ES Re

Te eT

em

 

Bind.

Deathly Hallows does Harry

Potter justice

Tradition o Poe filmmaking lives on with latest, darkest installment

By Knowlton Thomas

arry Potter looks perfectly

normal in The Deathly Hallows

Part I, the latest instalment in the
tremendously popular movie franchise
(though let us not forget, they were
novels first). But reflecting back on a
movie poster for Harry Potter and the
Philosopher's Stone, you realize just how
much he (played by Daniel Radcliffe) has
grown up.

The Philosopher's Stone was
released into theatres in 2001, nearly a
decade ago, and Harry, alongside Ron
Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione
Granger (Emma Watson), are no longer
the innocent preteens we first fell in love
with.

This wouldn’t be impactful if we
hadn’t followed Harry and his gang
from the outset. But, because we were
introduced to him before even his first
day at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
and Wizardry and because we have
faithfully followed his adventures as
they’ve grown in both magnitude and
darkness; to think that we are so close to
the end of it all is enough to stir many
emotions.

Of course, we’ve all read the books
and know how it ends, but it’s the movie
that will deliver true closure. Which is
why it was a pleasure to watch Deathly
Hallows continue the tradition of quality
filmmaking. Brilliant special effects
pull you into Harry’s magical world,
and convincing acting in spectacular

8 .

 

settings allow you to lose yourself in
the fantastical story author J.K. Rowling
crafted for us over the years.

Even split into two parts, the first
Deathly Hallows is still forced to skip
a few minor details, though less than
its predecessors. That aside however,
the movie is wonderful. As Harry, Ron,
and Hermione flee from danger while
simultaneously trying to locate and
destroy the remaining horcruxes in order
to defeat the dark wizard Voldemort,
complexities arise regularly to interfere
with already complicated plans. Sad
deaths of beloved characters evoke
meaningful feelings, but the charm
and wit of Ron, “Kreacher,” and others
balance the overall mood of the film well.

Nearly every scene is laced with
darkness, a theme which has grown
subtly but surely with each subsequent
film. Scenes not dark in tone are nestled
between those that are, some of which
are truly haunting. It’s the most obvious
evidence that the dangers facing the
wizards have become very real, and that
lives can, and will, be lost in the midst of
such powerful magic.

For anyone who’s read the books and
watched the films thus far, emotions will
bubble up inside of you as this gripping
tale nears its dramatic climax: With the
end of this legendary fantasy in sight,
Part Il is finished filming and slated for
a Summer 2011 release, we can say with
confidence to the filmmakers, the actors,
the author, and of course to Harry Potter
himself: Well done.

 

 

The Queue: College arts wrap-up edition

Nov 27 — Dec 4
By Cody Klyne, Arts Editor

nother semester, another great
A= concert series brought to you
by the Douglas College Music

Department and Community Music
School. All of these performances are
free for students and kick off at7:30pm on
their respective nights.
Saturday, November 27
Choral Society and Chorale Fall Concert

A combination of two choirs, the
student choir and the Douglas College
Choral Society run out of the Community
Music School, choirs that audiences
have not had the opportunity to witness
together in recent years, will finally be
united. Supported by a small orchestra,
this event should make for an interesting
coming together of students and more
senior community members and provide
a unique experience for attendees of
the performance. Like the rest of the
concerts in this line-up, students get in for
free. General admission is an agreeable,
$15.00.
Monday, November 29
An Evening of Jazz

Come down to the Lauara C. Muir
Theatre and experience a night of jazz
brought to you by three Douglas-centric
bands. Opening the night with a ban

will be the Douglas College student band;
next on the bill, a community-based guest
band directed by the Douglas College’s
own Blair Fisher. Closing things off
right, the Douglas College feature jazz
band, the Night Band, which consists of
a number of current students, alumni,
community members, as well as faculty,
will undoubtedly have you perched in
your seat and moving to the music.
Wednesday, December 1
Douglas College Concert Band and
Ensemble

A night split into two halves, the
student chamber groups take to the
stage first (brass, woodwind, sax, and
percussion) followed by the Douglas
College Concert Band directed once
again, by Blair Fisher.
Saturday, December 4
Student Composition Concert

To put it to you straight, when the
program coordinator tells you “you never
know what you’re going to get with
this one,” there’s really not much more
I can tell you. Creative, imaginative,
and potentially bizarre, the Student
Composition Concert mixes things up
from the more traditional performances
in this list and is an event worth checking
out if you’re in the mood for some fun.