Harry Potter & Deathly Hallows Part 2

I'm one of those late arrivals to the Harry Potter world. I never read any of J.K.Rowling books about the boy who lived. I didn't know anything about the wizarding world, or witches, or where Hogwarts was. I saw the first three films in the theaters, but skipped the rest. Now? Now, I love everything about the movies. A few months ago when Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 was released on DVD; I started a Harry Potter marathon from the beginning. I watched them all in order. Since then, I've watched all the DVDs, four times. That's 28 viewings of Harry Potter films all leading up to this. The epic conclusion to the most successful (critical and commercial) series in cinema history. Let me begin.What I liked about the movie:The StoryIf this isn't obvious, I don't know what is. An orphan wizard, magic spells, and an unknown connection to an evil wizard named Volemort. The movie is easy to follow as a lot of the set up was done in earlier movies. This is a balls to the wall action epic. The final battle between Harry and the wizards against Voldemort and his army. You really must see the previous films to fully appreciate the conclusions in this film. The one thing that is important above all else... above all the explosions and magic and spells is simple... friendship. The story of three best friends and their journey to this epic conclusion is unmatched by any other film I've ever seen. THAT'S ultimately why these movies are so satisfying to so many people. I don't want to say too much more, if you were looking for a plot summary, this review is not the place.Characters / ActorsAs with any great story, there must be great characters. And for 10+ years, the world enjoyed these characters. Rowling has given the world so much. And what this film has been able to do is showcase them all.I believe the supporting cast must be recognized. The marvelous Ralph Fiennes as the evil Lord Voldemort. Alan Rickman as the mysterious Snape. Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange. Jason Isaacs and Tom Felton as Lucious and Draco Malfoy. Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom. And the lovely Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall. There are many more. Maybe they weren't showcased for long periods of time, but every hero, every villain and every wizard in between is included in the story.Then there are the three main characters, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine (Emma Watson) who really shine. Their character development is key to the success of the film. They each go through a transition and grow as a character. It's amazing to think the producers have been able to keep all the same actors in tact for this epic series of films. The best scenes in the movie involve the three best friends. Like I've been saying all week... Harry, Ron and Hermione... I'll miss you.The ScoreThe theme to Harry Potter was written back when the first film was released, by none other than John Williams. The same brilliant man that brought us the scores to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman and so many more. Alexandre Desplat scored HP and TDH Part 1, so it is fitting that he has returned to score the finale. The score is beautiful. I actually purchased it yesterday and I am listening to it as I type this review.The emotional weight of the score is vital to the story (you're going to read a lot about the emotional weight of the film in this review). The music alone tells the story. I was chatting with a friend about the film and told her I could discuss the score alone for hours. And I really could. The score was so impressive in relaying the emotion as well has elevating the action. It was was enough to put me on the edge of my seat, literally. And never forgetting the original theme created by Williams, it is weaved into this film as well. Bravo Mr. Desplat.The Editing / Pacing / ToneThis is something that doesn't get a lot of recognition in Hollywood, but it is so important to a movie like this. If the editing and pacing is off, the entire movie crumbles. You know by now there is a lot of emotion and also action in the movie. How do you work those two together? The editing is key. Mark Day did an amazing job of keeping the film nice and neat. There is no deviating from the plan. For the most part, the film is told in chronological order, and there was a lot to cover. The tone was perfect as well. And I believe it is the marriage of cinematography, editing and score that sets the tone. Great all around!The DirectorReally, what the score, editing, pacing and tone all come down to is the work of David Yates. Yates has directed the last four Harry Potter films in the series. And there is a reason for that. He understood the material, he understood the world. The producers of the films understood Yates is a fantastic director. His work on this film proves you could have a huge Summer blockbuster, and still carry the emotional weight of a drama. It was perfectly balanced and Yates is the man to thank.What I didn't like about the movie:LengthIronically, this is the shortest film in series. If only that wasn't the case. I understood Warner Brothers' motivation for splitting the two films in half. But in retrospect, I wouldn't have split the movies where Yates did. I would have included some of Part 1 in Part 2. Just my opinion. Maybe it's because I didn't want it to be over I was enjoying it so much!The Verdict:Amazing, what all Summer movies should beWe've come to expect explosions and special effects in our Summer movies. But what we are missing in most of those films is the emotional weight to make us care. I know I keep repeating myself, but this movie made us care. We felt invested in these characters and the final outcome of their stories. This all goes back to Rowling and her writing. Without her imagination, none of this comes true. Brilliant, simply brilliant.While watching some of the special features, the producers refer to the films as a series, NOT a franchise. This is true; the movies are a series spanning 8 films to tell an overall story. It's not a franchise of unrelated events. So to see the 8th and final film combine so much was amazing. There are aspects and remnants of all the prior movies in this film.It was difficult to say goodbye to all the amazing characters, but the beauty of cinema is this... great stories and great films stay with us, forever. Whether it's E.T. and Elliot's remarkable friendship, or Harry, Ron and Hermione causing trouble... we're reminded, through film, of what it was like to be a kid again. I sat next to a little boy at a sold out screening and was mesmerized by his reaction to the film. He laughed, he cried and he covered his eyes at times. But he was so engaged in the film, it was an awesome sight. Movies like Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 give me hope for the future of cinema.

