Part 1: Harry races against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, he uncovers the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.
We have watched Harry; Hermione & Ron grow as characters into young men and woman. Along with the young audiences that started the journey with them. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint have grown up as actor before our eye and fine actor they have become handling all the emotions needed to be friends that trust each other. Their interaction on screen is as comfortable as family, which they have become over the past years.
From the opening of Part 1 with the crumbling gray Warner Brother logo you know this is not the harry potter world that we have been brought into so far, it is an elemental darker world now, thanks to Volemort and the death of Dumbledore. Alan Rickman embodying Severus Snape is by and large one of the best evil minions portrayed on film I love the way he pauses as he speaks informing the Dark Lord on circumstances.
We are reminded of their simple beginning as Harry walks around the empty house on Privet Drive which belonged to the loathsome in-laws, the Duresley’s a bit of comic relief in the other films. Harry looks one last time into the cubby under the stairs where we all met in happier Days.
Blood and consequences happen from Voldemort’s 1st attempt at Harry when the Order of the Phoenix moves him for his safety. Harry defends himself as an adult wizard. The chase on Hagrid’s flying motorcycle has more invested than the night bus. The effects are now so seamless in films. It amazes me that film has now become what a 100 years ago it was first touted as, a medium where anything can happen.
Safe at “the Burrows” the ancestral home of the Weasly’s, the Minister of Magic arrives, Bill Nighy always welcome to any movie, his lips at the beginning reminded me of Rocky Horror picture show. He distributes the items from Dumbledore's last will and testament the gifts left to our 3 Young Wizards’ tie the first movie to the last with a little nod to a snitch, a sword and a book.
The magical wedding reminded me of the some other important wedding (the Deer hunter, the Godfather) with just as much exuberance, caring and violence. I loved the way that magic happens all around us in the everyday world even in Dinners. We muggules are just too busy to notice wizards dueling.
The cinematography of our friends on the run across the country is spectacular. We are invited with an intimacy toward the three friends as they wander, worry and work things out. Our protagonists are off on the quest from Grimmauld Place to the Ministry of Magic. Dissention and evil separates them even a close call in Godric’s hollow on Christmas eve does not stop them. The art direction and set Decoration is just a wonderment scene after scene. I could smell some of them.
The Deathly Hallows are introduced to us in an animation that is just as fantastical as the ideas of the Deathly Hallows.
The end of the movie brings us face to face with the Malfoy’s and Bellatrix’s evil. Helena Bonham Carter servers us a Bellatrix Lestrange who is over the top and it works out commendably. The Sword comes into question and a death occurs as Voldemort opens Dumbledore’s tomb. Ralph Fiennes’ Voldemort is dead on target. The no nose makes him creepy and unworldly just to look at as he commands each scene he is in. We are left hanging…………
Part 2 : Harry, Ron and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord.
The opening back into this world shows us students marching back into school very reminiscent of the Nazi marching into Paris.
Dark doings are a head. Director David Yates is at the helm again superbly. The start is right where we left off and the roller coast begins.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint as our guides are as always up to the task to carry us. On this action adventure fantasy thriller detective horror war epic. Yes it’s has everything even a dragon, since we didn’t get one in the Game of Thrones first season.
The harry potter epic started as a children series, I remember adult denying that they were reading the books. The box office showed us that we were hooked. This final installment delivers’ the goods every actor who has appeared in the epic says their farewell. Each has brought their unique work to add to the whole to make this a wonderful goodbye. John Hurt, David Thewlis, Jim Broadbent, Gary Oldman, George Harris, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Emma Thompson to name a few.
Maggie Smith who’s “I’ve always wanted to use that spell” delights us in the midst of darkness.
The battle for Hogwarts is just the thing summer blockbusters are made of. The Cinematography, Production design and Art direction are a seamless triumvirate. Through their work a world as real as our own is brought to vivid life.
All of the stings that have been laid across our path in the past movies are brought to fruition. Each answers a fundamental question of the story, putting that question at rest. I enjoyed the quest for answers and am more than a bit sad to leave these characters knowing that “God’s in his Heaven/All’s right with the world” even if Heaven might be Kingscross station.
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