TORRENTS of rain lent a foreboding air to the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the darkest film of the series so far.
Flaming torches, and actors dressed as death-eaters were placed outside the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square to match the tone of the penultimate adventure, which reviewers have warned is not suitable for young children.
As Daniel Radcliffe and his co-stars drew screams of delight from thousands of teenagers gathered next to the red carpet, parents were advised that Deathly Hallows bears little similarity to the family-friendly early films in the saga. The British Board of Film Classification, which gave it a 12A certificate, suggests that the “moderate violence and threat” would upset children who are significantly below the recommended age of 12.
This film is aimed squarely at teenagers, who have grown up with the characters since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001.
Critics, including Kate Muir, chief film critic for The Times, suggested that Ralph Fiennes’s performance as Voldemort musters an even greater sense of evil than in the previous three films – Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince – which were all classified 12A.
The first three were given PG certificates. The most lucrative instalments were the first, then the second film, but the third most successful in Britain was the sixth. The pattern has been similar at box offices all over the world, which have collectively taken $5.4 billion.
Mark Batey, chief executive of the Film Distributors’ Association, said that the films, like the books, had matured in step with their fans.
“The characters are coming to the end of their school career and they are in a completely different place from where they were in Philosopher’s Stone,” he said. “I think the kids expect that. All the great fantasy stories work on the strength of good villains as well as good heroes.”
The fans last night were markedly older than those who turned out for the first premiere. The atmosphere approached hysteria as teenagers welcomed the film’s stars with piercing screams.
Radcliffe, 21, marvelled at the enthusiasm.
“I must be the only person in the world who doesn’t want there to be any more Harry Potter books,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for 10 years now and it’s time to do something else.”
Rupert Grint, who plays Harry’s friend Ron Weasley, said that his character was at his most belligerent. “He has a lot going on in his head. We haven’t seen Ron get so aggressive.”
Fiennes, whose nose was digitally removed from the film to make him appear more unearthly, said his job was to “scare as many children as possible”.
As the rain lashed down harder last night, the crowds screamed louder. A fitting mist rose from the heat of the lights. Some fans had camped in the square for two days. Nashelly Alba, 23, and George Rocha, 25, arrived in London on Monday from Mexico. They waited in the rain all day, having slept in a tent. They had each paid euros 1,000 to be there. “It’s a great adventure,” Ms Alba said.
Emma Watson, who plays Hermione Granger, revealed that because they had been playing the roles for 10 years, “the directors give Dan, Rupert and me a lot of scope to play with our lines” and that she could say, “no, she wouldn’t say this”.
In the new film, Watson’s character kisses Harry. Radcliffe has said he was surprised by her passion. Watson said: “I suppose it had to be a kiss that would make Ron really jealous.”
Grint said he thought the new film would shock fans. “A lot of characters die and it’s quite scary.”
J.K. Rowling confirmed that she was considering writing more books but they would not be about Harry Potter.
Grint said the actors would miss the world they helped to create. “In part two we see the set get destroyed. We have grown up with these sets. I’m going to miss Watford, definitely.”
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