FILM: At the Close - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (Review)

Eight months after the release of Part 1, the end of a decade-long story on the silver screen about a boy wizard has arrived with the release of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2.

The eighth and final film spun out of J.K. Rowling's incredibly successful Harry Potter book series, Part 2 picks up where Part 1 left off, with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) gaining possession of the Elder Wand, and Harry, Hermione and Ron (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint) at Shell Cottage after escaping from Malfoy Manor with the promise of returns to Gringotts and Hogwarts before their journey ends.

Director David Yates (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1) returns for his fourth go-around in the Harry Potter world to put the finishing touches on the franchise he has put his mark on over the last five years.

The focus of the film continues from Part 1, and the story starts with Harry, Hermione and Ron at Shell Cottage, but soon enough their journey continues to Diagon Alley and Gringotts, then to the Hog's Head in Hogsmeade before gaining access to the halls of Hogwarts for the final leg. However, here in Part 2 the presence of supporting characters increases once Hogwarts becomes the backdrop for the film and several get memorable moments in this last film.

But first for the main cast, the performance of the film belonged to Daniel Radcliffe as the revelation of Harry being one of Voldemort's Horcruxes became evident as the movie went on and the pain each Horcrux destruction was causing Voldemort was mirrored through him. And then the scene after Harry emerges from the Pensieve and learning that his death was inevitable from Severus Snape's (Alan Rickman) memories and having to come to grips with that. Dan's brilliant performance makes it impossible to keep a dry eye during that sequence as Harry accepts his fate, says goodbye to Hermione and sees his dead family one last time before facing Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest.

My personal favorite performance in the film would be that of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter). First having to play as if she was Hermione playing Bellatrix, which was done masterfully with just enough humor to make you smile while you were worrying if they were going to get away with the masquerade. And then as Bellatrix at Lord Voldemort's side, almost like an overeager puppy trying to please its master before then going out in her taunting style, as Molly Weasley (Julie Walters) defeated her in the Great Hall.

It was wonderful to see Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) get an opportunity to flex her magic muscle and show why she was such a respected witch and Albus Dumbledore's (Michael Gambon) second-in-command at Hogwarts. The confrontation with Snape where they dueled and she sent him flying out of Hogwarts like a bat was a long time coming and then to follow that up with leading the group of wizards and witches that were putting up protections on Hogwarts really gave us a feeling of how powerful a witch McGonagall is.

A group that did not get a mention in my Part 1 review but now that Part 2 is here need to be addressed is the Malfoys. From Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) and his struggle with dealing from the loss of status with Lord Voldemort, having to give up his wand and failing to keep Harry and his friends captured to in Part 2 turning into more towards just surviving the war and doing anything to do that made you feel for the once proud and braggadocios wizard. Narcissa Malfoy (Helen McCrory) since her inclusion in the films in HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE made it clear that while she went along with Lucius and his wizarding ideal, family was what was most important to her. And she proved that once again in Part 2 as she checked on the fallen Harry Potter only with the mind of finding out about her son's well being and then lying to Voldemort as a way to thank Potter. And of course there is the son, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), who gives being evil one last try and after once again failing to beat Potter in the Room of Requirement joins his parents in doing what he has to to survive.

With the story returning to Hogwarts, several characters that didn't get much if any time in Part 1 made their presence felt here in Part 2: Cho Chang (Katie Leung), Seamus Finnigan (Devon Murray), Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), Professor Sybil Trelawney (Emma Thompson), Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), and if you look close you will see a small cameo for Professor Pomona Sprout (Miriam Margolyes) who hasn't graced the Potter films since Chamber of Secrets.

What was amazing was how the film improved on the Gringotts Bank we had not seen since the first movie 10 years ago. Especially in regards to the cart ride, intensifying it with the speed, twists and dips of a roller coaster much more in line with the description from the books that would cause a person to get motion sickness. And while I do not know if it was the exact same door, I would like to think that it is - and by that I mean the vault door for the Lestrange vault looked to be the same as the one used in the first film for vault 713.

But perhaps the most awe-inducing visuals came during the Battle of Hogwarts, where much of the castle was destroyed in the fight. To see one of the most memorable locations in film history literally get blown up into pieces was just the perfect illustration of the cruelty of wars to things that were once beautiful and full of wonderment. There was also the actual participants of the battle that roughly numbered in the hundreds easily, the scale of the confrontation was really felt and gave a real sense to just how much was on stake that night.

Fans of the Harry Potter series should be seeing HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2 in droves (and they have). The only thing those not familiar with the series might need to do before watching this film is to checkout Part 1 because this is definitely a half of a story and there is definitely the assumption that the viewer knows what happened in the first half. Anyone that had complaints about Part 1 being slow will not have an opportunity to say that for Part 2 because from the Gringotts break-in to the Hogwarts battle the story is full of non-stop action that only takes a break when it comes time for the epilogue at the end, which is the perfect fairytale ending for this fantasy story. The John Williams/Chris Columbus era of Potter magic makes a symbolic return at the end when it comes time for Harry, Hermione and Ron to say goodbye to their kids on their way to Hogwarts and for us to say goodbye to the story of Harry Potter.

It is like J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, said at the London World Premiere for HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2, "Hogwarts will always be there, to welcome you home."

FILM: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Trailer Breakdown (Commentary)

On Wednesday the first trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released and like was done with Part 1, here on GeekPlate the trailer will be broken down and speculated about in this post. The hope is to point out most of what is revealed in the trailer and what part of the story the scene is from. Spoilers will follow from this point forward with the embedded trailer and the breakdown below it.



