It has been over ten years since I first picked up a Harry Potter book and became captivated by the world of witches and wizards that J.K. Rowling brought so convincingly to life. The book series has ended and now we’ve come to the final chapter of the accompanying film septuple with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, but I almost have to apologize to the filmmakers as the mountain of anticipation that I’ve built up for this moment was insurmountable. Nonetheless, director David Yates and his crew put together an epic piece of cinema that encapsulates everything I have come to love about the Harry Potter series and it serves as a fitting end to one of the greatest stories of our generation.
The last installment of the series picks up where Part I left off with Voldemort looting the grave of Dumbledore for the Elder Wand and then proceeds to deliver on the promise of more action that was sufficiently lacking from the first half. After a few short setup scenes, Harry, Ron, and Hermione continue their Horcrux hunting by breaking into Gringotts and making a triumphant return to the Snape-ruled Hogwarts. From this point on, the action is furious and unrelenting as the armies of Voldemort charge against the remaining Order members and their supporters in the Battle for Hogwarts.
While Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have fully matured into their roles, the typical acting standouts persist on stealing the show. Ralph Fiennes continues to portray one of the best on-screen villains since Darth Vader, the exquisite Helena Bonham Carter wraps up her menacing role as Bellatrix Lestrange, and Alan Rickman excels as the mysterious and heart-broken Severus Snape. Other supporting actors that stood out in the final chapter include the lovely Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagall (“I always wanted to use that spell”), Julie Walters getting some much deserved revenge as Molly Weasley (“Not my daughter you bitch!”), and the young Matthew Lewis captivating as the comeback character of the series, Neville Longbottom.
The films have only gotten progressively better from a technical point of view and Part II is no exception. Whether it’s the protective charm cast over Hogwarts, the burning of the quidditch pitch, or the epic last battle between Harry and Voldemort, the visual effects really do shine through as one of the film’s most redeeming qualities. Writer Steve Cloves did an excellent job of following Ms. Rowling’s source material but tweaked it just enough in the right places (e.g. changing locations, adding dialogue) to make an already powerful story really pop on screen.
Though there aren’t many glaring problems, my biggest complaint was that the whole thing seemed rushed and much too short for the “big finale”. At just over two hours, it did it’s best to get to as many important incidents as possible but unfortunately it grazed over too many events (i.e. deaths) that should have been featured and ultimately left me wanting more. I’m not sure how fair that assessment is considering I would have watched a five hour word-for-word adaptation if they chose to make it, but I thought the point of splitting the final book into two movies was to allow more room to address those essential plot points. Nitpicking aside, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, the penultimate episode in the Harry Potter franchise, is a bittersweet yet wholly rewarding and enjoyable experience that is a must see for fans of the books and movies alike. If you’ve invested any amount of time into this story and its characters then you owe it to yourself to see it’s conclusion through to the end. Go see it and you won’t be disappointed!
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