Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The first thing you need to know about the last instalment of the Harry Potter movie series, is that you will cry. And I’m not talking about getting a tad teary towards the end, or maybe needing to blow your nose once - no, tears will literally stream down your face. Well at least if you have a heart, that is.
On to the movie itself however - the first thing you will immediately be exposed to, is the opening sequence for this film, and in a word it was: powerful. The dark tone established by the first part was maintained well (although I do feel the overriding feeling of “desperation” and the tension/release of the first movie was missing - which was a slight letdown) and the new musical riff for this movie was absolutely glorious - it opens the movie nicely. The Battle of Hogwarts itself (which comprises a majority of the movie) was rather spectacular, and if the special effects team for the Harry Potter saga is not acknowledged at the upcoming Oscars, I will be bitterly disappointed - I can’t really say much more on this, because to put it simply, the effects are so astounding that I can’t describe them with words. It is here that the movie really regains the old magic of the early films, where you are truly immersed in the world of magic. Although the battle between Molly Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange was much too short - but for the most part, the battle itself was quite brilliant, and its climax is breathtaking.
In terms of the development of the characters within this movie, two of the central characters that have been with us throughout all of the movie, really shine in the second instalment. Harry stands out as the stoic, brave yet vulnerable hero, who has finally learned to accept his fate and has grown amazingly since his portrayal in the first film - and he has never been more believable or loveable then here and he finishes on a fantastic note. Snape also becomes the emotional target of this film, with his death and his memory sequence in the Pensieve perhaps providing the two best handled scenes in the entire movie (Alan Rickman did an amazing job here) and really providing that essence of grief that the movie lacked until this point. I do feel that Ron and Hermione should have been given slightly more screen time (although Grint and Watson did well with what they had, Watson especially has grown into quite a good actress).
The same can be said for the other secondary characters in relation to the battle of Hogwarts - many of the characters we love die, and yet we only see a few of these deaths occur, and we see very little fighting that does not include Harry himself. However Maggie Smith must be applauded for her portrayl of Professor Mcgonagall which was outstanding throughout the battle sequence - she really displays the character exactly how Rowling wrote her in this novel, and you can’t help but feel like a proud Gryffindor while watching.
As you leave the theatre, it really does hit you that this is the last Harry Potter film we will ever see being released (well at least for quite a while) and you feel like a part of you has ended. It really gives you a very hollow feeling for a moment. You do start to think about how Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have all grown alongside you, and you think about the implications of your own growth - it feels like the book has finally closed. However as my friend pointed out - Harry Potter is magic, and magic can last forever.
watch the trailer here:
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