In this superb conclusion to the tale we've been following for over a decade, the intrepid Harry Potter finds that only by satisfying his hankering for Horcruxes can he hope to defeat the dark lord. Most of the film is spent following his search for these last few objects, and what could have been a tedious series of fetch quests is kept from falling into the realms of boredom by a sense of pacing so perfect the future film student in me started taking notes. Admittedly, my last movie experience was Transformers: Dark of the Moon, a "film" with such atrociously jarring momentum that I nearly disgorged my five dollar hot dog (but five dollars is five dollars, so I willed it down). Even though anything will seem well-paced by comparison, I haven't been so blown away by such artful interweaving of action and calm, fear and love, and an ensemble cast, since, well, ever.[Warning: Contains SPOILERS!]The most powerful example of this is when Harry ends up alone in the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the giant showdown between good and evil. After seeing young students cut down by death eaters as they tried to hold their own in a war that was far beyond them, after witnessing stone statues come to life and make battle with club-wielding giants, after bridges burn, forcefields collapse, and spirits break, after dementors are driven off by those who refuse to relinquish their hope, we find ourselves in a clearing of silence.Turning the resurrection stone in hand, Harry is suddenly accompanied by the ghosts of those he cares most deeply for: Sirius, Lupin, and his parents. Their undying love for him brought tears to my eyes, for it is a love that continued into the afterlife not thanks to some magic, but because all those who have left us live on in our hearts. The writing was beautiful, the acting sublime. The calm in the center of the storm, this one scene is a masterpiece of pacing.The rest of the storm was nothing to shake a stick at either, not that shaking a stick at a storm is really that common of an activity. In fact, I'm not sure that it would accomplish much of anything, unless the stick is a wand and you have control over the weather. Then it would definitely help. Anyway, the point of all this is to say that, while the emotional punch packed by Deathly Hallows Part 2 is nothing to shake a wand at, the visuals are equally impressive.For instance, cast your imagination gaze on Gringotts. Its labyrinthine rollercoaster-tangle transportation system is a wild ride that puts every Six Flags everywhere to shame, especially since it ends with a dragon. Now, a lot of movies have done dragons (Harry Potter included), but this was potentially my favorite CGI beastie ever (don't worry, Toothless. No one can replace you). The dragon was not a glorious mount of yore, but rather an emaciated, abject figure, trapped underground for his natural life, chains cutting into his majesty and leaving nothing but raw, bloody hopelessness. The creature instantly evokes overwhelming pity, something I've rarely witnessed from CGI.Dragons are basically my favorite, but if there's one thing I love more, it's love itself. We all knew the Ron Hermione romance was going to come to a head. The only question was, after so many years of buildup, could the climax do it justice? I, for one, say that nothing has ever been more just. You know that moment in truth or dare when someone asks you your most seductive fantasy and you finally let spill the secret you've never told anyone? You launch into graphic detail, explaining that it's all about thrusting your basilisk fang into a goblet-shaped Horcrux in the Chamber of Secrets while under attack from a giant watery snake that eventually comes crashes over you? We've all been there. Everybody gives you these weird looks, as if that's somehow not the hottest thing ever. Ron and Hermione certainly thought it was, because they immediately launch into a passionate kiss that had the theater cheering up a storm.Perhaps the most beautiful scene is the one bathed all in white. Halfway between life and death, Harry finds himself in King's Cross Station, his own personal limbo. There, the sage and mysterious Dumbledore delivers some of the most compelling wisdom in years of cinema. The English major in me rejoiced when such a beloved figure told us that words are the most powerful magic, able to do great harm but also to heal. I'm using words right now, and man do I feel mighty. And when Harry asked "Is this all just in my head or is it real?" and Dumbledore responded with "Of course it's in your head, but that doesn't mean it's not real." Gah! So sagacious!But enough nonsensical gushing. As perfect as this movie was (and it was), there were still a few things that I would've done differently. The whole series is about the battle between Harry and Voldemort; this is a showdown ten years in the making, and I wanted it to be perfect. The buildup was there, but when the final blow was dealt, it felt understated. Voldemort simply drifts away into nothingness. If it were me, I'd have Harry explain the entire Deathly Hallows wand switching thing while the two of them struggled against each other, beams of energy locked in a pulsing impasse. Then, as soon as it became clear that Harry was going to win, he'd shout "Avada Kedavra!" and Voldemort would EXPLODE. That's how a dark lord goes out.In fact, I could go for a lot more spell shouting in general. Aberforth Dumbledore should've bellowed "Expecto Patronum!" before taking care of all those dementors, and Molly Weasley definitely needed to scream some serious stuff at Bellatrix before the end. And I know it would've gone against the books and fans everywhere would have gone on a David Yates manhunt, but I could've done without that 19 years later scene. I just don't think it works in the film version.After having been underwhelmed year after year by subpar adaptations of the formative novels of my youth, finally have I received the cinematic experience I've long craved. At long last, we are given epic battles of half-giant proportions, momentous stakes that belie the series' light-hearted origins, and characters whose superb performances tug at our dragon-heart strings. At long last, we have a film that is truly magical.Score: 5/5 ¢Also, let it be noted that Neville is a champion.Check out more on "The Nickel Screen" (Google it!)

