Muggles rejoice! Magic is surely in the air with news today that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will be split into two feature length films, the first of which will hit theaters in November 2010.
But like an uninvited trip through somebody else’s memory (we’re looking at you, Harry), the news, while satisfying, offers up nearly as many questions as answers. If only Dumbledore was still around to help us sort it all out, right David Heyman?
“The question will be, where do you break it? And how do you make them one but two separate and distinct stories?” the “Potter” producer asked in a recent “LA Times” story. “Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? These are the interesting challenges.”
Forgive me if it seems like I’ve taken an extra dose of draught of insanity, but what’s all the confusion about? In my mind, there can be only one ideal place to divide the two films:
SPOILERS BELOW
The best, most logical place, to divide the two films comes with the death and funeral of Dobby the house elf, corresponding to the chapter entitled “Shell Cottage.”
Aside from the simple fact that it comes at (relatively) the book’s halfway point, the moment is also one of the most significant in the entire novel (if not the series). As J.K. Rowling told MTV News last October, Dobby’s death “woke Harry up to what he was doing.”
Indeed (and now I quote myself) Dobby’s death comes at a crucial time in Book 7, when Harry must decide whether to continue chasing Voldemort’s horcruxes, or to abandon that quest and search for the legendary “Deathly Hallows” instead. The death of Dobby “focused [Harry],” in his resolve to choose the former, Rowling insisted.
It could be called a mini-climax, where Harry finally accepts the wisdom of Dumbledore and resolves to see his quest to the end. Fine. Bu what makes it particularly intriguing as a division even beyond that is that it’s a remarkably melancholy moment sandwiched between two high-octane action sequences – the fight at Malfoy Manor before it, and the assault on Gringotts immediately after.
Everything before is search, everything after is destroy: Harry goes directly from Shell Cottage to Gringotts, from Gringotts to Hogsmeade, from Hogsmeade to the BATTLE OF HOGWARTS!!!
I can even picture the last shot of the first film – Harry, crying over Dobby’s grave, sweat pouring down his face,ready to give-up instead stands tall, his fists clenched, resolved to discover what comes next.
Just like the rest of us.
Am I crazy or does this make way too much sense? Do you have a better idea for where to divide the series? And while we’re talking “Deathly Hallows,” make sure to help us cast it here.
Sound off below.
my gosh though, I'm still reeling that they're making it a two-part movie! I'm so excited!
Thanks for keeping us up to date!
On a side note... I hope we don't have to wait too long for part 2!
you should become the director - you know, so it's from a fan's point of view
yeah, this seems like the perfect spot to cut it, but we can't have ALL action in the second part because that would lack all the JKR charm
OMG DOBBY!!!!!!!! My Dobby *snif* I'm ok with the end of DH part 1 though, the dead of Dobby'd be the best thing to finish it.
fantastic if you ask me:D
I reckon the best cutting point (both for storytelling and cinematical purposes) would be when the the trio are at the Lovegoods place and Xenophilius says:
"Are you refering to the sign of the Deathly Hallows?"
And then the screen goes black or something, and then at the start of Part 2 they have a recap of what happend in Part 1 or something like that... =D
Sets up the sequel after. The only probelm as of such is that you won't have hat muc content for a thought provoking finale film. It'll be a short little action epic. I think the producers should take a leave out of the Godfather text book, the most important thing about DH to me was Dumbledore's story. Why not intercut into the last movie Albus's story, much like the young Vito? I nominate James McAvoy for the part.
sucks about it being 6 months apart tho.
However, Dobby's funeral is probably a much better place to cut.
That's what I think... but doesn't matter I suppose as long as they don't cut anything extremely important..
(Long Live Harry Potter) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Although I think that when it comes out on dvd it should be possible to buy both films as one massive one...cause I would love to just sit and watch it all the way through on a one-er.
Thoughts?