Throughout the trailer is a Voldemort voice-over that is probably what he says to bring Harry out to the forest to him.

0:06 - Snape is walking down an alley in Godric's Hollow. Most likely memory related, either a flashback or perhaps a new location for the scene between he and Harry.

0:10 - The Ravenclaw Diadem. One of the many horcruxes that have yet to be found or identified. Realization of Voldemort's nod to the founders will hopefully happen by the time the focus of the story returns to Hogwarts.

0:11 - Two girls on a hill, watching a flower grow in the redhead girl's palm. The girls are Lily and Petunia Evans as children and the moment is most likely from Snape's memories.

0:12 - An older hand holding the destroyed diary at Dumbledore's desk. Reasonable elimination of possibilities leads to the hand probably belonging to Professor McGonagall.

0:13 - A shot of Harry's arm reaching for a female arm in the forest. This is probably the resurrection stone scene with Lily in the forest. The only other possible female in the forest would be Narcissa and I do not see why Harry would reach for her.

0:16 - A look at Voldemort's face. It is only a short flash but from the perspective I could almost imagine it as a post-Harry's sacrifice scene.

0:23 - Harry kneeling at Dobby's grave outside Shell Cottage and glancing at the broken mirror shard. Has to be one of the opening scenes of the film.

0:27 - An angled closeup of Harry's face, probably during an introspective/emotional moment.

0:30 - Fenrir Greyback being thrown back by a spell. The background looks like Hogwarts, so the final battle is a safe bet.

0:32 - Voldemort at Malfoy Manor with bodies littering the floor and Draco with his head bowed. Clearly the aftermath of Voldemort's rage at Harry's escape and probably one of the first scenes of part 2.

0:36 - A cart ride through the depths of Gringotts. Interesting to see that it has evolved since the days of the first film but not really surprising. Looks like they are being chased by another cart. Then there is the guard dragon on the main level of Gringotts being ridden by Harry, Hermione and Ron followed by the guard dragon's fiery breath. These moments are from their search for Hufflepuff's cup and the escape from Gringotts.

0:42 - Snape standing outside the Potter's blown up home at Godric's Hollow. A continuation of the scene that began the trailer, makes me curious to where they are going with this.

0:44 - Outside the Great Hall where students appear to be gathering an animated armored knight falls into a defensive stance at the entrance. Possibly right before the final battle, with Hogwarts getting ready to fight as well.

0:47 - Voldemort standing with his Death Eaters. Bellatrix and Pius Thicknesse are directly behind Voldemort. I assume this is part of their march on Hogwarts.

0:51 - Harry grimacing somewhere in Hogwarts. That is usually the way Harry reacts in the films when Voldemort is near or angry.

0:53 - People scatter as Hogwarts is blasted and debris rains down. Definitely part of the final battle.

0:54 - Shacklebolt deflects a spell at the entrance of Hogwarts as Harry, Ron and Hermione approach. More of the final battle, depending on how Yates has decided to film the movie I have a feeling this is just before Harry and Voldemort's face off.

0:55 - Narcissa turning around in the forest. I imagine this could be her turning around to lie to Voldemort and declare Harry dead.

1:02 - The Weasleys surround a fallen Fred. This should take place after the retrieval of the diadem but before Harry takes on Voldemort and I doubt there will be a dry eye from anyone in the theater.

1:05 - Voldemort, Nagini and Bellatrix are at some type of hill/cliff as a spell expands before them. Now this is one part of the film that I have no idea where it is supposed to take place. All I have come up with is maybe this moment is just after Voldemort retrieved the Elder Wand and is giving it another test of its strength.

1:07 - Tonks and Lupin reach for each other. Probably part of their last moments on screen, I imagine there will be probably a passing reference to their demise whether it be a reference or passing shot of their fallen bodies but I do not imagine it will be onscreen.

1:10 - Harry pulls Voldemort off a bridge. I do not know what to think of this moment, it was the part of the trailer that had me stop with bewilderment. This feels like it will be something like the dragon challenge in Goblet of Fire where they went off in a tangent to make things more interesting. Cannot wait to see how they come back from that jump.

1:17 - Snape twirls his cape and disappears in the Great Hall. From the mysterious shapes made with his cloak it is easy to connect the dots to the moment where he is run out of Hogwarts and was said to fly off like a bat.

1:19 - Hermione and Ron run away from the fiendfyre rushing behind them. This is in the Room of Requirement when in search of the diadem, they cross path with Draco and his fellow Slytherins.

1:22 - The Hogwarts paved courtyard is in chaos with the final battle. If you look closely the statue is moving as part of the castle fighting back and there appears to be a giant among the wizards battling.

1:25 - What appears to be the Hogwarts covered bridge begins to blow up and fall apart, catching several people trying to cross it.

1:28 - Molly and Bellatrix face off. Looks like it will go down in the Great Hall and is started because Bellatrix fired a spell in Ginny's direction. I think everyone is waiting to hear Molly yell, "Not my daughter, you bitch!"

1: 31 - Harry and Voldemort wands do battle. The films have fallen in love with the aspect of Harry and Voldemort's wands continuously connecting even when they no longer have brother wands. The awesome visual is worth repetition and is most likely part of the final showdown.

1:38 - Hogwarts reaction shot. Ginny is screaming, Arthur catches her, Neville is looking grim as others look on behind. This is either the battle is over or Harry's apparent death. I am leaning towards the latter given the faces on the characters.