Monday, July 25, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II - Movie Review



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Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Warwick Davis, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane, Ciaran Hinds, David Thewlis, Matthew Lewis, Julie Walters, Mark Williams and David Bradley.
Directed by David Yates.


Well, it's finally over. The final showdown comes between Harry Potter and Tom Riddle. It is very much a cathartic, full-circle experience. We've seen the kids grow up, we've seen the teachers teach, we've seen Voldemort's army grow. We've had good guys and bad die along the way.

It's a good send-off, if not great. The main young three - Radcliffe as determined Harry, Grint as sidekick Ron, Watson as precocious Hermione - have grown into real actors with decent futures all, should they want them. One would hope acting off of Maggie Smith and Gary Oldman would reap benefits.

When last we left our heroes (and I wish I'd watched Part I right before I'd seen this; my bet is they're more effective seen as one 4 1/2 hour whole), Dobby the House Elf was dead and they still had a few Horcruxes to destroy in order to beat Voldemort. If you haven't read the books, rest assured a giant showdown is coming, and plenty of characters who've been along for the ride will be dead by the end.

The acting trophy has to go to Alan Rickman as Snape. His true intentions finally get revealed, and it's a great scene by him when it happens.

I have read the books, and I'll just say my biggest complaint might be that it felt too rushed. Would have liked it to be twenty minutes longer to do justice to those scenes or those characters.

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