Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2: Review By Vamp

Forgive me if my writing is a little bit shaky, it's literal been a year or two since I've written a review. Anyhow, I have been immersed in the Harry Potter series since I was in 4th grade. I remember distinctly picking up "Chamber of Secrets" and reading that one. While I was reading I'd realized I'd picked up the second book on accident, so my first read-through of the series was out of order. No matter, I figured it out and continued on. While I was halfway through the first book (which I made sure I read next), the TV Spots for "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" started to air, and I KNEW that I had to be in the theater seeing this movie. I begged my mom to take me. She agreed on the condition that I finished the books first. This was no feat, considering at the time Goblet of Fire was the most recent in the series. My teachers were amazed at how fast I read that tome, and how much of the plot and details I'd retained, but it's not my fault they underestimated my reading abilities. Haha. Needless to say, years after that, we arrived at "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2," the end of an era, and what I like to consider the end of my childhood. I've read the books seven times, I've got the dark mark tattooed to my inner left forearm, I can recite the movies lines without thinking; this movie was an emotional roller-coaster, but I loved every single second of it. Take this second to note that this review may or may not reveal spoilers. I did not care to be too discreet in my writing, considering that the movie has been on DVD for quite some time. Besides that, J.K. Rowling released the spoilers herself ages before the movie. In case you're wondering what I mean, I'm speaking of the books.

I said from the start that it was more than a good idea to split "Deathly Hallows" into two parts. So much of that book was necessary to complete the series. It tied all loose ends, created the hope of the future, and everything else that the series revolved around. Taking liberties like they did in previous installments simply would not suffice for this one, though a few were taken that WERE necessary to tie of loose ends that were created in the parts of previous installments that were created for on-screen purpose, and hold no part in the books. One key instance of this being how little Harry learned of the horcruxes from "Half-Blood Prince." I feel as if the idea created for "Deathly Hallows Part 2" fixed that little bit up. With Harry himself being a horcrux, he could sense if the others were near, and that helped him track down the remaining ones throughout the movie. A little too convenient, maybe, but it fit and I went along with it. David Yates, the director, has stuck to the series since "Order of the Phoenix," and for the most part he's kept up. His two installments to the "Deathly Hallows" chapter were more than acceptable, and two of my favorites of the entire series. This left me content with the movie saga as I left the theater. It was a rocky one, considering the liberties taken for "Goblet of Fire, " "Order of the Phoenix," and "Half-Blood Prince," but I overlooked that considering the movies are someone else's interpretations of the series.

The movie picks up the moment that "Deathly Hallows Part 1" left off. Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has broken into Dumbledore's (Michael Gambon) tomb and stolen from him the legendary Elder Wand, a wand of such power that no one stand chance. Voldemort now sets his sights on the Wizarding world's last strong-hold, Hogwarts. Here Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) is in control. Having killed Dumbledore, Snape has seized the role of Headmaster in Voldemort's name. But when Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) return to their school, McGonagall (Maggie Smith) sees hope and reclaims her school. Now that Voldemort has sights set on the school, the teachers and students begin preparing for the final stand against evil. Everyone and their brother is called in. From Arthur (Mark Williams) and Molly (Julie Walters) Weasley to Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) and Nymphadora Tonks (Natalia Tena), Harry's friends and allies are here to help him stop Voldemort once and for all. Harry has discovered that the remaining horcruxes are found within Hogwarts, and while everyone fights, he fights to ensure that Voldemort can be taken down. It is not easy with Snape, and other enemies like Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) on his tail.

The story, as I've already more or less pointed out, is handled fantastically. Loose ends were tied, relationships started and ended. The whole story is one of action, adventure, magic, tragedy, and comedy. Every turn invokes a different emotion (at least that's how it went for me, being so involved in this series from the start). I would like to use "The Prince's Tale" as the defining moment, for me, of the film. That scene followed the book so well, and I cried even harder in the movie than I did while reading that chapter in the book. Those who've read the book know that "The Prince's Tale" is where Snape reveals everything to Harry, and seeing this was the moment that I knew this movie was a success. This, and Mrs. Weasley delivered my favorite line from the book ("NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!"). Anyhow, I left the theater positively glowing, relieved that the final movie of one of my favorite series of books was handled the way it should. I also left it feeling strangely drained. The knowledge that it was all over was strange, and to be honest I'm still not quite over it. But as Rowling has said many times, Harry will always live on in our hearts. A statement that's a little bit too sentimental for my tastes, but one I feel is also somewhat true, considering our childhood is always with is, no matter how much we try and hide it.

At any rate, if any qualms you've had with previous installments, lay them aside and take the time to watch this because A) You need to see how it ends if you've already laid your time into the past seven movies, and B) it's such a good movie. Sure it's a children's tale, but that doesn't mean you have to overlook it. Watch, have fun, and be with Harry for his final adventure.