Dumbledore is dead, and Harry Potter and his friends are older and no longer under the protection of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry begins the greatest battle of his life in the first half of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.“

Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe in a role that fits him like a glove, is no longer playing a child’s game of Quidditch: he is trying to save the world from the forces of evil. Evil comes in the form of Lord Voldemort, a very intense and complicated character played by Ralph Fiennes. There are many adult concepts explored within this film, ranging from good versus evil, death, love and sex.

The concept of good and evil is explored in more depth this time around. David Yates, the director of the two preceding Harry Potter movies, visually reflects this battle by the visual language that he uses to portray emotions. The cold, icy and dark exteriors reflect the emotional moods of the characters and the world of Harry Potter. The interiors are likewise cold and dark with only the faintest presence of magically created light. The use of colors (gray, brown, blue, and black) to portray internal and external struggle is reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman films with the added bonus of magic.

The main goal of the first half of this film is to stay alive and find a way to destroy a locket with horrible powers. The power within this locket tries to break apart the friend dynamic between Harry, Ron and Hermione by imbuing them with petty jealousy, anger and feelings of isolation. Will the locket succeed?

There is a hint of sex in the air as Harry Potter and his friends come to grips with their blossoming sexuality. To kiss or not to kiss, that is the question. Love, sex and attraction are both used as a thing of beauty and as a weapon.

If you have not read or watched all of the Harry Potter movies you will have moments of confusion. The only flaw of this movie is that it is a complicated story with many characters from the previous movies coming and going, and it is the responsibility of the audience to keep up. If you are a diehard Harry Potter fan, this does not present a problem. It is the story and intricacies of J.K. Rowling’s world that draw Harry Potter fans back time after time. This newest installment is no different. Ian Klute, a second year Electronic Media Broadcasting major at Northern Kentucky University, is an avid fan of the books and the movies.

“I thought the movie was excellent,” Klute said. “I liked it because it continually sought to thrill. My favorite part was the story of the three brothers and the deathly hallows.”

It is only close to the end of the film that the deathly hallows is explained. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, then you already know what they are. If you aren’t, you will just have to see the movie. If your taste buds want more after the first installment of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” the second half comes out in theaters in July 15, 2011. So grab your broomsticks, don’t forget your magic wands and come prepared to escape into the world that is Harry Potter.

4 out 5 stars
A-

Story by Shawn Buckenmeyer