Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

7/19/11

Carmike Cinema 10

Large Mr. Pibb

Plenty of A/C

The Harry Potter franchise was a first for many of us.  We watched Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and the rest of their Hogwarts classmates grow up in front of our very eyes.  Radcliffe was eleven years old when he was cast as Harry.  I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I changed quite a bit from the time I was eleven to the time I was 22.  No franchise in film history has granted an opportunity to view the lives of characters through 8 consecutive films over 10 years.

Nor has any series been so beloved by so many, adding amazing amounts of pressure to the producers, writers and directors of the subsequent films.  Bringing Harry to the screen has been an extremely complex and daunting task, which is part of what makes the final installment so fulfilling.

Adapting a 759 page book to the screen was a challenge to begin with.  Splitting the book into two movies proved the only option.  I thought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:  Part 1 was an excellent movie on its own.  Part 2 hits the ground running and never lets up, even after the final “Avada Kedavra!!”  In fact, one of my criticisms of the movie is that in order to complete the saga in two films, there was no room for any character focused moments whatsoever.  It almost felt rushed. 

By now everyone knows the plot of the final Potter film:  Harry must find the 4 remaining Horcruxes containing pieces of Lord Voldemort’s soul and destroy them in order that he can defeat the evil Lord during their climactic final battle.  The action moves to Hogwarts for the epic final battle which is fitting since that’s where our story began.  I loved the way that all of Harry’s friends had a chance to have their shining moment as the story concludes, including Neville Longbottom who has always been one of my favorite characters. 

The movie had several standout moments:  Ron and Hermione’s first kiss, Harry finding out the true events of Dumbledore’s death and having a chance to see his parents, his Uncle Sirius and other allies.  And of course the final battle between Harry and Voldemort, that the entire series has lead us to, was a great climax. 

But my favorite thing about the movie may surprise you:  the female heroines.  I loved the fact that Maggie Smith’s “Professor McGonagall” and Julie Walters’ “Molly Weasley” got to have their moments in the spotlight and kick some serious butt.  It was a fitting ending to a groundbreaking epic.

I don’t know about you guys, but for me, it’s a bittersweet farewell to our favorite boy wizard.  Well done, Harry.

My review: 

3.5/4, A, See it tonight in the theater