Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART IMovie Reviews
Adventure fantasy in the Harry Potter series, following Ron, Hermione and Harry's search for the hidden pieces of Voldemort's fractured soul which allow the Dark Lord to remain immortal. Cast:Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph FiennesDirector:David YatesRelease Date:November 19, 2010DVD Release:April 15, 2011From:Warner Bros.Rating:PG-13Length:2 hr 26 min
APRIL 15, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I, Good (Not Great) Reviews
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I played to good not great reviews. • Ann Hornaday wrote in the Washington Post, "...full of the enchantment, emotion and incident for which the 'Potter' series has become so fanatically cherished.... also grim, downbeat and unimaginably sad..." • And Bill Goodykoontz wrote in the Arizona Republic, "...not a bad movie, but it is very much a transitional one." More Reviews Below...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Positive Reviews (53 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: MODERATE(cg) "...it's far too long. A clever jaunt into the Ministry of Magic and brisk chases punctuate the dull stretches... feels like set-up for the dramatic finale..."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 152 words, 11/18/10
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...fails to sustain the opening sequence's perfect mix of peril and excitement... boasts several emotional highs, including a kiss between Harry and Ron's sister..."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 160 words, 11/18/10
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "This is who Harry Potter has grown up to be: a young man strong enough to love his friends, clever enough to outwit his foes, and brave enough to face his future."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 704 words, 11/19/10
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...all tease, zero payoff.... plays like a 146-minute trailer for the actual final chapter... rolls along like something off an assembly line. Untouched by human hands."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 235 words, 11/26/10
Scott Bowles, USA Today: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Menacing and meditative... arguably the best installment... though audiences who haven't kept up with previous chapters will be hopelessly lost."(See all of Scott Bowles's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 543 words, 11/19/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...handsome and sometimes harrowing... will be completely unintelligible for anyone coming to the series for the first time.... depends more on mood and character..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 961 words, 11/17/10
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "Yeates' high octane approach to action is worthy of what one might find in another venerable British series - that of 007.... goes to the most deliciously dark places..."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,371 words, 11/17/10
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (14 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...manages to be both a stepping stone and a reasonably satisfying experience in its own right.... finds notes of anxious suspense and grave emotion..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 944 words, 11/18/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...more teenage psychodrama than we'd ideally have to deal with.... the filmmakers have tried hard to fill the proceedings with battles and chases and debilitating curses."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 798 words, 11/18/10
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "Beautifully shot but a soulless cash machine... delivers no dramatic payoff, no resolution and not much fun. Hopefully we'll get that in the final installment..."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 555 words, 11/18/10
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...will not be for everyone. It takes its time. It has a heavy heart, and a sluggish middle passage.... What works especially well this time? The little things."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 613 words, 11/18/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...handsome and sometimes harrowing... will be completely unintelligible for anyone coming to the series for the first time.... depends more on mood and character..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 961 words, 11/17/10
Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "For die-hard fans of the novels, the movie's haste is merely aggravating. But casual viewers might well tune out the details and just enjoy the scenery."(See all of Dan Kois's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 846 words, 11/17/10
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "Steve Kloves deserves special praise this time. He makes an exciting story out of only half a book, and he does so while negotiating the largest array of characters yet..."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,024 words, 11/18/10
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "...the movie only comes alive when it's dramatizing a story within the story, using lovely animated silhouettes to recount the Parable of the Three Gentlemen."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 862 words, 11/18/10
Josep Parera, La Opinion: VERY GOOD(cg) "Si 'The Deathly Hallows: Part II' logra impactar a la audiencia con la misma efectividad que esta primera parte, la saga creada por Rowling culminará de forma inolvidable."(See all of Josep Parera's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 475 words, 11/19/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...the most satisfying and confident Harry Potter movie yet.... great stuff, playing out with the self-assurance of a fully mature franchise."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 587 words, 11/18/10
KEY CITIES (16 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...full of the enchantment, emotion and incident for which the 'Potter' series has become so fanatically cherished.... also grim, downbeat and unimaginably sad..."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 935 words, 11/18/10
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "...gives its characters and audience time to inhale... Watson's so good that one wishes Rowling had built her septology around Hermione Potter."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 642 words, 11/18/10
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...nothing if not epic... This one is a long, archetypal journey that screeches to a halt a few stops short of its destination."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 11/19/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Alternately funny and touching, it's the best film in the series... a masterly build-up to put 'I can't wait for part 2' on every Muggles' lips."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 533 words, 11/18/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "Radcliffe, Watson and Grint, having literally grown up in their characters, are ready for their close-up. They earned it, they deserve it and they nailed it."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 670 words, 11/18/10
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD(cg) "...not a bad movie, but it is very much a transitional one... we're left with the pieces in place for the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 562 words, 11/18/10
Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Even those who know where it's going should be drawn to see how this team, which has done so well so far, has visualized that extraordinary conclusion."(See all of Nancy Churnin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 567 words, 11/18/10
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "...features the most deliriously inspired moviemaking since 'The Prisoner of Azkaban'... Now we're here, ready to mourn the end, only to have to come back..."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,029 words, 11/18/10
Mike Russell, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT(cg) "The pace is still brisk and the set pieces are still outlandish... returning director David Yates ('Order of the Phoenix,' 'Half-Blood Prince') still has a surprisingly light touch..."(See all of Mike Russell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 776 words, 11/18/10
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: VERY GOOD(cg) "...slower and stranger than any of the previous films, simultaneously raising hopes for a haunting finale while dimming hopes for a magical one."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 390 words, 11/18/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...hampered by a sluggish pace and long stretches in which absolutely nothing happens... Fans of the novels, however, won't mind..."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 679 words, 11/19/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (9 Reviews)
Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "For die-hard fans of the novels, the movie's haste is merely aggravating. But casual viewers might well tune out the details and just enjoy the scenery."(See all of Dan Kois's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 846 words, 11/17/10
Josh Tyler, Cinema Blend: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...much of this first part is almost incomprehensible.... Good enough is just about what 'Deathly Hallows' is... even for those of us who have no idea what's going on..."(See all of Josh Tyler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,271 words, 11/16/10
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the natural effects exceed the special kind. And then other moments stand out because of their simple humanity, scenes in which loved ones are united or lost."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 577 words, 11/18/10
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: MODERATE(cg) "...an awkward mating of action-fantasy and a self-reflective indie movie... makes no bones about being part of a longer work rather than a stand-alone film."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 368 words, 11/18/10
Nick Schager, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...dedication to accuracy proves an anchor weighing down these proceedings, with countless sequences practically begging to be trimmed..."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 820 words, 11/17/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...the most satisfying and confident Harry Potter movie yet.... great stuff, playing out with the self-assurance of a fully mature franchise."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 587 words, 11/18/10
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: FAIR(cg) "...damn nigh impenetrable without the background of the novel... Yates does bring an appropriately gloomy air of despair, loneliness, and disconnect..."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 774 words, 11/19/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (8 Reviews)
Bob Mondello, NPR All Things Considered: VERY GOOD "...manages to be involving and kind of artful about the boredom and loneliness of heroism, while sounding a long throbbing drumroll for next summer's grand finale."(See all of Bob Mondello's reviews...)(Listen to the full review...) 235 seconds, 11/18/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: WEAK "...some mysterious movie curse has turned the three once-lively adventurers into wood.... baffling -- the commonplace chases, the murky look, the indifferent effects..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 481 words, 11/18/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...manages to be both a stepping stone and a reasonably satisfying experience in its own right.... finds notes of anxious suspense and grave emotion..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 944 words, 11/18/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...more teenage psychodrama than we'd ideally have to deal with.... the filmmakers have tried hard to fill the proceedings with battles and chases and debilitating curses."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 798 words, 11/18/10
Dana Stevens, Slate: VERY GOOD "...one of my favorite 'Harry Potter' movies so far, precisely because it takes a break from the magic-and-monster-crammed busyness of its predecessors."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 714 words, 11/18/10
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: VERY GOOD "...long, dour, impressive and handsome... Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves have done a fine job of building up a big, black foreboding cloud..."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,589 words, 11/17/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...lumbering and gripping by turns, and suffused with a profound sense of solitude and loss.... at times seems to falter under the weight of its exposition."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,251 words, 11/11/10
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: MODERATE "...feels devoted above all to reproducing the novel onscreen as closely as possible, an impulse that drags it toward ponderousness at times..."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 798 words, 11/11/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "...more teenage psychodrama than we'd ideally have to deal with.... the filmmakers have tried hard to fill the proceedings with battles and chases and debilitating curses."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 798 words, 11/18/10
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: VERY GOOD(cg) "...has some great and occasionally even magical special effects. But in terms of narrative, the tale and its degree of involvement are sharply uneven."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 739 words, 11/14/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...manages to be both a stepping stone and a reasonably satisfying experience in its own right.... finds notes of anxious suspense and grave emotion..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 944 words, 11/18/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: WEAK "...some mysterious movie curse has turned the three once-lively adventurers into wood.... baffling -- the commonplace chases, the murky look, the indifferent effects..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 481 words, 11/18/10
18.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I's reviews are separated by an average 18.2 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (53 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I's reviews cover 100.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 36,537 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 689 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I Coverage, Volume & Length (53 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 10.9 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I's reviews on average broke 10.9 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (53 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
