Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows pt.2

Let me start by saying that I haven't always enjoyed the Harry Potter franchise. Most of that has to do with my love for the source material, and my geekyness not able let go of parts that just didn't make the cut in the films. That being said, I think the sequels took a step down after the first two which I thought were quite good. From there on I think they lacked vision, until recently. Although the Halfblood Prince has many faults, I believe it took the series to the next level in terms of direction and vision. The Deathly Hallows pt. 1 for me seemed a bit too awkward, and had too many scenes of forced exposition, but the Deathly Hallows pt. 2 does not suffer from this. There is no point discussing plot because to talk about it at all would be to give away spoilers. If you haven't seen any of the Harry Potter films thus far, don't bother with this one. This is a film that has no introductions or pretense of playing catch up. From the opening scene of Deathly Hallows pt. 2 we are thrust into mid story, and the action and adventure is non stop. And there is much action and much adventure, and it is done quite well. Director David Yates knows how to pace a story.

One word of warning though. This franchise (in following with the books), has grown decidedly darker along the way. I would not recommend bringing very young children because there are some very violent and disturbing moments.

The cast of the series has always been its biggest blessing, and many of them are finally given things to do! Matthew Lewis's Neville Longbottom gets some deserved screen time. Allan Rickman as usual is playing Severus Snape so low key that he's almost comatose, but in a very moving flashback scene is finally given the chance to show us the depth of the character. Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort however, I have always had a problem with. I never thought he lookd scary, and I think his voice is laughable. People will disagree with me, and he has some good scenes in this outing, but I just can't take him seriously. Our trio of heroes played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have come into their own. They have shown a lot of growth as actors since we first laid eyes on them. The film has some fine conflicts, reveals, and resolutions. Choices are made, and consequences are dealt. Though of all the characters in the film, it is Rickmans Snape who shows himself to be a truly complex character and changes the way we must perceive him in subsequent viewings of the series.

My main problem in the Deathly Hallows pt. 2 are the small narrative inconsistencies. Because of the freedom that different directors have been allowed to bring to the production and design within their respective films in the series, it creates a lack of cohesion in the way the wizarding world operates. Spells we have seen before are performed differently, devices and creatures we have seen before now inexplicably look different.

However they look, they do look great. The visual effects in Deathly Hallows pt. 2 are undoubtably the best in the series. The CG is big and bad and in your face, and every moment of action is completely mesmerizing. The cursed fire in the room of requirement is the most visually stunning and exciting scene I have seen this year. The film also gives us one of the best looking and most believable dragons that I have seen to date.

I do recommend seeing it in 2D and not 3D. The film is too dark for the glasses and it ends up being a hinderance. Besides that, the effects are amazing anyway. You don't need the extra dimension.

So The Deathly Hallows pt.2 is a fun, and exciting, action packed feast for the eyes. As a story about the classic struggle of good versus evil, they did right in the end and crafted as good a series as we could have hoped for such a massive undertaking and such voluminous source material.

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