action more intense, and the violence intended to shock as the forces of good and evil are set on their inevitable collision course.

The film opens with the fact that the Ministry has been taken over by Death Eaters, loyal to the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Their mission is twofold: Rid the world of Half-bloods (part witch, part nonwitch or "Muggle") and their supporters, and find Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe, of course), the "Chosen One." No one is safe. But the main focus is Harry, and his loyal pals Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), who rally to his side.

Thus, the trio had to travel instantaneously from place to place, to escape the Death Eaters. Harry, Hermione and Ron jump all over the real world, from Piccadilly Circus in London to the Scottish Highlands. Director David Yates (a veteran of two previous Harry Potter films) offers a picturesque travelogue of the British Isles that is a soothing respite from the film's otherwise relentless clashes.

Their travels are not just about escaping Voldemort; our trio is in search of items that can destroy the Evil One, including the titular "Deathly Hallows," three items that, together, make one "Master of Death."

Here, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" ventures into "Lord of the Rings" territory. Like Frodo Baggins, Harry -- all grown up and accepting his destiny -- embarks on a perilous journey to rid the world of evil. But, also like Frodo, Harry is tempted by darkness, as are his friends.

The film offers lessons about perseverance, loyalty, friendship, and self-sacrifice as it builds to a cliffhanger climax.

The magical elements in the script are benign, serving to support the plot, not endorse the evils of sorcery. The romantic tension of earlier films takes a back seat to the action this time, with a few exceptions: stolen kisses, close dancing, and a peculiar fantasy scene, invented by Voldemort, -- all designed to enrage Ron, which it does.

The film contains much action violence with frequent peril, brief partial nudity in a sexual context, scenes of murder and torture and a few vaguely sexual references. The classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America declared that some material might be inappropriate for children under 13.

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