Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 brings potentially one of, if not, the most loved franchises to an end with one final and yet powerful push! I was lucky enough to find my way to the cinema opening night to get a screening of this and here I sit, ready to share the spectacle that unfolded before my eyes with you all.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 picks up where the former film left off, the group of teens on a beach after burying one of their lost companions. The film offers us a brief insight and re-establishment of what happened in the previous film, acknowledging the key character changes, power changes and a variety of other significant events that present themselves as key to Part 2. The trio find themselves still three horcruxes away from being able to defeat Voldemort, and the thrilling DH: P2 follows the courageous, death defying journey to subdue the last remaining horcruxes and destroy them. With minimal time remaining, Harry, Ron, Hermione and their assorted companions finds themselves faced with the darkest hour ever distilled upon them; a battle, first hand with the massing forces of Voldemort's death eaters, as well as the dark lord himself.
Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is magnificently presented, both on paper and visually. The structure of the film stays mostly true to the books, and conveys some significant moments which many of the fans of the novels would have wanted to be present in the last installment of the fast-paced, heartfelt farewell to fans. Although Part 2 is brilliantly written and paced, the film does leave some room for non-Potter book fans to drop off the radar a little. Some things are left to the audiences, somewhat in a fashion that expects them to understand certain aspects of the film, even before they arrive at the theater. With that being said, thats not exactly something that everyone feels to be true, as I didn't feel this and nor did my company who hadn't read the final book or knew what would be happening whatsoever. With that being said audience members who are less attentive in their move endeavors may find themselves a little thrown out of the loop. So long as you're paying attention, you should be perfectly fine. With the informative and well delivered dialogue, this isn't a huge problem, and the themes of the film - as a result of this clever and unique writing - are clear, even despite the awesome visuals that this film comes to present. It is clear that the writing and the skill and understanding of the Harry Potter story is at an all time high with both the writers and the magnificent director of this feature; David Yates.
Yates presents us with not only a great understanding of Harry Potter's story, but captivates audiences with his need for beautiful locations and the distinct changes he has made to the Potter world as a result of its fall to darkness. Old locations we remember as vibrant and bright, like our characters, have a sense of being worn and prematurely forced to mature and cope with significant hardship. Not only is The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 entertaining, but brilliant crafted visually. In his style of direction and development over the time in which he has served as the Harry Potter mastermind (Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, DH:P1, DH:P2), Yates ensures that we are connected to the character, main or minor and possess a significant amount of sympathy, fear, hatred or favoritism for them. Not only this, but he presents the vast amount of characters in DH:P2 as truly to the novels as he possibly could in creating a novel into a film adaption. With a powerful cast and an extraordinary amount of faith in them, there is no doubt that Yates was more than able to direct this film as he believed would best honor fans of the franchise one last time. With a story that expresses aspects of all of us and the challenges that at one point or another, we often come to fact, the directing talents of Yates brought to the mix of acting talents, ensures the movie is molded together to bring a powerful, entertaining and thoroughly intriguing journey back to Hogwarts; where everything started - and ultimately - where everything will end.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson bring their phenomenal talents back to the screen, grown both physically and as performers. The chemistry on screen is clear and true and ensures that we believe everything that's happening before us to be as real as possible. Alan Rickman, notable for his role as Severus Snape encompasses the character in an extraordinary fashion, both thrilling and captivating throughout - just as he has been in the previous films. Minor cast members and once insignificant characters brought into ensures that actors and actresses we haven't seen too much acting talent from in the past are honored for their hard work, and in their frontal roles, they honor the film as it has them. Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort is as chilling as ever and a marvelous performance is delivered as per usual on his part. Helen Bonham Carter, known for her role as Bellatrix Lestrange returns in all her glory to send chills down our spines once more and pose as her cunning, devious and evil self. No less, this cast will go down as one of the most respectable, with chemistry being naturally created and acting, enhanced, developed and finally, captivating to all in the audience. It's the clever way that each actor knows their characters like the back of their hand that makes the acting so recognizably great, and so undeniably brilliant.
A film that is entertaining and constantly intriguing, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is most certainly worth seeing on the Big Screen. Fans of the book are bound to shed a tear, and possibly, even fans of the films. Either way, if not for either of the above, as a result of the drawing to an end of a long loved and achievement-filled franchise. Captivating visuals, action, real life challenges and hardship, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ensures that the final installment of the series brings the franchise to an explosive close and one that will be remembered for generations to come.
Wands at the ready for the last time.... and one last salute to a story that many have fallen in love with.