Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

2011, 12, Directed by David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, George Harris, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Katie Leung, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Kelly Macdonald, Helen McCrory, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright

Harry Potter has officially integrated itself into British institutionalism. Love him or loathe him, the scar-wearing schoolboy has been as popular as popcorn over the past decade where cinema trips are concerned. Four directors of very varied calibres stretched across eight films and – reminiscing over an epic effort – it is clear that the seriesrarely showed any real signs of flagging. As long as the magic was alive, the ticket sales were too.

So it remains that David Yates’ second part of the final JK Rowling novel adapted doesn’t necessarily need to be a great film in order to suck people into the phenomena on display for only a little while longer; this saga is leaving on the Hogwarts Express never to return. Luckily for us all, Yates still strays from dreaded cash-in, instead opting for the tougher task of pleasing fans and unfamiliar folk alike – something which the series has always seemed to shy away from.

Picking up precisely where Part 1 left off, Voldemort (we can say his name now) is in possession of the Elder wand, the most powerful wand the world has seen, whilst Harry and pals are halfway through ‘Operation: find and destroy Horcrux’. A consciously slow start builds on character and reference to moments of old which was always going to strongly evoke nostalgia: Harry going to Gringott’s for the first time; Harry choosing his wand for the first time. These are both referred to and then brutally merged into the same thought of the increasingly more likely chance that Harry Potter is going to breathe his last breath very soon. As John Hurt’s Ollivander points out, he doesn’t stand a chance.  It certainly feels this way. The Harry Potter films have always managed to unnerve and create levels of tension when most necessary – and only now can you reflect that this has been key to the film’s success. Ralph Fiennes’ Dark Lord is a truly fearsome foe. Okay, he may look kind of naff, but his maniacal expressions are enough to put the laziest person on the edge of their seat.

Characters seen, but not heard of late come to the fore in light of the oncoming war, and it is through these interactions where you realise just how much this series and its truly amazing characters means to you (an immortal line uttered early on by Professor McGonagall will have you aww'ing). The scope of the battle – all fans of the novels will be delighted to note – is fully realised and encapsulated to the most epic scale imaginable. Effects scintillatingly dazzle on-screen, sets close to people’s hearts are devastatingly destroyed in an instance, beloved characters are flippantly dispatched... It is through these moments where the decision to split the last book into two is fully justified; Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has more action than the entire series clumped together, but more heart too...

As the ending inevitably draws closer, cliché is unfortunately inescapable. Forced to embrace this, it is dealt with coolly (and funnily) and fits in as well as it can. The only other flaw that comes to mind is a later highlight on the action, meaning a classic moment from the novel involving Molly and Bellatrix is condensed into an underwhelming 20 seconds. In the grand scale of things (emphasis on grand), these niggles are irrelevant. The performance here drawn from the man himself Radcliffe is light years away from the awkward teeny-bopper who adorned our screens a decade ago, with Grint and Watson ever capable by his side. It is an honour to witness what fine performers they have evolved into: the curse of the child star is destined to end here (special mention also to Matthew Lewis and Evanna Lynch as the heroic Neville and kooky Luna; Tom Felton also proves there might just be life after Draco). As for the large remainder of true talent the films have always been keen to display, it would be a sin not to mention the superstar of the entire thing: Alan Rickman, who embodies Severus Snape as much as any actor could ever become their counterpart. A constant
underlying force throughout, Rickman provides yet another subtle powerhouse performance that packs one hell of a gut punch. Kudos.

Yes, Harry Potter is a British institute (grossing sales prove that it trounces Bond) – judging by this final push (and the applause at the end of my midnight screening), the box office sales and recognition has wholeheartedly been deserved. Moreover, not only does Deathly Hallows: Part 2 do JK Rowling’s concluding modern classic proud, but proves that a great, gargantuan, gripping Harry Potter film can be under 2 and a half hours; magic, it seems, must exist.

4/5

Cheers for it all, Mr Potter. It's been... wand-erful