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My take on 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2'
14 years ago
I did a lil review on part 1 some time ago so it only makes sense to follow it up ^^ you might not be interested in reading my views but I like to do this once in a while.
To prepare myself for the final film, I watched all previous 7 movies to remind myself of the details - I could remember 1-4 reasonably well but 5 onwards the details went foggy. Im glad I did that also because it reminded me why I enjoyed watching the films. Reading the books is fantastic, visualising and painting the pictures in your mind certainly is magical with a series as successful as Harry Potter, but able to physically watch it (in 3D no less, though not essential) is quite special.
Ive always admired just how well the producers and directors are able to adapt a book into a film with such excellent detail and so consistantly, and they did it again with HP 7-2. CGI have improved over the years so that certainly helped with the spells and the apparations, but the scenary and the general acting is never boring. Of course credit goes to JK Rowling for making the events so captivating but kudos to the actors for playing the roles well and giving the book justice.
HP and the Deathly Hallows definately has the most detail than any other book. I can remember reading it and I was more confused than I was reading the other books, which is why I'm glad they split it into 2 films. It allowed for more detail to be told rather than skipping and racing through them. Both parts 1 and 2 successfully conveyed the story that needed to be told in adequate detail, perhaps lingering inside Hogwarts a little too long trying to find the Diadem and Nagini, but the likes inside Gringotts and in particular the epilogue 19 years later were very good. I was very impressed how Radcliffe transitioned from the teenage wizard to proud father.
Now for the bad points. I realise book adaptations will never satisfy everyones tastes and they will have to skip details out to be able to make the film, but I was sadly slightly disappointed with the final instalment. It began well, splicing out what didnt necessarily need to be told and editing certain details to fit the film better, but the final battle between Voldemort and Harry was a bit of a let down. Not to say it was bad, it was still awesome to watch but it wasnt like the book at all. Harry was supposed to have explained why the Elder Wand wouldnt help Voldemort and the battle should have taken place in front of everyone, yet the explaination was told AFTER the fight, and the battle took place in the courtyard with no witnesses. After the battle, everyones reactions were pretty poor too. There should have been a thunderous rawr or celebration at the death of the dark lord... yet there was barely a hug and a smile from anyone! Also the killing of Nagini was wrong. It should have been quick and simple like in the book, but it was drawn out and made too complicated. Lastly, one detail I thought was left out that should have been kept in was the repairing of Harry's original wand, yet it was completely left out. That wand meant a lot to Harry as it chose him 7 years ago, yet it was omitted which I think is a shame.
Now let's finish on the good points! Dame Maggie Smith, OMG! All the way through the films I always fealt that her role was sidelined somewhat but she definately shined in the final movie. Her small duel driving off Snape and bolstering Hogwarts' morale and defences for the upcoming battle. It was so nice to see her role truly come to life the way it should have done ages ago. And Alan Rickman, wow. Snape had to be the trump card in the whole series, being the secret protector of Harry and his secret revealed upon his death. Ive always loved how Rickman portrays the cold professor and I think it did him and his character justice how his memories were played out in the pencieve. And finally Molly Weasley. True to the end: NEVER cross her family for she will smite you as Bellatrix Lestrange found out. Their little fight together was masterful and wonderful to see Molly's character spring to life like that from a normally docile caring mother. Speaking of Lestrange I've always like how her character was portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter.
Overal it was definately worth seeing albeit the ending was lower than my expectations. Id say 8.5 out of 10. A very good way to finish of the series of magical films.
To prepare myself for the final film, I watched all previous 7 movies to remind myself of the details - I could remember 1-4 reasonably well but 5 onwards the details went foggy. Im glad I did that also because it reminded me why I enjoyed watching the films. Reading the books is fantastic, visualising and painting the pictures in your mind certainly is magical with a series as successful as Harry Potter, but able to physically watch it (in 3D no less, though not essential) is quite special.
Ive always admired just how well the producers and directors are able to adapt a book into a film with such excellent detail and so consistantly, and they did it again with HP 7-2. CGI have improved over the years so that certainly helped with the spells and the apparations, but the scenary and the general acting is never boring. Of course credit goes to JK Rowling for making the events so captivating but kudos to the actors for playing the roles well and giving the book justice.
