The Harry Potter film franchise has definitely come a long way since the very first film graced the screens almost 10 years ago. Gone is the brightness and somewhat light tone of the Philosopher’s Stone and replaced with cold hues and pervasive darkness in The Deathly Hallows Part One.

To summarize Part One, it is basically the trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione on the hunt for Horcruxes, objects that contain bits of Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) soul. In order to defeat Voldermort, they need to find and destroy all the horcruxes.

This is the second to last Potter film and to me it is one of the best.

But first I want to get out of the way what I didn’t like about it. While I am grateful that the Deathly Hallows was split into two movies, and so far Part One is one of the most faithful to the source material since Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, I thought or hoped that the whole book wouldn’t be cut. However, cuts were made and I wasn’t happy with some of them.

First cut that bothered me was the wedding of Bill (Domhall Gleeson) and Fleur (Clemence Poesy). I was hoping to see Viktor Krum there and to see Ron’s (Rupert Grint)jealousy aroused and to see more of the burgeoning romance between him and Hermione (Emma Watson) but alas I think his scene was cut.

Also, I am pissed that the screenwriters really reduced the role of Tonks (Natalia Tena) in the movies. She is so important in the books and her (spoiler alert) in Part Two is so tragic. In Part One they alluded to the fact that she and Lupin (David Thewlis) are already married and it looks like she was about to announce that she was pregnant but she never got to utter it on screen. Here’s hoping there is a scene in Part Two that has her pregnant.

I also wished they showed a bit of the resistance movement in Hogwarts from Neville (Matthew Lewis), Luna (Evanna Lynch) and Ginny (Bonnie Wright) but it was never mentioned and only that Snape was the new headmaster of Hogwarts was briefly mentioned.

Speaking of Luna, I really wished that we got a scene of her bedroom that had painted pictures of Neville, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron, Herminone and Ginny all joined together by the word “Friends.” I loved that scene in the book and would loved to have seen it on screen.

As well, I didn’t like that the cut down the Kreacher’s Tale chapter to just a few minutes of dialogue and was so hoping to see Kreacher’s change in behaviour and seeing him take care of the trio.

I also didn’t like that they didn’t do much with the Dursley’s leaving as I thought they would.

The biggest thing that I think Kloves missed the mark was Wormtail (Timothy Spall). Instead of having his silver hand killing him, we just get Dobby stunning him.

Speaking of Dobby. I absolutely loved him in this film and cried a bit when he (spoiler alert) died to save Harry and company. Truth be told, I actually hated Dobby when I was reading the books. I thought he was an annoying character, then I saw him on screen and completely was captivated by him. How cute was seeing Dobby wearing shoes. Dobby (voiced was Toby Jones) was just fantastic, providing some comic relief as he helped Kreacher capture Mundungus Fletcher and tears as he lay dying in Harry’s arms.

I also loved how director David Yates brought to life the Dark Lord Ascending chapter. So chilling seeing Charity Babibage just hanging upside down there. That scene was how I imagined it to be and Fiennes was so evil in that scene.

Also a great scene was the Seven Potters and invading the Ministry of Magic. Imelda Staunton again shows us why she was perfect to play Umbridge as she leads the Muggle-born Registration Act trials.

Additional scenes added to the film that weren’t in the book that I loved was the very beginning when you see Hermione modify the memories of her parents and you see pictures of Hermione disappear as if she never existed to them.

I also loved seeing Ron and Hermione’s relationship develop. There is a sweet scene between the two of them in Grimmauld Place.

Another scene that was just how I imagined it was the Silver Doe. And despite some of the cuts. Malfoy Manor was also well done. And cudos for Yates in making the Tales of the Three Brothers scene an animated tale. I thought that was a very clever way of doing that scene.

Newcomers to the series like Bill Nighy as new Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimegour was good and Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood was also great and a bit heartbreaking as he would do anything to save his daughter.

I also want to applaud the main trio. Seeing the very first Potter film these three actors have grown into their roles. Grint was absolutely great as Ron especially in scenes where the Horcrux was affecting him. Watson was also good as Hermione especially in scenes where she’s heartbroken over Ron leaving. I also enjoyed seeing Hermione blossom to be a courageous witch

And Radcliffe was fantastic as Harry. He played the Seven Potters scene perfectly and he was appropriately intense during the darker points of the film.

I am glad that David Yates is the director for the final Potter films. He established a look and feel with Order of the Phoenix and now continued in Deathly Hallows.

There are so many things I am looking forward to in Part II and July, 15, 2011 can’t come soon enough.