Rated
PG-13 (Some Sequences of Intense Action Violence and Frightening Images)
Running
Time: 2 Hours & 10 Minutes
Cast:
Daniel
Radcliffe-Harry Potter
Emma
Watson-Hermione Granger
Rupert
Grint-Ron Weasley
Robbie
Coltrane-Rubeus Hagrid
Gary
Oldman-Sirius Black
David
Thewlis-Remus Lupin
Ralph
Fiennes-Lord Voldemort
Helena
Bonham Carter-Bellatrix Lestrange
Alan
Rickman-Professor Severus Snape
Maggie
Smith-Professor Minerva McGonagall
Jim
Broadbent-Professor Horace Slughorn
Emma
Thompson-Professor Sybil Trelawney
Warwick
Davis-Professor Filius Flitwick\Griphook
Michael
Gambon-Professor Albus Dumbledore
Ciarán
Hinds-Aberforth Dumbledore
David
Bradley-Argus Filch
Kelly
Macdonald-Helena Ravenclaw
Bonnie
Wright-Ginny Weasley
James
Phelps-Fred Weasley
Oliver
Phelps-George Weasley
Tom
Felton-Draco Malfoy
Evanna
Lynch-Luna Lovegood
Matthew
Lewis-Neville Longbottom
Mark
Williams-Arthur Weasley
Julie
Walters-Molly Weasley
Domhnall
Gleeson-Bill Weasley
Clémence
Poésy-Fleur Delacour
Natalia
Tena-Nymphadora Tonks
John
Hurt-Mr. Ollivander
Jason
Isaacs-Lucius Malfoy
Helen
McCrory-Narcissa Malfoy
Directed
by David Yates
 |
| The end is nigh for the "Harry Potter" franchise! |
On
her official website, author J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Harry Potter is
rather humble and describes that it ‘simply fell into my head’ during a crowded
train ride from Manchester to London after spending the weekend apartment
hunting in 1990. Although Rowling had written continuously since the age of
six, she admits that no other idea had excited her as much as this one and sat
for ‘four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain,
and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who didn't know he was a
wizard became more and more real to me.’ The first novel in the series, Harry
Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (edited to Sorcerer’s Stone in the U.S.)
was finally released in the U.K. on June 30, 1997 after Bloomsbury agreed to
publish it the year before. Scholastic Inc. brought the U.S. rights and
American audiences were finally introduced to the world of Harry Potter and
Hogwarts in late 1998. The rest, as they say, is history. The film adaptation
arrived in 2001 and was an instant critical and commercial box office success.
Since then the franchise has earned a gargantuan $6.3 billion worldwide on its
way to $7 billion. After ten years, the final film, “Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows: Part 2” has finally arrived and it is not just the best
installment of the series but hands down the best film of summer 2011.
Grandiose, heart-breaking, and triumphant, “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” cements
Harry Potter as a worldwide pop culture icon that will stand the test of time
and will inspire legions of new fans for years to come.
“Deathly Hallows: Part
2” picks up immediately after the previous film as Harry Potter (Daniel
Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint)
continue to search and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, objects containing a
piece of Lord Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) soul which grants him immortality and
renders him invulnerable to conventional magic-based attacks. After burying the
house-elf Dobby, who was killed at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena
Bonham Carter), Harry and his friends decide to break into Lestrange’s vault at
Gringotts Wizarding Bank, suspecting a Horcrux to be hidden there. They strike
a deal with the goblin Griphook (Warwick Davis), who agrees on the condition
that he is given the Sword of Gryffindor in return. Using Polyjuice potion,
Hermione disguises herself as Lestrange and the group succeeds in gaining entry
into the vault without much trouble. Griphook immediately betrays them once the
Horcrux is located and the trio is forced to escape by freeing a captive dragon,
chained up to serve as an extra security measure. Due to his link with
Voldemort, Harry learns that he is aware of his Horcruxes being destroyed and
has ordered his Death Eaters to invade Hogwarts. Returning to the school, which
is now under the control of Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), Harry and his
friends, along with all the faculty and student body (with the exception of
Slytherin House) prepare to do battle with the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort,
who now possesses the all-powerful Elder Wand and is one of three items that
make up the Deathly Hallows.
Splitting the seventh and final book was a stroke
of brilliance on Warner Brothers’ part as it allows them to make double the
money from the box office. I initially viewed this decision with mixed results
from a creative perspective as “Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” while great in its own
right, suffered from a rather aimless, meandering plot for much of its running
time, with a dramatic cliffhanger in lieu of a satisfying conclusion but I now
see the wisdom in releasing it in two parts as one film is just not enough to
convey the breadth and scope of the novel. Clocking in at two hours and ten
minutes, “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is the shortest “Harry Potter” film since
only one-third of the novel was left to be adapted and this results in a much
tighter and more focused narrative. The film is light on character development
and is essentially one long battle but that’s not a detriment as the previous
seven installments had already handled this with skillful aplomb. Anymore
would’ve come off as redundant from a story perspective. The first thirty or so
minutes continues the trio’s search for the Horcruxes with the pacing a little
on the slow side but once they return to Hogwarts and everything comes full
circle, the film picks up speed as it leads up to the climatic showdown between
Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter.
