DOWNEY - Nearly 10 years from its initial release, Harry Potter still manages to dazzle and amaze fans everywhere with the recent release of part one of the final saga, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."Over the last two weeks, the seventh installment in the Potter franchise has dominated both the box office and the hearts and minds of fans around the world. For many, the story they have grown up with and loved for the past decade is almost coming to an end, a feeling viewers felt as soon as Deathly Hallows part one ended. The journey of Harry, Ron and Hermione and their final battle against Lord Voldemort won't hit theaters until next July, so Potter fans are taking in as much as they can with the first part, seeing it as many times as they can. Getting a film adaptation of book to come as close to the original is not an easy task to pull off and be appreciated by fans, but the Deathly Hallows did just that. Compared to previous Potter films where plot lines from the books were removed for the jump to the big screen, this film was the closest to the book than all the rest. As the books progressed, so did the tone of the story as it shifted into something darker. It allowed fans to grow up along with the three main characters and now that the story is almost over, separation anxiety is already setting in. "The movie sucked me in from start to finish. I felt all of their emotions, cried, laughed and smiled," said Sierra Dunbar. "The next movie comes out on my birthday, but I'm sad because it's the last movie and I'll cry of course. No other movie or book saga will ever be as beloved as Harry Potter." The Deathly Hallows is definitely the most dark and dramatic of the Harry Potter series, with some of the most violent and provocative images coming to life right in front of your eyes. Friendships are tested, trust is broken and who you least expect it can die. The film, however, is not for the faint of heart and at PG-13 fits in as much violence and intrigue that makes it appropriate for middle and high school students, but not for the 10 and under crowd. Out of all the recent holiday movie releases, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is definitely worth the ticket price and worth a second, or even third, viewing.

********** Published: December 2, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 33