Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1

The Film Logo

The Warner Brothers Logo is still presented in it’s distinctive form. But, it is also suited to the Harry Potter theme and scenery, by setting the scene in a smoky, eerie display, in the skies. The logo looks perished and decayed, as if the logo was abandoned, which gives an understanding that, something terrible happened recently. The tone of the colours (dark blue, black, grey, white) were used to create a quite dreary and miserable appearance to the skies, stating that the film is going to be quite negative and dark, compared to the earlier Harry Potter films, or evil has taken over the world, so the sky was just part of their evil’s victory.

The score during this introduction of the logo, begins with the music playing really slowly, then you realize that it’s a Harry Potter film, because of it’s classic, magical and distinguishing themed music. But this theme music sounds more melancholy and gloomy, which adds to the effect of the scenery. This illustrates how this film will not begin in a harmonious tone, as it usually did in the first couple of Harry Potter films. The diegetic sounds of the clashing and clinking from the metal based logo as the ‘‘camera’’ goes into the middle of the logo, emphasizes how this film involves defeat, fighting, even though the the film’s genre is Fantasy/ Family/Adventure, this film in particular involves battles.

The Characters

The extra close up shot of Rufus Scrimgeour’s eyes, illustrates the intensity of what he is saying and how his eyes are the scariest facial features, adding the effect of how intimidating, evil and powerful the character is. It also confuses the audience as we are not aware of where the setting is, at this moment. The lighting is dimly lit, emphasizing the darkness in the setting and current mood, however the light hits Rufus’ eyes, as if the camera is purposefully exposed in this scene, but then it is as he speaking to the press. At this scene, there is no music, just his actual voice facing the camera, however, he isn’t looking at the camera directly, he looking in different directions, adding to the point that he speaking to the public or press.

This over the shoulder shot illustrates Ron walking back from his house, as he goes in a serious and depressing mood, this could illustrate how Ron is adapting to the change of leaving the house, perhaps for good. The lighting is shown to be naturally dimly it, as the weather is dull and not sunny, adding to the effect of his current feelings, just by looking at his face. The house in the back, is quite unusual and ancient looking, displaying that the house is a ancestry heritage for his family. The setting is in a rural location, in a countryside, displaying that

This mid two shot presents the back view of Hermonie’s parents is in Hermonie’s eyes, so it is an point of view shot as well, illustrating how distant she already is from her parents because they are already not looking at her. The props used are the couch, shelves, bookcase, pillows connotes that they are in a living room. The colour are quite cold – white, grey, blue, it could illustrate how the eerie and chilling atmosphere or the house is just designed in modern and contemporary way or it could signify that they are a middle class family, because the house looks elegant and it is decorated well. Also it is teatime for the family, which is traditional meal time for British families.

The Characters

The low angle head and shoulder shot of Harry looking down at his street, and by looking at his facial reaction, possibly he is anxiously waiting for a specific someone to leave or come. Harry’s hands moving the curtain from his face suggests that he is looking from inside his house, in his bedroom window, maybe on the sly? However, the lighting is also quite dark naturally, even though it is filmed at day time, connoting that the day is dreadful because evil has taken over or because it was raining or is going to rain.

The SettingThe first picture is a establishing shot of the area that Harry lives in, it is perhaps in a low angle shot to state the weather is, which is clear blue skies, but the natural lighting is dimly lit, to suit to the current mood of the opening which is quite gloomy and it seems like something evil has taken over, so the surroundings seems negative. The view of the sky juxtaposes with everything else, the reason for this is that the sky looks liberating and positive, however the area is deserted and it shows how someone is moving out, which is stereotypically a message of sadness, loss and absence. The second picture however, is the eyeliner match from the snapshot in the previous slide of Harry looking down from his bedroom window. This shot is in a high angle as it illustrates as to what was Harry was looking at, which is someone moving out, symbolizing the idea of change and something is going to happen.

The SettingThe setting in this scene is an bedroom. You can tell that it an girl’s bedroom by looking at the props, such as the organized and well kept layout and the soft cushiony and extra decorations (the throw, photo frames, mini sofa, memo board etc.). The colors in the bedroom are very sophisticated and chic, it reflects on the character’s personality. This is an establishing shot of the bedroom of one the characters, so the audience is aware of where the character is currently is at and what she is about to do that scene. However, the extra long shot below, displays how further away the character is walking away from her house, then to from us, connotes how she is ready for her new path in life as she leaves her current life. The trees, grass connotes how well kept the area she used to live, displaying that she is well off and that she lived in a good town maybe.