06/08/2013

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Film: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2
Release: 2011, Theatrical
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint
Directed by: David Yates
Previous in the series: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 1
IMDB page: Link opens in a new window
Description: After narrowly escaping captivity, Harry begins the search for the final Horcrux so he can finally confront Voldemort.

Hans' thoughts:

Here we are, the end of one of biggest franchises in books. As well as one of the most ambitious movie projects ever. Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2 gives us all the final details, as well as the final fight scene between several of the characters. Harry fighting Voldemort, Neville cementing his status as a bad ass, Dumbledore finally explaining what the hell we've been looking at for the last 8 movies. So how is it? Does it do the absolutely awesome series roots justice?

Well, yes and no. While we certainly get all the action we could want, as well as a dearly needed statements of intent from some of the more ominous characters, this movie falls just flat of being great. Yes, Voldemort get's what he deserves, yes the special effects are absolutely gorgeous but honestly I feel kind of cheated out of something truly spectacular. Some of the characters that die are just sort of panned over, their deaths only mentioned in the passing (get it?). I also feel that as an adaptation, the movie could've fixed some of the problems of the source material. The most obvious being the pointless deaths of characters we barely know the names of. Tonks and Remus had a kid? When did that happen? Who's Tonks by the way? Of course, this is all something you would know better if you had read the books but this is also a flaw: These movies should be able to stand on their own, rather than simply cater to the readers. 

There's also the matter of the final scene of the movie. This is something everyone points out when talking about the movie so I'll make it brief: After the death of Voldemort, the movie jumps ahead 19 years to Harry as an adult taking his children to King's Cross to send them on their way to Hogwarts. This is a flaw grounded in the book, and I really feel it ruins most of the movie. Instead of getting a large celebration at the destruction of the dark lord, we're cheated out of the satisfaction.

While a satisfying end on the "villain gets what's been coming to him" part, one can't help but feel a bit disappointed after all these movies. 

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