[SPOILER]
Director: David Yates
Writer: J.K Rowling
Released: 2011
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters
—
Not a moment to rest! This really is a second part, as in, it can’t really stand alone. If you consider it as a film separate to the first, you may feel exhausted by the constant running and relentless fighting. However, it really is more that that.
It is the final of a ten year long series and the conclusion to the first Deathly Hallows. It’s less mystery and more confrontation. We discover who really is on the bad side and who was betrayed by who.
Wow! So it really is the end. No more questions and a whole lot of wand-throwing and Star Wars-like action!
The final scene is cringe-worthy… I really don’t think it was necessary to show the next generation of the three characters. The best ending would have been where Harry, Hermione and Ron walk away from the ruins of Hogworts… not the barely-old-enough-to-have-children threesome back at the station… It’s too unbelievable – a little facial hair and older clothing doesn’t add ten years, I’m afraid.
Also, the part where Harry dies and goes to a heaven-like state did not quite sit quite right with me either. Or perhaps I’m just not into the sappy, sentimental shenanigans…. However, I am not disappointed. Because it is the second of two parts; not an isolated film.
Helena Bonham-Carter’s performance made it exponentially awesome – as per usual – playing Bellatrix who is a manically dangerous but feminine killer. So cool. This film is just as dark as the previous, but more of an action than a mystery with the equally fantastic cast and crew who have created another whopper. Technically incredible, of course.
It’s an end of an era, and for the people who were young enough and old enough to grow up with these characters I’m sure you’ll feel a weird sadness now that the series has ended, too.
A great finale, nevertheless.
Jodie’s rating: 7/10
Particularly within the first chapter where everybody who’s helping to protect Harry takes Polyjuice potion enabling everyone in the room to look identical to Harry – a very clever and interesting behind-the-scenes piece regarding how they did this scene on the double disc version.
I’m still not convinced about the unorthodox chemistry between Harry and Ron’s sister, Ginny. No matter how many movies, it just doesn’t work for me… However, Ron and Hermione have a more realistic relationship including somewhat hilarious disagreements.
Deathly Hallows has spectacular audio and music as well as flawlessly creepy flashbacks. My favourite scene is when Hermione tells the story of the Deathly Hallows and the relevance of the Elder Wand, Resurrection Stone and Invisibility Cloak. It is so cool – like you’re in the room listening to
it, it’s the atmosphere of the film that makes it so real.
NZ Film Freak 