Closely following the (first half of) book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, HP7 Part 1 gives us some welcome action outside of the confines of the wizarding school of Hogwarts. It is a breath of fresh air to see Harry, Hermione, and Ron fighting Voldemort’s goons in locales across England, from downtown London to Godric’s Hollow. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson each wear their wizarding personas like second skins by now, and Watson is particularly likable as Hermione who is frequently the only one with any sense.

Because the movie only tells the first half of the book, it inevitably has a less than satisfying conclusion. But we all know that going into the theater. The only problem with the movie also exists in the book: the trio has a long and uneventful winter in the wilderness, jumping (or rather, disapparating) from one bleak yet scenic barren landscape to the next, keeping Harry hidden from Voldemort’s evil army of snatchers and Death Eaters. Harry knows that to defeat Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes in creepy serpentine make-up) he must destroy 7 Horcruxes – magical thing-a-ma-jingies in which Voldemort has placed bits of his sould. Only two were destroyed in the first 6 books, so we all know his work is cut out for him. Harry and his pals are faced with identifying the Horcruxes, finding them, and destroying them. But while they are hiding in their magical tent in the woods, the trio rarely do more than sulk or stare at the horizon. Maybe they can’t figure out what to do or where to go next, but I would think they would at least be talking about it.

Eventually they do break out of the rut and the action begins again with wands zapping bolts of magical lightning, giant snakes, elves both cute and ghoulish, and more. Since Harry and the gang are fully immersed in the action (rather than, as in some of the earlier books and movies, merely hearing rumors second-hand while studying potions at school), the story is easier to follow for those not intimately familiar with the saga than the last couple of movies. Now if I can only remember this part until Part 2 comes out next summer.