releasing this week: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

There’s only one show rolling into town this weekend, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 has arrived. It’s playing in pretty much every cinema in the country except for Light House cinema, Irish Film Institute and The Screen… in fact in most places it’s probably playing in two screens. There are two other films coming out this week in a couple of those three cinemas. More about them anon.

I’m actually not going to be able to say much this week. I’m on a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 blackout. I was a big fan of the books when I first started reading them but… I never got around to reading the last book. As a result I have no idea how this all ends up. I’m worried that if I read anything at all about it it’ll be spoiled on me.

So, I literally can’t wait to see this film. I’ve already seen one or two things in twitter that I suspect I shouldn’t have and even on TV, just in passing, I’ve heard very small things I don’t want to know. I haven’t had a chance to see it yet but I’ll definitely be trying to see it at the earliest possible occasion. I have no idea if it’s going to be any good and I’m a bit worried about it being only a first half but it going to have to be done.

I was thinking about explaining a little bit about Harry Potter for those who may not be familar with the series… but I just can’t imagine there are people out there who wouldn’t know about it. Even if you have no interest and know hardly anything about it, I’d have to imagine you’d still know that it’s about a group of young magicians who are fighting evil. If you didn’t know that I’d be fascinated to hear where you’ve been for the last 13 years.

I should explain about not reading the last one though. Basically, when I tried to read the sixth book I just reckoned that it was far too long. And thus, badly edited… in the sense that it wasn’t. Even though I’d read all the others and loved them, I was completely defeated by the length of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The one thing that does worry me about this film is that it does seem a little long… 2 hours 20 odd minutes is quite a run time for a film that, being a “Part 1”, will undoubtedly end somewhat unsatisfyingly… Still I’m desperate to see it, I just don’t think I’ll be going to a showing after 7pm is all…

Ohh… so excited. I sincerely hope that no-one will try to spoil it on me here. Please don’t. I swear I’m going to see it as soon as possible.

Other films releasing this week…

Chico & Rita – Animated musical romance set in Cuba. Chico & Rita charts the love affair between a talented jazz pianist and beautiful singer, through ups and downs, fame and obscurity. I haven’t seen it and there’s only a 50/50 chance that I ever will but the trailer I saw looked like a sweeping romance set to the soundtrack or evocative Latin American music. Playing in the IFI and Light House in Dublin.

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives – 2010 Cannes Palme d’Or winner. I’ve never seen a Thai film before. Maybe this will be the first… course I’ll have to wait till after I see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I’ve heard mixed reports about this one, I suppose “ponderous” can be a compliment or a curse depending on what else you combine it with. It apparently explores the last days of the titular character through dreams, apparitions and out of body experiences. Could be interesting, could be boring as hell. Also playing in the IFI and Light House cinema only.

That’s it for this week… Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Chico and Rita and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives are all in Irish cinemas from Friday 19th November 2010.