So I saw the reviews of the movie and thought it would be pretty good. I had also read the book, which was, of course, subdivided into two movies. One problem with the book, and this movie, is that one is somewhat lost without having had the experience of the previous book/ movie, The Half Blood Prince. Nothwithstanding the teenage sturm und drang, critical parts of the story are contained in Half Blood.

But that is the least of the problems with this mess of a presentation.

I got the DVD, fortunately from the library. Fortunately for my wife, I had read the book.

This movie is filmed and presented in black, black on black. Black on black on black with black foregrounds and black backgrounds.

You can't see a dang thing that is going on.

There are any number of fabulous things, going by the book version, that would have been fabulous to see.

You can't see a single one of them. Fights? Black on black. Destroying a horcrux? Black on black. Saving Potter from being drowned? Black on black. Escape? Black on black.

What a complete and total waste of time Part 1 is.

We have Part 2, which was filmed at the same time. My expectations of a satisfying film experience are now nonexistent for that one.

If you are considering watching the DVD of Part 1, save your time for something useful, like watching political campaign commercials. Your time will be better spent.