Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Hey Ladies and Gents, Aamber here. As I'm sure you've noticed, we decided to mix things up and have other people write some reviews to give Tony a bit of a break. That means that I got the final chapter of the Harry Potter series.

 

First, a little background! I never considered myself a Potterhead (even though we own most of the films). In fact I have never even picked up the books and I fell asleep during the 6th movie. Last year we finally broke down and saw part one of the Deathly Hallows. It was pretty awesome, and it definitely got me excited for the finale.

 

 This movie is a lot less fun and games than the previous seven and it is definitely more centered around the battle that inevitably ensues. The story follows Harry Potter and his buddies on their journey to find the final pieces of Voldemort's soul (seriously...Horcrux sounds so much less intense) in order to stop his quest for immortality and eventually destroy him. This takes the trio through the vaults at Gringotts Bank, on a high flying dragon ride, and eventually back to Hogwarts where everything began; ending in a final battle that could rival most war epics.

 

Now...how was the finale, you may ask? Honestly, it was kind of amazing. This is no longer the kids movie that Harry Potter started out as. I definitely wouldn't let my daughter watch it, because I'd wake up with her in my bed every night for a week if I did. I don't want to give away too much, but this movie definitely gave me a greater appreciation for some of the actors. Maggie Smith (who plays Professor McGonagall), in particular, was fantastic, though I felt her role was rather limited. There was a lot of death and destruction in this chapter, most of which was done very well. However, some key characters met their demise, yet it seemed like an afterthought. I believe that the film makers truly missed out on a great opportunity for an emotional impact. I also took issue with the epilogue. Set 19 years in the future we get a brief glimpse of what life is like for some of the characters now. I loved the concept, but the film makers really copped out on the "movie magic" here. They attempted to age the actors, but instead implied that everyone in their late 30's looks tired, fat, and bald. These actors are adults now, it would not have been difficult to give them a little aging, but still keep them looking good.

 

All in all this movie was made very well. The score, as always, was fantastic. The special effects were flawless. Even Voldermort's nose was pure perfection and did exactly what it needed to (ya know... induce vomiting). The only issue I have is that it was shot for 3D.... meaning that some gestures (aka gags) in the beginning were intentionally played out for the 3D aspect (but if you've been following us, you already know that I am not a 3D fan); so, we saw it in the normal 2D. One thing that really stuck out for me cinematically was the dragon in Gringott's vault. It would have been easy for them to just throw in a simple CG dragon, but the film makers really took their time and made him as life like as possible. That made it easier to focus on the whimisical side of there actually being a dragon, instead of focusing on how fake it looked.

 

With everything taken into consideration this is definitely a movie worth the watch, but I wouldn't if you haven't been following the story so far. I recommend that even the most seasoned Harry fan watch at least part 1 before venturing into this one. So brush off your sorting hat (you know you've got one), throw on some black rimmed glasses, and settle in for the ride. This one gets 4 Golden Snitches out of 5.

Aamber S.

The Revolution Review 2011