Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Director: David Yates

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham-Carter

Running Time: 130 minutes

Synopsis: Harry and his small band of allies return to Hogwarts as they continue their pursuit of the Horcruxes. But Lord Voldemort is wise to the plan, and brings his army of Death Eaters to the school to finish off Harry once and for all…

A lot has happened in the Potter-verse over the last ten years: Neville Longbottom has become a gallant hero, Hermione Granger has grown up to be smokin’ hot, every actor that means anything to the British film industry has passed through the corridors of Hogwarts, and Dumbledore has refused to give a straight answer to almost every question put to him. But most importantly, the Harry Potter series has become one of the most exciting and powerful in modern cinema.

When the franchise began, it was playing third fiddle behind two other big-name fantasy sagas: Peter Jackson’s epic LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy was on the cusp of release, and George Lucas was halfway through his disappointing STAR WARS prequels. Though the Harry Potter films may have been overshadowed at the time, they were planting the seeds of what would later grow into a dominant cinematic force. By this time J.K. Rowling’s books were already a cultural phenomenon, but this didn’t necessarily ensure quality in the inevitable films, and under the family-orientated direction of Chris Columbus, the first two installments were little more than child’s play. Fortunately with the arrival of director Alfonso Cuaron on HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004), the series came into its own. Cuaron brought the books’ darker edge to the films, and added a complexity to the characters’ situation. Next came THE GOBLET OF FIRE (2005), which added yet another layer with the introduction proper of You-Know-Who Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), setting up the conflict that would drive the remainder of the films.

Despite this, it’s director David Yates who has left the biggest mark on the series, and since his arrival on THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (2007), the films have showcased an effective blend of rip-roaring action, pitch-perfect humour, and an increasing darkness. Over this time the films have gained serious momentum, intensifying in every aspect and drawing a committed fanbase of their own. And now we arrive at the series’ climax, and expectations are undoubtedly and understandably high, which could have been a problem, as Rowling’s final book was an overlong disappointment.

But Yates has proved himself with lesser material before – turning the long and laborious ‘Order of the Phoenix’ into one of the series’ highlights – and has once again created something spectacular. Along with last year’s counterpart movie, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART TWO is something of a rarity, a film adaptation that exceeds the credibility of its source material in all facets.

The film – much like the previous one – wastes no time in getting started. There is minimal exposition and the plot gets going immediately. Screenwriter Steve Kloves makes no apologies to newcomers, and if you haven’t been involved in all things Potter until now, you’d be lost in its layered and intricate backstory. What’s the saying? If you need to ask you’ll never know, but if you know you’ll never need to ask… or something like that.

It isn’t long before the film plunges into a breathtaking action sequence, packed with beautifully composed special effects, genuine laughs, and well-constructed wizard shennanigans (read fighting). And it’s this formula that dominates the overall film, as every twenty minutes of downtime are rewarded with another stunning sequence, each more exciting than the last.  And for a film so inherently driven by crystal-balls-to-wall-wizard action, the scenes of pure plot, in which Harry and his band of do-gooders search for Voldemort’s Horcruxes, are just as gripping. This also goes for the film’s quieter, more dramatic scenes; by this point in the series we have invested so much into these characters, we can’t help but be moved by their more subtle moments.

Such drama has, of course, proved to be a point of contention in previous films, as the three principals’ – Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson’s – acting skills have been heavily criticized. And at times for good reason. But they have developed as performers, and by now, although not perfect, they carry the film without breaking the illusion of the story-world. In any case, the series of late has become more of an ensemble piece, and some of THE DEATHLY HALLOW’s finest moments belong to Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman.

Fiennes has added another layer to his portrayal as The Dark Lord, and Voldemort remains the most consistently engrossing aspect of the Potter films. Fiennes portrays a character of pure evil, without remorse and unsettlingly ruthless. But this time around he brings an air of vulnerability to He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, a considerable achievment for a character without a slither of decency. Rickman also shines as Severus Snape (now headmaster of Hogwarts), and as readers of the books will know, he becomes a crucial part of the story. Snape nabs some of the film’s more emotional moments – of which there are many – and his final scenes showcase Rowling’s ability to maintain whilst concealing slight plot points throughout an epic story arc.

Overall, the film is a masterclass in blockbuster cinema – the action is spectacular, the drama is tender and moving, and the story is gripping throughout. As well as director David Yates, a great deal of credit much go to screenwriter Steve Kloves for adapting Rowling’s unwieldy novel into an engaging and coherent adventure. Combined they even manage to get decent material from some of the books worst moments (including the much-berated epilogue), and create sympathy for the loss of some of the series’ most irritating characters.

We must also acknowledge the contributions of the cast – mostly the finest Britain has to offer – especially those who have carried the series whilst the young leads learned and honed their craft. There have been many stand-out performances over the years (such as the likes of Brendan Gleeson, Michael Gambon, and Imelda Staunton), but Fiennes and Rickman are the absolute business here, highlighting the importance of their characters with classy efforts.

The climax of Potter – by now, as big a cinematic event as we’re likely to experience – will leave fans melancholic. It has become an important part of the industry, delivering a fresh installment of exciting adventure most years over the last decade. Its absence is sure to leave a gap in the market, but it’s unlikely that any other franchises will be able to deliver the impact, emotional attachment, and sheer scale of the Harry Potter franchise. It does indeed all end here. Despite a few errors along the way, it’s been absolutely magic. For those saddened by the end of the film series, you’ll just have to hold tight for the remakes.