Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Rating: PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.
Note: Watched the movie in 3D at IMAX and was SPECTACULAR!!!
Warning: Contains a few spoilers!
Review: The entire theater is silent. You can barely hear the person next to you breathing as the screen lights up and the movie begins. Tears spring to everyone’s eyes, laughter echoes, and shouts of triumph resonate as the film progresses with a heart pounding pace. The end to one of the greatest selling series of all time went out with a phenomenal thunderous bang! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 delivers a deep and bittersweet finale to a series that defined an entire generation of children who have now grown to adults.
Harry was first introduced to the world in 2001. A small boy of eleven who had been left orphaned and having the horrible misfortune of being stuck living with his unloving aunt and uncle, has now grown up into a seventeen year old man helping to save the world from the darkness of Voldemort who threatens to destroy everything good and pure.
Even among the dark and intense action taking place throughout the entire movie, the audience never looses track of Harry and who he really is– a brave and kind boy standing up for what he cherishes the most. Ron, Hermonie, and Neville manage to spark light humorous moments throughout the trouble and heartache they encounter. One of my favorite scenes was Ron threatening to kill Harry if they die helping to save Draco.
The effects alone are a great enough reason to watch the movie: the roller-coaster ride down the Gringotts vaults, Harry, Ron, and Hermonie riding on a dragon to escape, the bright and powerful magic of wands dancing as all of Hogwarts takes up arms to fight against the scores Death Eaters swarming all around them, and of course, the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort.
The emotions are raw and deep, each of the actors have grown through each movie and you can feel their vulnerability as well as their courage and love as the film progresses to the end.
One of the most moving parts is when Harry pours Snape’s memory into the Pensieve and learns the real truth of who Snape really was and just how much Snape loved him. Harry fully realizes how many have given their lives to protect him and allows that to give him the courage necessary to march into the Forbidden Forest to face Voldemort alone.
The journey from eleven year old boy wizard to seventeen year old hero has been one filled with great tragedy and even greater love. The Boy-Who-Lived ends his epic battle in many ways as when he began, with friends at his side and a determination to keep hope and peace alive even if the cost is his own life.
In the wonderful and wise words of Dumbledore: “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is one of the best and moving endings to a series I have ever seen. Closing Harry, Ron, and Hermonie’s story perfectly and beautifully.
Running Time: 130 minutes (2 hrs. 10 mins.)
Director: David Yates
My Rating: 10/10 stars!!
Join us to discuss the movie here.
