July 11, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

At The Movies: It’s The Beginning of the End for Harry Potter:

The final book in the mega-hit Harry Potter series is so dense that the film had to be divided into two parts. This Thanksgiving, a great bet for family fun is a viewing of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part I.” A boy wizard hunting down and being hunted by the forces of evil is just the right fantastical fare for the after-turkey malaise. Be warned, the movie is two-and-a-half hours long, a runtime that includes some painfully slow sequences.

As the final tale of Harry Potter begins, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are in hot pursuit of the evil Dark Lord Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) life-giving objects, the Horcruxes. Audiences first met these three friends when they were unskilled elementary school kiddos, a trio stumbling through potions, spells, and wand wielding. In “Hallows” the three naïve children have grown into sharp minded teenagers and gifted practitioners of wizardry. Thus, though they travel a long, perilous road to defeat Voldemort, they have enough rough edges and street smarts to fend off foes.

As the three teenagers traverse mountains, forests, and all manner of treacherous landscape – they sleep in a tent pitched in the dark of night at various points on their journey – there is big trouble in the wizard world. Voldemort is waging war against the forces of good, threatening to destroy Harry’s school, Hogwarts, and striking fear into the hearts of all who oppose him. As Harry and his crew pursue the Horcruxes, the destruction of which will topple Voldemort, the dark lord has sent his own crew of bounty hunters to take down our bespectacled hero.

Director David Yates, who took over the helming of the “Harry Potter” movie franchise with 2007’s “Order of the Phoenix,” (Chris Columbus, Aflonso Cuaron, and Mike Newell all directed previous Harry Potter films) does a decent job of getting down to the dark, nitty-gritty stuff of this decidedly grim installment in the series. But time passes much too slowly during the scenes when we’re tracking Harry and his friends over hill and dale. It would have been nice to see a bit more smart magic and a bit less of the budding romance between Ron and Hermione.

That said the visuals are spectacular and there’s no shortage of good-versus-evil lesson teaching. The black magic employed throughout, however, begins to feel slightly clichéd. Fiennes chews the scenery like a cat lapping up milk, but he somehow feels put on, a caricature of an evil force personified.

Still, Harry’s fans will be satisfied with the film’s commitment to the book, and the cliffhanger ending will certainly leave them wanting more. Very young children will be frightened by the bad guys and their aggressive, relentless tracking tactics, while adults will enjoy the brilliant performances of Alan Rickman and Bill Nighy.

in News
<>Related Posts

Father-Daughter Authors to Host Book Signing to Aid Fire-Affected Women

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Ten percent of proceeds from book and art sales will benefit the Pacific Palisades Rebuilding Fund, a nonprofit initiative created...

Metro Reports Crime Drop, Higher Rider Satisfaction, and Progress on Major Projects

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The Authority said the drop in violent incidents—down to the lowest level since May 2019—coincided with more uniformed personnel and...

Santa Monica Joins Regional Lawsuit to Halt Unconstitutional ICE Raids

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The motion to intervene seeks to ensure that Santa Monica and other plaintiff-intervenors can advocate for their residents’ rights in...

Promenade Restaurant Introduces Lunch Menu Set at $18 Per Person

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The fixed $18 price point targets commuters and those seeking a power lunch or a change of scenery The restaurant...

Santa Monica Council Votes in Support of Park-Centric Future at Airport Site

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The decision followed a contentious meeting with over 140 public speakers and more than 1,000 emails received by the council...

Housing for Health Chief Appointed to Lead Unified Homeless Services Department

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

Veteran Housing Advocate to Oversee Streamlined LA County Services The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday confirmed the...

‘Adoptapalooza’ Pet Adoption Festival Returns to Main Street This Weekend

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The free, family-friendly event aims to connect adoptable animals with new owners Green Dog Dental & Veterinary Center will host...

Virtual Town Hall to Discuss Proposed Resilient Rebuilding Authority

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The agency, to be run by political appointees, would manage permitting, development, zoning, and funding, modeled after post-disaster recoveries Los...

New Agenda Coaching: Changing Lives in LA

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Students Work Toward Applied Success with Executive Function Coaching Services The demands of daily routines and studies sometimes bear weight...

Saint Monica Prep Students Win Award for Anti-Street Racing PSA Video

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The winning public service announcement, titled “Not Worth It,” was highlighted in a post on X by @LADOTofficial  Students from...

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Available for Eligible Families in Santa Monica-Malibu District

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Parents in Need Encouraged to Apply, SMMUSD Commits to Nutritious, Accessible Meals By Brandyi Phillips, SMMUSD Chief Communications Officer Santa...

Big Blue Bus to Raise Fares for First Time in Nearly a Decade

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The fare increase aims to offset rising costs for fuel, utilities, and supplies, according to the agency. The Santa Monica...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary to be Celebrated with Vibrant State of the City Event

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs, and picnics to enjoy during the performances Santa Monica will mark its...