As for the Battle of Hogwarts itself, bits and
pieces are shown but for the most part, it occurs in the background. Several
deaths do occur but much of it takes place off-screen and are not revealed
until the aftermath. Unlike Michael Bay, director David Yates understands that
it is not overwhelming pyrotechnics that make a film worthwhile but the
characters and rightfully focuses on Harry. This is his story and his journey
after all. The battle is perfectly paced and transitions between action and
more dramatic moments never come off as jarring. The revelation of Snape’s true
allegiances and the flashback of Voldemort murdering Harry’s parents is one of
the most emotional and heart-breaking scenes in the film and it’s all done with
a montage in a span of ten minutes. Despite its bleak tone, there are small
instances of levity and many supporting characters (both alive and dead) are
given a curtain call or moment to shine, such as Molly Weasley (Julie Walters)
going Ellen Ripley on Bellatrix Lestrange and Neville Longbottom (Matthew
Lewis), long a source of cheap comic relief, becoming an unlikely hero as he
wields the Sword of Gryffindor. Some critics complained that the final duel
between Voldemort and Harry is anticlimactic but I felt it was a perfect way to
end a conflict that has been building up for the past ten years. Adding more
explosions would’ve resulted in a loud and incoherent finale that would’ve taken
away the emotional impact of the duel in exchange for meaningless special
effects. As always, you cannot please everyone but you would be a fool to
nitpick.
“Deathly Hallows: Part 2” is the darkest and most violent entry in the
series and stands in stark contrast to the relative child-like innocence of the
first two installments. Voldemort massacres a group of goblins and we are shown
the bloody aftermath. The sky is often overcast with grey clouds and scenes
take place either at night or in foreboding locations with limited lighting.
Hogwarts loses much of its color and is reduced to rubble, giving the film an
apocalyptic backdrop that feels appropriate. All the characters appear
desperate, beaten, and bloodied. The overall visual look, thanks to cinematographer
Eduardo Serra, is a feast for the eyes and lends a sense of hopelessness and
despair to its tone. As for the 3D, it’s a post-conversion so I decided to
avoid it and see the 2D version. To no one’s surprise, the overall consensus
has been negative as all the 3D does is reduce much of the action to a murky
mess given its already dark visuals. Vote with your wallet and send a message
to Hollywood that we’re no longer fooled into paying more for lazy 3D
post-conversions.
As for the performances, everything that has been said about
the trio has been said already so anything I write now would be redundant. I
will say this though: the characters of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron
Weasley have defined the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert
Grint for better or worse. Long after the series has faded into memory, the
trio will continue to be remembered for their portrayal as the roles has become
inseparable from the actors. There are two standouts: Ralph Fiennes as Lord
Voldemort and Alan Rickman as Severus Snape. Fiennes is a commanding presence
as he speaks in hushed tones and cackles with glee at the pain he inflicts. He
serves as a reminder that the most memorable characters are always the
villains, especially ones with a distinct, iconic visual. Just look at Darth
Vader from “Star Wars” or the Joker from “The Dark Knight.” Snape has always
been the series’ most complex character and he proves he's up to the task in
several emotionally-charged scenes.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part
2” was released on July 15, 2011 at conventional 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D theaters.
Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive with a franchise high of 97% on
Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found it ‘thrilling, powerfully acted, and visually
dazzling, [the film] brings the Harry Potter franchise to a satisfying—and
suitably magical—conclusion.’ “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” has already earned a
record-breaking $43.5 million from midnight launches alone and seeing as it is
the most anticipated film of the year, it has a high probability of matching or
even surpassing the $158 million opening weekend of “The Dark Knight.” The only
competing film is Disney’s nostalgic “Winnie the Pooh,” based upon the
characters created by A. A. Milne and while it has also received critical
acclaim with 90%, it’s bound to get lost in the shuffle. I do not know what
Disney was thinking as opening on the same weekend as "Harry Potter"
is practically box office suicide. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part
2” truly does save the best for last and only the most jaded fan would be
unable to see this. I may not have grown up with the novels nor was I an
immediate fan when the first film was released but I am glad that my opinion
turned around and allowed me to truly appreciate the rich lore that J.K.
Rowling has masterfully crafted. As this will be the last time that I will
review a “Harry Potter” film, I just want to say to the author and everyone who
took part in making this franchise the massive success that it is today—I
salute you and thanks for all the memories!
Final
Rating: 5 out of 5
“Help
will always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it.”
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