Film review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

I vividly recall the nervous excitement with which I opened the last book in the Harry Potter series four years ago. I found myself experiencing the same exhilarating sensation when I watched the second part of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

Having always preferred the HP books over the movies, I find it hard to compare the last movie with the original text. The film series has been an able adaptation of the extraordinary novels by JK Rowling but if you want to explore the wonderful world of magic that she portrays so elegantly in her writing, your first choice should be the books.

As expected, there are certain structural dissimilarities between the two, and many important and fun details are missing. Also, a flashback from the previous movies in the beginning of this film could have helped viewers ease into it.

However, the last movie is perhaps the best in the series, re-enacting the final battle between Harry Potter and the Dark Lord with excellent acting on the part of Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Fiennes and great graphics — the 3D experience adding to its powerful impact on the audiences.

A beautiful conclusion to the great saga of Harry Potter movies that we have all come to love over the years, the second part takes up where the first part left off, showing the ingenious trio — Harry, Ron and Hermione — continue their ardent quest of searching for the remaining horcruxes and destroying them to annihilate Lord Vodlemort for good.

Unlike the previous movies, this one is loaded with action, showing the main characters taking on different disguises and embarking on the wildest of adventures, the most sensational being their robbery of the wizarding bank Gringotts with the mischievous help of a goblin. Their dramatic escape on a dragon is quite a treat for the faithful fans. Naturally enough, the story takes us to Hogwarts for the final showdown.

It’s amazing how the quality of movies and cast has improved with time. Daniel Radcliffe has grown comfortable with his role and gives the most convincing performance of his career. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have done a good job as well. Alan Rickman left me overwhelmed with emotion in his last scene as Severus Snape.

The battle for life and death that is waged on the once-serene grounds of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will keep you on edge till the end, touching the hearts of those who have laughed and cried with Harry and his companions.

It was quite an arduous task to conclude the movie with an end befitting the epic story and David Yates manages to do just that. I find it outside my power to sum it up here. You need to watch the movie to see and feel the brilliant and touching finale of the movie.

‘It all ends’ says the poster of the movie. However, with the new JK Rowling venture Pottermore on its way, we can confidently hope that the end is just a new beginning.

Critical responses to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

•  The film was rated 8.5/10 on IMDB.

•  The film was rated 8.4/10 on popular review site rottentomatoes.com.

•  The Guardian says of the movie: “It’s dramatically satisfying, spectacular and terrifically exciting, easily justifying the decision to split the last book into two.”

•  Film critic Roger Ebert says: “After seven earlier films reaching back a decade, the Harry Potter saga comes to a solid and satisfying conclusion in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”

•  From The New York Times’ review of the film: “All three [Harry, Ron and Hermione] have nice moments in this movie, but it’s the older adults who take centre stage. Here it’s Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman who give the master class in acting.”

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, July 31^st,  2011.