Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

After an unbroken run of excellent family films, the franchise runs aground in its seventh instalment, which tackles the first half of the series' epic final volume. With the supporting players reduced to the status of high-cost extras, it falls to Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) to carry the bulk of the action on an extended road trip. While the production values remain impeccable, a drifting story, sluggish pacing and choppy transitions will likely frustrate all but the most devoted of fans. Ending on a skirmish rather than a climax, the film plays more like an extended prologue than a story in its own right. But some stunning set pieces and a beautiful animated segment redeem things considerably.