Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Movie Review
“You are a wizard Harry”, “The boy who lived”, “The Chosen One”.
Now I think it’s a safe bet for me to say that practically everybody who’s anybody knows those quotes like the back of their hand. No? Well, allow me to enlighten those of you who have not been touched by J.K Rowling’s truly magical fable.This is a story about a boy wizard who has matured into a wise warlock. It is Harry Potter’s journey. With this in mind, we can now delve into the last installment (unfortunately for us) of the phenomenal franchise that will have the audience in for a ride of emotions. Well, I was, to say the least.
When we last saw the dynamic trio, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), they had just escaped from the claws of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham-Carter). In this motion picture, the trio continues on the hunt for Voldemort's horcruxes, which are pieces of his evil soul that would grant him immortality. The particularly daunting journey for these young heroes naturally leads to the epic battle that occupies the grounds of Hogwarts, where you will bear witness to the loss of many impactful characters, the bad and good, as well as the ones fans have come to know over a decade.
Ultimately the opening sequence for this film can be described using one word – powerful. The dark tone established by the first part of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows” was well-maintained and the new musical riff for this movie was simply glorious; it opens the movie perfectly, and returns with devastating effects (the good kind of devastating) later on in the film. The adapted script by Steve Kloves served justice towards Rowling’s masterpiece and was well-executed by director, David Yates, who had the privilege of directing the past few Potter movies.
Throughout the film, fans and film critics alike are awarded with applauding performances by Alan Rickman, the ever so silent dark horse, Snape, and Helena Bonham-Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange for each of their respective scenes that was both vivid and extremely believable. Snape’s flashback sequence was completely heartbreaking as viewers take a walk down Snape’s memory lane along with Harry. I for one was left speechless by the amount of compassion and love Snape possesses for Harry Potter despite his past misleading acts. Helena was absolutely brilliant as Hermione trying to impersonate Bellatrix in the Gringotts scene. Hilarious would be an understatement. Every facial expression that Helena made mirrored Hermione’s prim and proper demeanour so perfectly that one would actually believe that it was Emma Watson embodying Bonham-Carter.
The final battle is filmed with an epic scope, unfurling with an incredible showdown between Snape and Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith). Smith is another scene stealer in this motion picture, emanating experience and growth. The entirety of the war of witches and warlocks was styled wondrously by a team of visual filmmakers who deeply understand their craft — but all that fire and fury would have dimmed without the quiet moments against which they were so cleverly staged.
To those who wish to venture into this last installment, a certain reminder should be acknowledged. You can’t expect the movie to have as much details as the meticulous details that Rowling inserts in the books. As for the movie itself, this is the perfect ending for the saga. Avid fans of Harry Potter will no doubt find some disappointment as some of their favorite parts in the book did not receive enough screen time or aren’t as powerful in the movie as they are imagined in their minds. Even so, the movie was irrefutably the best kind of closure the fans will ever get.
All in all, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 has what every big summer blockbuster needs, (even more so than the fast-paced action) – character development. Yates was responsible for helping this series to fully mature and develop, and he carries his responsibility swiftly to the finish line. As you leave the theatre, it really does hit you that this is the last installment of the Harry Potter film franchise, and you feel like a part of your childhood has ended. Nonetheless, Harry Potter is magic, and magic can last forever.
BY STEFFI NUR AFREENA
Now I think it’s a safe bet for me to say that practically everybody who’s anybody knows those quotes like the back of their hand. No? Well, allow me to enlighten those of you who have not been touched by J.K Rowling’s truly magical fable.This is a story about a boy wizard who has matured into a wise warlock. It is Harry Potter’s journey. With this in mind, we can now delve into the last installment (unfortunately for us) of the phenomenal franchise that will have the audience in for a ride of emotions. Well, I was, to say the least.
When we last saw the dynamic trio, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), they had just escaped from the claws of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham-Carter). In this motion picture, the trio continues on the hunt for Voldemort's horcruxes, which are pieces of his evil soul that would grant him immortality. The particularly daunting journey for these young heroes naturally leads to the epic battle that occupies the grounds of Hogwarts, where you will bear witness to the loss of many impactful characters, the bad and good, as well as the ones fans have come to know over a decade.
Ultimately the opening sequence for this film can be described using one word – powerful. The dark tone established by the first part of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows” was well-maintained and the new musical riff for this movie was simply glorious; it opens the movie perfectly, and returns with devastating effects (the good kind of devastating) later on in the film. The adapted script by Steve Kloves served justice towards Rowling’s masterpiece and was well-executed by director, David Yates, who had the privilege of directing the past few Potter movies.
Throughout the film, fans and film critics alike are awarded with applauding performances by Alan Rickman, the ever so silent dark horse, Snape, and Helena Bonham-Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange for each of their respective scenes that was both vivid and extremely believable. Snape’s flashback sequence was completely heartbreaking as viewers take a walk down Snape’s memory lane along with Harry. I for one was left speechless by the amount of compassion and love Snape possesses for Harry Potter despite his past misleading acts. Helena was absolutely brilliant as Hermione trying to impersonate Bellatrix in the Gringotts scene. Hilarious would be an understatement. Every facial expression that Helena made mirrored Hermione’s prim and proper demeanour so perfectly that one would actually believe that it was Emma Watson embodying Bonham-Carter.
The final battle is filmed with an epic scope, unfurling with an incredible showdown between Snape and Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith). Smith is another scene stealer in this motion picture, emanating experience and growth. The entirety of the war of witches and warlocks was styled wondrously by a team of visual filmmakers who deeply understand their craft — but all that fire and fury would have dimmed without the quiet moments against which they were so cleverly staged.
(From left) Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in a scene from the movie.
All in all, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 has what every big summer blockbuster needs, (even more so than the fast-paced action) – character development. Yates was responsible for helping this series to fully mature and develop, and he carries his responsibility swiftly to the finish line. As you leave the theatre, it really does hit you that this is the last installment of the Harry Potter film franchise, and you feel like a part of your childhood has ended. Nonetheless, Harry Potter is magic, and magic can last forever.
BY STEFFI NUR AFREENA
