So, this is it. The final entry in what has been one of the most successful (both critically and financially) film series of all time. The posters aren't lying, this really is the end. Every minute of Part 2 reminds you of this, and for two hours you'll be gripped to your seat in awe of what a monumental event Harry Potter has become. If you love Harry Potter and have seen Harry grow up from that cute little kid to a full on angst ridden Teenager you'll love every second of it, regardless of whether you know the ending or not. Truly this is the finale to top all finales, and it'll be very hard not to cry out with joy or shed a tear by the time the film is over. The decision to split the final film into two parts has been justified, even though Part 1 suffered from it (it was much like a slow, low key kinda film that didn't seem very Harry Potter-ish but had some great character moments). They should have made it into a whole really, but Part 2 is so perfect that it would be criminal to cut anything out of it. Not once was I bored during the two hours, every scene was captivating and bursting with suspense, emotion, and a truly epic feel. Yes I am gushing a little bit too much about this movie but it really is THAT perfect for me, its already hit the Top 5 on my Top 10 films of all time list. I can't wait to see it again and I think many fans feel the same way.
Although I should warn you, if you're not fimiliar with the Series then this film won't quite have the impact that it should have. One of the best things about the franchise is that you get to see the characters evolve, mature and change with each installment. Its a film Series that started when I was five, and it hasn't stayed the same at all, in fact the cool thing is that its grown up with us and kids my age all feel deeply attached to Harry as a result. Gone is that magical sheen that the first few movies had, that sense of pure magic and wonderment. By now the Story has evolved into an epic tale of good and evil, and has matured into (in my personal opinion) something far greater: a deeply involving set of films that focuses on the characters more than its magical trappings, or a character study if you will. Seeing a bunch of cute eleven year olds turn into these complex and more human people is simply fascinating to watch. It's a real privilege to see this happen on screen. Characters that used to be in the background have been brought into the foreground this time with bigger roles and nearly everyone gets there token heroic moment that they've frankly earned at this point. The two characters that have benefited the most from this are Severus Snape and Neville Longbottom, each proving to be pivotal to the Story and get the screen time they deserved. Alan Rickman delivers a masterclass performanc, after this film you'll no longer see Snape as being an annoying assehole to Harry that turned on Dumbeldore at the end of the sixth movie, his story turns into quite the tradedy and is attached to Harry's story in more ways that you can think of. I'll give no Spoilers, but lets just say in ten minutes everything you thought you knew about Dumbeldore, Snape and Harry will be drastically changed.
Neville Longbottom sarted out as this geeky sort of wimp but has slowly turned into a true hero, and to be honest he's kinda the star of this movie. I think we actually rooted more for him than Harry. We finally see his true side and you can't help but cheer for the Boy. Not just the characters, but the acting in general is simply top notch in this film, basically showcasing the best of Britain's acting talent in one fell swoop. Name ONE really good British actor that hasn't been in this Series yet, I DARE YOU. Ralph Fiennes job as Voldemort is pants-wettingly scary but he nonetheless brings signs of a real vunerebility to the character. The main trio (Harry, Ron and Hermoine) are the glue that holds this Series together and they are quite frankly some of the best actors I've seen in a movie. Not ONCE do you see Harry Potter as Daniel Radcliffe or Rupert Grint as Ron. The CGI/Special effects in general are really good and at times it feels like you're watching Lord Of The Rings instead of Harry Potter, which is a massive compliment. The Battle at Hogwarts is bloody epic and you really give a sh*t about all of the characters, both good and bad. Heck, even if they've been in the Series for only a few movies and have only had a line of dialogue every now and again you'll care for them, its top notch cinema, it really is. Any niggles you ask? Yes, alot of the good characters don't get enough screen time. This is the last film for crying out loud, at least make a goodbye scene for Hagrid. What, no goodbye scene? He's barely in the film for five minutes and he's been a really prominent character for the entirety of Harry Potter's life! Even though the Book is like this as well it would be much appreciated if the film makers could have tweaked it just a little. It's not like we don't want to see it, and it is the shortest Potter film, so you definately had the time to add it! Another minor gripe is alot of the people who die in the film either die off camera or don't get the denouement that they deserve. It's faustrating to see some of your most cherished characters get like a line and then show up on the floor dead like half an hour later. Sadly, this was the fault of the Book as well. There was also one scene in the film which, although seemed fine in the Book, didn't look like it fitted into the Harry Potter world on screen, the contrast was quite sharp I must say. But those were just some minor niggles, and it isn't necessarily due to what was actually in the film but what wasn't.
So now that the Series is over, I can finally go to bed knowing that Harry Potter has been succesfully completed. It seems nigh impossible to think how Warner Bros. can make EIGHT films that are not only consistant in their quality but also how they all feed into this wonderful whole. No doubt I'll be having another Harry Potter movie marathon in the coming months! This is a fantastic Series, and is really up there with Narnia, Lord Of The Rings and The Pirates Of The Carribean. LONG LIVE POTTER I SAY!