HP and the Deathly Hallows definately has the most detail than any other book. I can remember reading it and I was more confused than I was reading the other books, which is why I'm glad they split it into 2 films. It allowed for more detail to be told rather than skipping and racing through them. Both parts 1 and 2 successfully conveyed the story that needed to be told in adequate detail, perhaps lingering inside Hogwarts a little too long trying to find the Diadem and Nagini, but the likes inside Gringotts and in particular the epilogue 19 years later were very good. I was very impressed how Radcliffe transitioned from the teenage wizard to proud father.
Now for the bad points. I realise book adaptations will never satisfy everyones tastes and they will have to skip details out to be able to make the film, but I was sadly slightly disappointed with the final instalment. It began well, splicing out what didnt necessarily need to be told and editing certain details to fit the film better, but the final battle between Voldemort and Harry was a bit of a let down. Not to say it was bad, it was still awesome to watch but it wasnt like the book at all. Harry was supposed to have explained why the Elder Wand wouldnt help Voldemort and the battle should have taken place in front of everyone, yet the explaination was told AFTER the fight, and the battle took place in the courtyard with no witnesses. After the battle, everyones reactions were pretty poor too. There should have been a thunderous rawr or celebration at the death of the dark lord... yet there was barely a hug and a smile from anyone! Also the killing of Nagini was wrong. It should have been quick and simple like in the book, but it was drawn out and made too complicated. Lastly, one detail I thought was left out that should have been kept in was the repairing of Harry's original wand, yet it was completely left out. That wand meant a lot to Harry as it chose him 7 years ago, yet it was omitted which I think is a shame.
Now let's finish on the good points! Dame Maggie Smith, OMG! All the way through the films I always fealt that her role was sidelined somewhat but she definately shined in the final movie. Her small duel driving off Snape and bolstering Hogwarts' morale and defences for the upcoming battle. It was so nice to see her role truly come to life the way it should have done ages ago. And Alan Rickman, wow. Snape had to be the trump card in the whole series, being the secret protector of Harry and his secret revealed upon his death. Ive always loved how Rickman portrays the cold professor and I think it did him and his character justice how his memories were played out in the pencieve. And finally Molly Weasley. True to the end: NEVER cross her family for she will smite you as Bellatrix Lestrange found out. Their little fight together was masterful and wonderful to see Molly's character spring to life like that from a normally docile caring mother. Speaking of Lestrange I've always like how her character was portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter.
Overal it was definately worth seeing albeit the ending was lower than my expectations. Id say 8.5 out of 10. A very good way to finish of the series of magical films.
I also quite enjoyed belliatrix's character, the actor seems to have off kilter/insane down to a fine art.
I dont think many people really liked the random 17 years later crap at the end, it just feels so.. Tacked on and pointless.
And yeah was awesome to finally see snapes character fully explained. :3
Jeez, tell a girl if you're about to explain the big in the entire series!
I kid, of course I've seen it already . And I agree with your criticisms, the whole point was Harry was supposed to finally actually duel Voldemort in front of everyone. Instead they just fell back on the Ep4 laser battle card (beams of color between each wand? looks cool sure but is NOT a duel; although the wand closeup was pretty neat)
I think the emphasis was placed entirely on the wrong aspects. And I came away feeling like they should have made it a single film. I saw part 1 and thought "Excellent, the second part will pretty much just be 'The Battle' but instead it almost seemed to skim over the battle. I was expecting a huge buildup with all the teachers making loads of defences and dozens of magic spells and traps and all sorts, instead they put up a single shield, and the few battles they did focus on only lasted a few seconds. And the wand thing, in the book you understand why he snaps the Elder Wand and fixes his own instead. but if I hadn't read the book I'd have thought he was stupid, and as is the only thought in my mind was "Prat, a museum would have loved that!". Mind you, I did like the non-explosive end to the most powerful wand in existence, makes a nice contrast to Voldy's magic
Oh, and Neville's one big role? his killing of Nagini? petered out into a speech, instead he kills Nagini and you practically don't even see him, the focus is entirely on Ron and Hermione
Overall personally? I'm glad there isn't an eigth book now, because 7.2 almost tipped into 'flash over story' and I think only the popularity of the books prevented Mr Director going entirely to big flashy CGI over the story
P.S...was I the only one who HATED the 'epilogue'? with a vengence? it adds NOTHING to the story! just...bleh