It All Ends

Hey, if the marketing department at Warner Brothers came up with something that works, who am I to try something else?

WARNING! Accio Spoilers!

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” picks up where “Part 1” left off. Really—it shows Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) at Dumbledore’s tomb taking the Elder Wand. We get a glimpse at Hogwarts under Snape’s (Alan Rickman) control: it’s dark, it’s dreary, the students march in a way that all I can think is “Heil, Hitler!” as Snape oversees this all. But let’s not dwell on how the school we all wished to go to changed as we cut back to Dobby’s grave. The Trio talks to Griphook (Warwick Davis), a goblin who works at Gringotts. They realize that Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter) may have another horcrux in her vault and negotiate with Griphook to get it. Ollivander (John Hurt) gives Harry some information about wands and how they can switch loyalties.

After Bill (Domhnall Gleeson) and Fleur (Clemence Poesy) inform the Trio that the Order has scattered, they leave to go to Gringotts. Hermione and Ron dress up as the Lestranges and demand access to Bellatrix’s vault. It blows up. But Harry manages to take the horcrux and inadvertently learns that there is one at Hogwarts. He must return to school. He gets some help from Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth (Ciaran Hinds). He shows the three a secret passageway into Hogwarts and reunites them with Neville (Matthew Lewis). He brings them to a room where those still loyal to Harry set up camp, including Cho Chang (Katie Leung), Padma Patil (Afshan Azad), Dean Thomas (Alfie Enoch), Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), Seamus Finnegan (Devon Murray) and Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright).

Snape though hears word that Harry has been spotted and calls an assembly in a cheerless Great Hall. Harry confronts Snape as the Order of the Phoenix arrives. Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) steps up to protect Harry and drives Snape from the school. But Voldemort and his legions of Death eaters descend upon the school though McGonagall, other professors and the Order place protections around it. It comes down to this final showdown between Harry and Voldemort. And it is epic.

The movie has excellence pacing. You hardly notice the passage of time, but it doesn’t leave you wanting more at the end. You feel satisfied. It does follow the tradition since say, Prisoner of Azkaban, of being extremely dark lighting wise. When day breaks and the lighting brightens, you feel like squinting.

Since this is the final Harry Potter, nearly everyone who hasn’t died in a previous movie reappears (with the exception of Gary Oldman). Madame Pompfrey (Gemma Jones), Professor Sprout (Miriam Margolyes), Professor Trelawney (Emma Thompson), Percy Weasley (Chris Rankin), etc. There are even a few throwbacks to other movies. My favorite took place as they armed the school. McGonagall gives them permission to blow things up. When Neville asks how, McGonagall replies to ask Seamus Finnegan (Devon Murray)—I’m sure everyone remembers the running gag from the first few movies. The one throwback they didn’t mention? Hermione’s fear of flying.

The script is a great adaptation of the book. Of course things remained out of the final product. I’m not the only one who noticed Lupin (David Thewlis) having a kid just got an out of the blue comment from Harry. However, I loved how they handled “The Prince’s Tale” (Chapter 33 in the book) in the movie. Rickman was superb in his portrayal of Snape in this sequence. This chapter made me cry when I read it; it made me cry in the movies. Bravo, movie, bravo.

While the movie was well put together, it’s the little moments that are memorable. Dobby’s grave. The Order arriving at Hogwarts. Tonks (Natalia Tena) and Lupin reaching for each other. A sobbing Severus clutching Lily’s dead body. Narcissa (Helen McCrory) and Draco (Tom Felton) walking away from Hogwarts with Lucius (Jason Isaacs) not too far behind. Neville and Luna sitting after the battle. The final shot of Harry, Ron and Hermione together.

Now onto the epilogue. I think Harry looked the best. And by that, I mean he actually looked older. He also looked like the actor who played James Potter, which was a nice touch. Older Draco was also very good as well. Ron, Hermione and Ginny were not so great. It looked like they only tried putting on an “adult hair cut” wig on poor Bonnie Wright while Rupert Grint just got padding. Emma Watson…got a suit. That’s about it. Nothing much done to age her—not even a few gray hairs in her wig. Doing the math, Hermione would’ve almost been 38 in that sequence. It is likely she would’ve had a few by then.

I also would like to thank the creatives behind this movie for finally giving us Neville/Luna.
But when you have to start nitpicking, you know it means the overall product was good. I cannot wait for this to come out on Blu-Ray—I will own it.

So farewell, Harry Potter. It’s been a great ride!