Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Review

The end of an era, that seems to be the sentiment among the public with the release of the last movie in the Harry Potter franchise, the second part of the seventh book of the same name.  And its weird knowing that this dependable series that has been around for 10 years will now be over. While this may seem like a disheartening way to start a review, its a tone that persists throughout the movie, everyone involved with the movie knows this is their last foray into this world, and everyone is taking advantage of every second of screen time, as to be remembered for their greatest and last effort. This is a franchise that has endured, while the quality of each individual film varies their popularity never has. A movie recognized world wide for its fantastical world and relatable and heroic characters. 

The movie begins almost seamlessly after Part 1 with Harry Potter kneeling in front of Dobbys grave by the sea side cottage. But in no time at all, our three heroes Harry, Ron and Hermione begin planning their next move by hunting down the remaining Horcruxes as to be able to take on Voldemort who continues to strike fear and gain followers among the citizens of the wizarding world. Part 2 is easily the shortest and fastest moving of any of the Harry Potter films, moving at a brisk pace the movie wastes no time getting to each of the highly anticipated action sequences including a exhilarating bank heist at Gringotts involving a dragon and of course the all out assault on Hogwarts by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. 

The movie is not only a non-stop onslaught of masterfully designed and choreographed action set pieces, but an emotional and deeply moving conclusion to 10 years and 8 movies worth of build up. Dont be surprised when major characters from throughout the series bite the dust, and in most cases in not very heroic ways. This sense of utter chaos, death and destruction heightens the stakes as each of our 3 heroes along with some of their oldest friends and family pitch in to help defeat Voldemort. A brilliant part of the film focuses on giving many of the series most memorable characters their shinning moments-- fitting given the conclusive aspect of the film-- from Ron's mom to the perpetually goofy Nevil Longbottom each of these heroic moments begs for applause, and the audience eats it up. While Harry Potter might be the titular character of the series, its been made very clear throughout the book and movies that he is nothing without those close to him, and as those people who have stood by Harry his whole life begin to die, he must face death if those he holds close are going to survive the night.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the most perfect conclusion anyone could have hoped for in ending this lucratively successful and long running franchise. It is undoubtedly the best film in the series by a large margin and its attention to engrossing character moments amidst the visual effects splendor --an element this summers Transformers could have done better-- helps sell the importance and the grandiose of the events that are culminating on the screen. Characters we have for the most part grown up with, lay their lives on the line for their ideals and their love for one and other and its defiantly emotionally effecting, especially when certain revelations are made clear. While the books handle certain elements better, its only because within a book it is given as long as it needs while the movie has plenty more to cover and much less time to do it in. Having said that huge fans of the books will be disappointed with the way certain elements are handled but the thing to remember is that the movies are their own thing, and the books will always exists alongside them, each has particular things it does better than the other but both are some of the greatest achievements in their respective mediums.  

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the best movie in the franchise, there is no doubt, and while there are a myriad of elements that are not taken advantage of to their full potential, they are at least handled masterfully given the weight they posses. Watching characters we as the audience have come to love over this immense span of time finally meeting their toughest challenge and knowing most will not survive lends such credence and power to the actions unfolding its unparalleled. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is filled with breathtaking action, horrifying and emotional afflicting deaths and revelations, and hands down the best conclusion to this much beloved franchise as anyone could have hoped for. 

(5 out of 5)