HARRY POTTER AND
THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART II (2011)
 
STARRING: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint,
Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan
Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Alan Rickman, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, Tom Felton,
Bonnie Wright, James Phelps And Oliver Phelps, Evanna Lynch, Toby Jones, Imelda
Staunton, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans
2011, 130 Minutes, Directed by:
David Yates
 What
began as the story of a boy’s wondrous
introduction into a limitless world
of magic ends in an epic display
of war, death, and desire for peace
. . .
Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows: Part 2 is the final
chapter in the longstanding fantasy
series and it’s a fitting conclusion
to the legend, marrying the
extensive exposition of
Part 1 with an intermittently
furious finale that satisfies and
rouses in all the proper ways. I'm
certain few will want to say goodbye
to the admired franchise, but the
production has secured a superb
finish that’s elegant and carries
significant emotional heft.
Now in possession of the Elder Wand,
Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is preparing
his dark forces for battle, looking
to assume control of Hogwarts and
kill his nemesis, Harry Potter (Daniel
Radcliffe).
Standing up to the threat,
Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione
(Emma Watson) set out to destroy
the remaining Horcruxes, infiltrating
Gringotts Bank and Hogwarts to uncover
these critical pieces of Voldemort’s
demonic soul. As war is declared,
Hogwarts becomes a battleground,
with good vs. evil tearing up the
property, taking critical casualties
on both sides. For Harry, his journey
requires an immense leap of faith
and power to even approach Voldemort’s
wrath, requiring guidance from loved
ones as he steps up to confront
his mortal enemy.
As last holiday’s
Part 1 established,
Deathly Hallows has been meticulously
adapted for the big screen, with
producers permitting the full breadth
of the book to assume two motion
pictures. The first film was a tale
of investigation and acceptance
of destiny, following Harry and
the gang as they discovered a crucial
weakness within Voldemort while
maturing into adulthood as the wizarding
doomsday arrived. Part 2 picks
up exactly where the last picture
left off, only now the players are
firmly positioned, demanding the
long-anticipated launch of the end
game.
Part 2 is only partially a war
movie. Yes, Hogwarts takes a quite
a serious beating, with the whimsical
school reduced to rubble as Voldemort’s
armies commence their siege with
help from trolls and spiders, storming
the grounds on the hunt to slaughter
as many hapless students as possible.
It’s not an overtly violent movie,
but the life and death stakes are
raised considerably, with a few
disquieting casualties along the
way. Nevertheless, the Battle of
Hogwarts is only one facet of the
Part 2 tale, providing some desirable
action and suspense while the story
continues down a path of exploration,
sending the boy wizard to metaphysical
spaces as he marches to his fate.
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"A satisfying, if all too brief farewell . . ." |
Director David Yates once again
shows remarkable creativity and
bravery with this material. Part
2 is a dark movie, yet it
keeps a steady pace and preserves
various thrills. With much of the
storytelling burden placed on the
previous picture, the second half is
freed up to raise a little hell,
paying off the swell of seven films
with a sweeping cinematic stampede.
Granted, this series isn’t the most
hard-charging action spectacle
around, but the wizards do
remarkable damage with their backs
against the wall, like an asthmatic
kid stepping up to the plate and
hitting a home run. The blockbuster
beats are a little alien to a series
of unrelenting explanation, but
Yates offers a firm hold, interested
more in the discomfort of violence
than a fist-pumping routine.
The nuances of the
Part 2 plot
are equally cared for, observing
Harry inhale the full extent of
his cursed life, surrounded by unlikely
protectors and unnerving secrets.
The Horcrux business steps aside
quickly, with the second film focused
on Harry and the abyss of death
at his feet. Part 2 takes some
fairly odd turns that return Dumbledore
(Michael Gambon) to the fold, challenging
viewers by making the final showdown
with Voldemort more complicated
than simple wand fu. Though Part
2 is dedicated to visceral delights,
some cerebral business sneaks into
view, gracefully examined by Yates
and his stellar crew.
Another miracle of the film is how
well it keeps up with the characters,
using the Battle of Hogwarts to
greet old faces and introduce a
few new troublemakers (Kelly Macdonald
makes a memorable appearance as
the ghostly Helena Ravenclaw). Extended
moments with the community is impossible,
yet Yates does an admirable job
juggling the faces and places, even
finding time to generate a new warrior
in Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis),
who takes a far more courageous
position in the picture, gallantly
protecting Hogwarts from harm. Performances
from the primary cast members are
exemplary, with special sauce provided
by Alan Rickman as the tortured
Severus Snape and Fiennes, who digs
into the ick of Voldemort with both
hands here.
Without leaning too far into spoiler
territory, I will share this: as
much as Part 2 is about finality
and combat, it also concerns soulful
balance, offering a lovely epilogue
that gently reinforces the cycle
of life Harry was inadvertently
fighting for. It’s a satisfying,
if all too brief farewell.
It’s hard to believe we’ve had Harry
Potter on screens for a decade now,
with each feature finding its shape
and purpose through an unbelievable
level of artistic surprise. Rarely
has a film series enjoyed such success
and consistency, creating an epic
arc of maturation, heroism, and
friendship to savor for decades
to come. Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows: Part 2 is the end of an
extensive journey, hauling a weight
of finality that’s bittersweet.
Still, there’s much to celebrate
here, with the picture a stirring,
magnificent conclusion to a marathon wizarding odyssey.
- Brian Orndorf
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