Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows (Part 1) Review (NO SPOILERS)

Please note, I have tried hard to avoid any spoilers in the review, please keep it the same in any comments!

I went and saw the movie this morning, with my Mum. I have seen the previous installments, and was keen to see the first part of the finale to the series. I am a big fan of the books (and books are always better than the movies!) but I promise to keep that bias aside in the review, and just keep to it as a movie...

The overall impression that I got, was that this was way too bloody long. 3 hours, for part 1. So much could have been cut. Unless part 2 is jam-packed with action, they really didn't need to make this two movies. Endless plodding through woods could have been cut. An entire scene of Harry and Hermione dancing - irrelevant and could have been cut. It was almost frustrating (and bordered on boring a few times as a result).

The dark parts of the movie, were again very dark. Looking back at The Philosophers Stone (Sorcerer's Stone in some countries), it seemed aimed at children. Then suddenly, as the books progressed, they became increasingly adult, and increasingly dark. Let me say this - don't take small kids to see this movie. Just don't. I have a 7 year old, and he won't be seeing this (or most of it's predecessors for that matter) until he is muuuuuch older. It's scary. It has dark and confusing concepts, and it's not a kids movie, despite what many seem to think. I was kinda horrified to see the age of some kids in the cinema. Just... no.

The focus is very much on Harry, Hermione and Ron in this one, very few glimpses of any of the others from Hogwarts, including our favorite villain, Snape. McGonagall was absent altogether, which disappointed me greatly! Neville was a glimpse, even Draco was a minor appearance. And, I am really, really, not a fan of Bill Nighy as Rufus Scrimgeour.

All that said, there were many positives, too. There were some clever jokes and witty humor, and I do so love the many polyjuice scenes. I loved Luna Lovegood's father, Xenophilius Lovegood (big Rhys Ifans fan!), and more of the house elves. As an adult, I loved the dark scenes, the tension was great, and I think Helena Bonham Carter returning as Bellatrix Lestrange was brilliant in her role yet again. The ending was climactic enough to leave you lamenting the 7 month wait for part 2.

I'd give it maybe... 6 out of 10. I hope part 2 is an improvement - much expectations to carry for the final installment of a tale that has gripped us now for a ten good years. Fingers crossed!

110 in 2010... How did I go?

Back in January I wrote this post of goals for 2010. With only 6 weeks left now in 2010, I thought I should review and see what I need to cram in to come close to getting most of these achieved. So.. a review!


1. Visit an o/s country CHECK!
2. Take risks CHECK!
3. Travel more – locally, Aus, Abroad CHECK!
4. Meet new people CHECK!
5. Make more friends CHECK!
6. Let more people in CHECK!
7. Start a grad dip in IKM
8. Write CHECK!
9. Create CHECK!
10. Look after me CHECK!
11. Get a tattoo CHECK!
12. Stand in the rain til I am soaked through CHECK!
13. Be loved CHECK!
14. Appreciate Friends CHECK!
15. Exercise regularly
16. Learn Italian
17. Learn a dance – salsa!?
18. Keep a diary
19. Read a book a month for pleasure
20. Cultivate a stronger sense of self CHECK!
21. Bake more
22. Clean closets and give away or throw out things I don’t wear CHECK!
23. Hang pictures CHECK!
24. Take kids to zoo CHECK!
25. Buy luggage CHECK!
26. Conquer long haul flight CHECK!
27. Buy or cut fresh flowers monthly min
28. Find new music CHECK!
29. Decorate the house CHECK!
30. Buy more shoes
31. Drive somewhere far - road trip!
32. Laugh more CHECK!
33. Treat my hair more CHECK!
34. Get massage
35. Drink less coffee CHECK!
36. Expand movie collection CHECK!
37. Blog more
38. Attend a concert CHECK!
39. Watch a sunrise CHECK!
40. Stay up all night
41. Watch a sunset CHECK!
42. Buy more pretty things CHECK!
43. Learn to better apply make up - smoky eyes...
44. Save $500 for no real purpose. CHECK!
45. Get a job
46. Buy more pretty lingerie CHECK!
47. Get more pedicures
48. Pierce my nose
49. Stay in bed all day with dvds and/or books CHECK!
50. Swim in the ocean – beach hair!
51. Mosaic again
52. Try pottery
53. Paint, even just once
54. Donate unused toys
55. Grow herb garden
56. Grow basic vegies
57. Watch Schindlers list
58. Stop worrying
59. Attend a St Patricks Day parade CHECK!
60. Learn a new word daily
61. Find something to be grateful for daily
62. Plant a tree
63. Kiss in the rain CHECK!
64. Wish on a shooting star
65. See a movie at a drive in
66. Research Infertility book CHECK!
67. Be more positive CHECK!
68. Talk to strangers more CHECK!
69. Take more photos CHECK!
70. Do more RAOK
71. Compliment others often CHECK!
72. Learn to relax CHECK!
73. Be more environmentally friendly CHECK!
74. Don’t strangle anybody! (Hoping this is my definite achieved item...) CHECK!
75. Keep a budget CHECK!
76. Buy more dresses
77. Monthly movie night
78. Sleep more!
79. Read with kids regularly CHECK!
80. Have fun with Finns school lunches and introduce new foods CHECK!
81. Take Finn to scienceworks CHECK!
82. Spend more time alone CHECK!
83. Take kids to the beach CHECK!
84. Get counselling
85. Move house or revamp current CHECK!
86. Hug kids at least twice a day CHECK!
87. Tell kids I love them at least twice every day CHECK!
88. Explore San Fran in March CHECK!
89. Write a letter to myself 10 years in the future
90. Write a letter to the child me
91. Organise my photos into albums on iPhoto
92. Write a haiku
93. Have someone read to me out loud CHECK!
94. In addition to reading a book for pleasure each month, read at least 10 from this list: http://www.listafterlist.com/tabid/57/listid/12559/Books/The+Perfec...
95. In addition to movies for pleasure etc. Watch at least 10 from this list: http://www.listafterlist.com/Listof/tabid/57/ListID/15929/Default.aspx
96. Organize my pantry more efficiently
97. Be brave CHECK!
98. Ask for help when I need it
99. Laugh til I cry CHECK!
100. Cook new meals CHECK!
101. Ease off on the self guilt CHECK!
102. Believe and remind myself I deserve more happy CHECK!
103. Try new foods CHECK!
104. Work on relationship with the folks CHECK!
105. Spend more time with my niece and nephew
106. Have confidence in the decisions I make and embrace them CHECK!
107. Make those I care about feel special CHECK!
108. Be open to possibilities, always CHECK!
109. Take opportunities and make them count CHECK!
110. Make a list for 2011