Binge watched all the Harry Potter movies again because I was so excited waiting for Hogwarts Legacy. lol

This is a review of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2: Blu ray + DVD + Digital Copy which I received today, a day earlier than expected - thank you, Amazon!Firstly - wow. This film is fantastic and very fast-paced in comparison to The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and it is all the better for it. It certainly benefits from the Bluray treatment and although the picture is a little dark in places (a problem that plagued Part 1) it is one of the best Potter films by far. The Hogwarts battle scenes are stunning and I applaud the visual effects team as this is definitely the most action-packed Potter film of all the movies combined. The spells are really quite phenomenal and the Gringotts scene is superb with the dragon. I shed a few tears when certain characters said goodbye - sob - but I don't want to ruin it for you if you haven't read the books yet. My only problem with this film is the epilogue scene. I think it's just one of those things that you love or hate.As for the 'Special Features' in this particular movie pack, there are lots to keep even the most avid potter fan happy. I was quite impressed with the 'Maximum Movie Mode' where you can watch the entire movie with a 'Behind The Scenes' look at every scene with appearances and commentary from various actors. There's also deleted scenes, focus points and a fun and quite informal conversation between J.K.Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe. I'd definitely recommend this movie to anyone and hope that if you enjoy it, you might read all the books as well as they are even better.

The Harry Potter series has been a staple of the British Film Industry for ten years now and has gone from strength to strength. Earlier installments skewed a little too young in my opinion but as the story and tension built, each addition became darker and more menacing. None more so than this final installment which brings the entire saga to a blistering conclusion with power and emotion. Its the perfect reward for devoted fans of the books and films alike. For those who havent read the books, its a suspenseful story filled with twists and turns. Nobody is safe in this final confrontation. The batttle scenes spark, buzz and zing with magical spells being cast all over the place. Every character gets their moment to shine and you really do feel the story has been tied off perfectly neatly. The young actors have grown into their parts and give their best at all times. The usual array of British stars carry the other scenes and look like they are really enjoying these final moments. Its a shame it had to come to an end, but it couldnt have been handled better. David Yates deserves all due credit for bringing the last few books to spectacular life. A fitting end to a very special series of films which will live on forever and bring joy to many generations to come.

Okay it isn't as good as the books but it does stand alone on it's own, just about. I loved seeing the characters grow up and found the film very touching with lots of highs and lows.I wouldn't bother watching this unless you have read all the books or watched all the films as you will be utterly lost! Even if you have seen all the films you could still miss plot points as certain parts are not explained. I have had to explain certain parts to friends who haven't read the books but have seen all the films- as they couldn't figure out how or what that had happened. For example Lupin and Tonks being married and having child is totaly missed out but the audience is just supposed to know that this has happened. As it is referred to at the end of the film- I would find this annoying if I hadn't read the books.I found this a fault with all the films that it was amused everyone had read the books.When I watched the film with my mum and dad I had to pause it a lot to expalin what was going on as it had been a long time since they saw the first part of this part film.Apart from these faults the acting is good and there is a lot going on so you don't get bored. The special effects are excellent and I do think it is a good film.

xmas gift for son who was getting a blu-ray player but this would be the only bluray in the home at present so the triple play gave the whole family the option to watch the dvd or digital versionsthis is the end of the harry potter series of 8 films and was a must buy to complete the set with 4 potter fans out if 5 in the house this was another reason to purchase to add to the books collection and now we will have to start replacing the dvd's with the higher quality bluraysamazon were around £7 cheaper than any supermarket price in blueray even with the special release offersi cant spoil the film but harry has to face the final conflict with he who cannot be mentioned by namewatch and enjoy in whatever format

An enjoyable final to the series and a good rounding of the 7th movie. (If amazon did a rating scale of 1-10, I would give this a 9).In Blu-Ray the picture quality is excellent and the action and special effect are very good.I found part-1 not as good as previous movies, but part-2 is much better and does credit to all the actors and crew.The leading up to the final battle and the final battle itself is not as good as a movie like Lord Of The Rings, but is better than some recent movies that I've watched.If you have not seen part 1 recently that I would suggest that you watch part 1 again to refresh your memory, my wife and I did and this helped in the enjoyment of the movie.