This is better than the third episode (The Prisoner of Azkaban) and much better than the rest of the films. Given the overall average quality of the Harry Potter films, the Deathly Hallows Part 1 stands out like a masterpiece.

Unlike the rest of the series, it manages to convey the entire essence of the (half) book and the characters' emotions and thoughts without the infuriating inconsistencies we saw in the other episodes. The beginning was particularly strong and I find the bleak atmosphere even more nicely done than the noir tone in the Prisoner of Azbakan.

It's a shame the second part of the Deathly Hallows does not live up to expectations, mainly due (again) to some serious script errors. The last, amazingly powerful, book deserved a more faithful final film. As it is, Deathly Hallows Part 1 is by far the best in the series.