Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Well, this is the movie that ended the Harry Potter franchise. Of course, we still have the ongoing spin-off Wizarding World Franchise, Fantastic Beasts, which I almost consider part of the Harry Potter franchise, but I’ll be getting to those soon enough. This movie was so well constructed. The pacing, the action, the emotion, the drama, and the climactic resolution of a story that began ten years earlier. It would be easy enough to say that the entire cast did a fantastic job, but I really think they did.
First I have to acknowledge what a rare and special thing it was to have, with only a few exceptions, a cast that remained the same for the entire run of the series. There were a few minor characters that were changed, but for the most part, every actor stuck around for the entire ten years. And this is most remarkable for the actors that started out as children. Their skills in front of the camera just kept improving and improving from one film to the next. And the stand out member of the cast in this final Harry Potter film, was none other than Harry, himself, Daniel Radcliffe. He really was incredible in this movie. The pure range of raw and difficult emotions that he embodied was nothing short of amazing. My hat is off to him for giving the world such a wonderful character in such a fantastic way.
So all the pieces are in place. All the plots and subplots have been laid out. And all we have left to do is to wrap it all up with a nice bow on top. And let me tell you, I think they really delivered. The ending was appropriately epic, exciting, and memorable. The visual effects were stunning. The action sequences were chaotic and thrilling. And though we all knew that our hero Harry was going to win in the end, there was no disappointment in how it was handled. And it was important to note that not all our favorite characters survived until the end, which I loved. It just made the story that much more realistic. Heroes can die, and it is silly to think that only the bad guys die in a war. Here, Fred Weasley dies, which was heartbreaking. Tonks and Remus Lupin both die. Lavender Brown dies. And Harry dies. Mustn’t forget that, though of course, he chose to let the remnant of Voldemort’s soul die instead of himself. He came back, and the rest is history.
There were so many scenes that were done right, making them memorable. The battle of Hogwarts was a major part of the film, and I’d even say its focus. But I admit to sometimes forgetting that the first sequence of the film is the daring raid into Gringot’s. It almost seems to belong in the previous film, and I have to remind myself which movie it actually is in. It was really cool! I loved how Hermione disguised herself as Bellatrix Lestrange, and Ron gave himself a beard and bushy hair, making himself really look like a Death Eater. Also Warwick Davis as Griphook was incredibly good. He was so properly menacing! And the daring escape on the back of a dragon was so cool!
I also really liked the character of Aberforth Dumbledore. The actor who played him, Ciarán Hinds, did a fantastic job. The short scene where he questions harry about his reasons for trying to finish what Albus Dumbledore had started was a great scene. And I also loved it when he showed up in the battle of Hogwarts to drive away the Dementors.
And I have to mention how much I actually really enjoyed that ending scene that took place nineteen years later. I thought it was very tastefully done, giving us a tiny bit of the aftermath of such an epic tale. I liked that they showed us that Draco and Harry had matured into adults and had made a sort of peace with each other. And I think they did a fine job aging the actors, and showing the audience that life goes on after such traumatic events. It was an appropriate end to the complex and epic story about the boy who lived. Well-done everybody.
Top 10 Favorite Parts
- The Escape from Gringot’s on the back of the albino dragon.
- Harry’s conversation with Aberforth
- McGonagall confronting Snape and asking Harry what he needs. I love how she offers him support without any questions, saying “Do what you have to do.”
- Goyle losing control of the Fiend Fire spell, and his death.
- Voldemort’s reaction after Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem is destroyed. Fiennes was brilliant in that moment!
- Snape’s death scene, and giving Harry his memories.
- Harry learning that Dumbledore had planned his death at Voldemort’s hand, and knowing that it had to happen. Radcliffe’s acting was perfect.
- Harry meeting with the shades of his parents, Serius Black, and Lupin. I loved how Serius says “Quicker than falling asleep”
- Harry’s conversation with Dumbledore, and Dumbledore’s answer to Harry’s question. “Of course it’s happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean that it’s not real?”
- Neville Longbottom killing Nagini. Go Neville!