What is left...

7. Start a grad dip in IKM
To be fair, I changed my mind on this, and instead applie for Grad Entry Teaching. i find out Jan if I am accepted.

15. Exercise regularly
What is this word, regularly, you speak of?

16. Learn Italian
No suitable classes were offered. I keep looking...

17. Learn a dance – salsa!?
Ha.

18. Keep a diary
Very erratic, and very few entries.

19. Read a book a month for pleasure
Not even close.

21. Bake more
Um. No.

27. Buy or cut fresh flowers monthly min
Sadly, no, and I liked this one a lot.

30. Buy more shoes
Nope. I bought one pair. I dont think that counts.

31. Drive somewhere far - road trip!
No, another I really wanted, too.

34. Get massage
Nope. WANT.

37. Blog more
I was very slack this year, but it was a huge year...

40. Stay up all night
I dont think I have the stamina for it!

43. Learn to better apply make up - smoky eyes...
No real place to use it, so I didn't bother. FAIL!

45. Get a job
Nothing suitable, and I still want to be home with RJ, so this one never eventuated either.

47. Get more pedicures
Sadly, no. Aside from self administered!

48. Pierce my nose
Nope. Still undecided.

50. Swim in the ocean – beach hair!
Maybe next week on our beach holiday?

51. Mosaic again
Fail

52. Try pottery
Fail

53. Paint, even just once
Fail

54. Donate unused toys
I need to do this, still. The kids have boxes they don't touch.

55. Grow herb garden
Fail

56. Grow basic vegies
Fail

57. Watch Schindlers list
Fail

58. Stop worrying
I am trying. Not sure I will ever manage this one, though.

60. Learn a new word daily
Fail

61. Find something to be grateful for daily
Not conscientiously enough.

62. Plant a tree
Fail.

64. Wish on a shooting star
I haven't seen any! NOT MY FAULT. I blame the cosmos.

65. See a movie at a drive in
Fail.

70. Do more RAOK
Again, not enough and not enough conscious effort.

76. Buy more dresses
Fail

77. Monthly movie night
Fail... did okay, but not monthly.

78. Sleep more!
God I have trouble with this. I make inroads then regress. Its tough.

84. Get counselling
Fail. Ashamed.

89. Write a letter to myself 10 years in the future
Um.. Dear future me, I hope you found the happy. I hope you stayed brave. I hope you feel at peace, and lost the tension and stress of now. I believe in you.

90. Write a letter to the child me
Dear child me, you'll be ok. You are so much more than you believe. I wish I could hug you. You are amazing.

91. Organise my photos into albums on iPhoto
Fail

92. Write a haiku
Fail

4. In addition to reading a book for pleasure each month, read at least 10 from this list: http://www.listafterlist.com/tabid/57/listid/12559/Books/The+Perfec...
I dont think I read ten books this year full stop.

95. In addition to movies for pleasure etc. Watch at least 10 from this list: http://www.listafterlist.com/Listof/tabid/57/ListID/15929/Default.aspx
Ditto.

96. Organize my pantry more efficiently
Fail

98. Ask for help when I need it
Another I have made inroads on, but could stand to take further.

105. Spend more time with my niece and nephew
This one upsets me most. Relationship with my brother worsened, and made this even harder. I really need to fix this one the most.

110. Make a list for 2011
FAIL!


Interesting... It was fun!