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Here's a look at the movies, or rather movie, I saw this week. The penultimate chapter in the Harry Potter saga!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Ralph Fiennes

Synopsis: Endings are hard, especially when it comes to beloved film series. You have to find a way to wrap up the story that’s compelling, advances the relationships established in previous films and provides some sort of closure. After nearly a decade on screen, it seems hard to believe that “Harry Potter” is coming to an end. But if the first half of the series’ final chapter, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1,” is any indication, this series has found the right way to say goodbye. Some have compared “Deathly Hallows Part 1” to the “Harry Potter” equivalent of “Empire Strikes Back.” While the film doesn’t end in quite as perilous a position, it certainly sets the stage for an epic final installment in July. As is to be expected, little gets resolved in “Deathly Hallows Part 1,” which isn’t to say nothing happens. The film deftly moves all the characters forward, like chess pieces moving into position for a final epic showdown. The tone of the film is darker, though it doesn’t feel like the darkest chapter of the “Harry Potter” saga because hope springs from the central trio. Radcliffe, Grint and Watson began the series a children. Throughout the decade-long film saga, viewers have seen them grown up and grow as actors. Their performances, and the way they inhabit the characters, is as big a key in the success of this film franchise as the overall story. And all three continue to give strong performances in this penultimate film. Director David Yates, who has directed the past three films, has a strong feel for the world. This installment might be the best yet, mining the drama of the story while mixing in some lighter moments as well. Despite the heavy tone of the story, the filmmakers remember to mix in some lighter moments as well. It’s a beautiful mixture that holds the audience attention and builds suspense throughout its 147-minute running time. The special effects work in the film also remains strong. The film does a nice job of creating the magic of the world and bringing the magical characters — particularly the house elves — to life in a realistic way. It’s been 14 months since the sixth “Harry Potter” film debuted in theaters, and this latest installment proves to be worth the wait. Fortunately fans of the series don’t have to wait quite as long for the final film, which promises to tie up the loose ends, complete the characters’ story arcs and finally deliver the showdown we’ve been waiting for since we first learned about “the boy who lived.” And with the epic cliffhanger delivered to end “Deathly Hallows Part 1,” that resolution can’t come soon enough.

Rating: PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence, frightening images and brief sensuality.

Verdict: Four stars out of four.