The Epic End to a Decade of Magic
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ (Versus Rest of the Series: 4 Stars out of 5)
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ (As a Stand Alone Film: 3 Stars out of 5)
Someday, Warner Brothers Studios will release parts one and two of the final “Harry Potter” installment on one big, Blu-Ray, extended, 3-D Deluxe DVD Edition with hours of bonus features and a front cover that changes like a 1980s baseball card from Lord Voldemort to Harry Potter standing with his wand and a blood smear across his furrowed brow. When they eventually do, after we’ve all paid about $60 already to own both movies separately, we’ll all shell out another $50 just to own the final film in one epic installment. As fans, we will feel obligated to; because as two parts they’re both equally good films. I’m sure when all is said and done we can finally watch Harry, Hermione and Ron battle the forces of evil they way Rowling wrote it; in one long finale, the way it was meant to be seen.
If you missed part one, or you got so excited to see part two that you didn’t watch part one again to catch up, (guilty,) there is not much time to collect yourself. Harry, Ron and Hermione are on the run, hiding out in the Weasley’s safe house after a deadly battle with Bellatrix Lestrange, one that we now know has cost one beloved house elf his life. There are still horcruxes to be found; Dumbeldore gave Harry one final task and he means to see it through to the end. A beaten and grizzled Ollivander reminds us of what the Deathly Hallows are; the Resurrection Stone, the Elder Wand and the Invisibility Cloak. Aside from this minor exposition, if you’ve got no idea what I’m talking about than you might as well not be sitting in that movie theatre chair.
Director David Yates and his team, do well to get through the slow burn to lead viewers to the final battle. When Harry realizes that one of the final horcruxes has been hidden back at Hogwarts he and his friends decide they must return to the one place that Voldemort is expecting them to be. Once they reach their old school now headmaster Severus Snape discovers them almost immediately. In one of the movie’s most awesome and endearing moments, Professor McGonagall stands between Potter and Snape, dueling with Severus until the former Potions Professor makes a narrow escape.
There is little time left. Lord Voldemort has issued an ultimatum; deliver Harry Potter within one hour. He and an army of Death Eaters stand waiting to lay siege to Hogwarts castle. Harry asks for time to finish his task. Upon his request the teachers, the Order of the Phoenix and remaining members of the student body, do their best to hold off the Death Eater horde. The battle for Hogwarts and the final battle between good and evil has finally begun. It truly is a fight ten years in the waiting.
Ultimately, if you haven’t read the books (and even if you had because you never know if they’ll change anything just to surprise us,) prepare to be glued to your seat. Characters will live and other characters will die. A major character will even have to choose to make the ultimate sacrifice. What end comes to any of your favorite characters you’ll have to either read the book or see the movie to find out; I will not spoil anything in this blog post for you.
As always, the visual effects are stunning. The acting is fantastic and there are about half a dozen moments that might bring a few tears to your eyes. What’s great too is that the filmmakers have brought back almost every single character from all the past films for at least one scene whether they have a speaking part or not (Emma Thompson can you hear me?) Director David Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves have taken a fantastic original story by J.K. Rowling and made it into one of the most gratifying endings in movie history. It took us ten years to get here whether by silver-screen, or whether you read the original text; like waiting for the finale of a great fireworks display Yates and Kloves send Potter and his friends out in dramatic fashionable bang.
Try as Hollywood might, there will never ever be another movie franchise like this in our lifetime. To stay so true for eight films, to gain so much momentum and to stay fresh for almost a decade is such an amazing, improbable feat. There are few modern-day stories that can truly be labeled classic, but Harry Potter will be a household name for many many years to come. EXPECTO PATRONUM! (Mine takes the form of Black Labrador. Why? Because I said so.)
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″ is rated PG-13. Its a dark film with some graphic sequences. With all the fighting and death scenes and because Lord Voldemort is front and center; its probably not suitable for very young kids. However, if you’ve seen the other movies in the franchise the Director takes care to not make things too gory. Nobody’s getting limbs chopped off or spilling their guts or anything like that.
