Advertise here.
 |
Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
|
| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents, this is a pretty violent and dark movie. Several characters die. Recommended for ages 14 and up. |
Every good thing must come to an end. This phrase applied to Harry Potter more than anything else I can think of. I saw “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone” way back in 2001. The film was so unique, so special, that I wondered if the rest of the films could possibly be made after the high standards had been set for the first film. As the years went on there were questions of whether or not actors would leave, were the kids getting too old to play the parts, were the movies getting too dark to sell to families...trust me, there has been a lot lead up to “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II.” More importantly, director David Yates was given the important task of wrapping up all the loose story lines, plot threads, and give the world a satisfying movie to boot.
 |
Considering Yates had taken become the permanent director of this franchise after some big names like Chris Columbus, Alfonso Caulron, and Mike Newell put their stamp on this series, I have to tip my hat to the man; he took an impossible task and made it look easy. Everything about “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II” is so polished, seems so effortlessly planned, that you'd think this film was made first and the previous seven films made afterwords to support this one. Those of you who saw the previous film know that it ended with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) searching for the seven Horcruxes of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), which, if destroyed, would mean the end of the dark wizard. The task seems simple but Voldemort is not planning to make it easy.
 |
With eyes that seem to be everywhere, Voldemort finally becomes the menacing villain all the previous movies have been swearing he was; evil, cut throat, and without mercy. Add this up with Fiennes wonderful performance, and make no doubt that many times we find that the villain is the most complex and interesting aspect in a film. We aren't exactly rooting for Voldemort to win, we just want it to be hard for Harry to beat him. This is about as detailed as I feel comfortable going into about the story. Those who read the final book before seeing this film will agree that the twists and turns, character revelations, and story developments are not to be spoiled. Besides, after waiting ten years for this movie, would you really want me to?
 |
No, I think most of you want to know if this final film does the series as a whole justice. In a word: Yes! This is the best directed, best acted, most emotional installment of the franchise. It takes seven movies worth of material and makes the investment in all of them worth it. The actors – who many have grown up in these roles – give the best acting in the entire franchise and at the appropriate times. Looking at the film as a whole, it's amazing at the range of talented British actors this film got: Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, and so many more. The child actors who started on this series are all still here, but have been replaced by confident adult actors who take their work seriously. I hope they all find work easily after this.
 |
If Warner Bros. hadn't taken such care of this franchise from the beginning, then this movie may have been for nothing. A wasted affair if you will. Instead we have a franchise that is eight movies long, starts off great, gets better, and ends perfectly. We even get some of the best action sequences in the entire franchise. Sequences that use 3D as a storytelling device instead of a gimmick, and doesn't overplay anything. I have a funny feeling that I will live the rest of my life and never experience a movie franchise of this quality that lasts as long. Most franchises go stale after the third movie. With “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part II” we have a great movie that will make every person whose watched these movies throughout the years happy to have taken the journey.
 |
Note: I want to make a quick note about the five star grade. While this movie is every bit deserving of the highest grade, it should be noted that a large part of that involves seeing the rest of the films. If this is the only Harry Potter film you've seen, please note that the star grade changes significantly under those circumstances.
 |
 |
|
|
Spaceriffic Review
Want to see us review this? Send a donation with your title request, and it will be done (might take awhile, but it will get done).
Click here for a list of films that have already been requested before you request something.
