Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in naked clinch

By Paul Cole on Nov 16, 10 08:57 PM

Yes, you read that right.

I'm just back from a sneak preview of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and I can reveal that it's strong stuff that will stretch the limits of its 12A certificate.

The movie opens with a disturbing torture scene, motors through deaths aplenty, has Nazi-styled guards carrying out ethnic cleansing - and sees Harry and Hermione naked.

Harry (Daniel Ratcliffe) and Hermione (Emma Watson) share an embrace that is, quite literally, steamy.

Naked from the waist up, they get into a sexy clinch, with only steam to protect their modesty.

The scene is a vision conjured up by Voldemort in an attempt to defeat Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) . I won't say more because that would give the plot away.

Overall, it's the strongest movie in the series. Its action sequences are thrilling, its sinister scenes chilling and it boasts a couple of 'jump out of your seat' moments.

The Ministry of Magic's witch-hunt is particularly disturbing, with goons dressed in Nazi-type uniforms weeding out those whose genes are judged impure, and 1940s-style propaganda posters warning of the muggle mudblood menace.

Other uncomfortable moments include the slow torture of a Hogwarts teacher by Voldemort's Death Eaters, an attack on a screaming Hermione by evil Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and the return of that giant snake (just when you least expect it).

There's a dramatic aerial battle, a great chase through the woods, and a spot of grave robbing, too. And don't forget the hankies for a poignant death. You get to see plenty of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) this time out - and just about everybody else is in it, too.

Even Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Snape (Alan Rickman) make the briefest of appearances. You will, of course, be seeing much more of Snape when Part II arrives next summer.

Plus there are Potter debuts for Rhys Ifans as Luna Lovegood's father Xenophilius, and Bill Nighy as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour.

The locations are stunning, a great tourism advert for Britain's wild places, and Malfoy Mansion is modelled on a Midlands stately home: Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire.

All of which makes this movie absolutely unmissable. Yes, there are moments of humour but they're few and far between in the grim scheme of things.

Harry Potter just grew up.

* Catch the movie at Birmingham's Imax Cinema for full spellbinding effect. It opens on November 19 with tickets priced ÃÂ£9.60 (adult), ÃÂ£7.75 (kids and concessions) or ÃÂ£31.80 for a family of four). Call 0121 202 2222 or click here for more details.