Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (12A)

Director: David Yates

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emily Watson

It is impossible to review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt.2 (from now, HP7b) simply as an isolated film. Anyone who has spent the last ten years in the company of Harry and friends, will have expectations raised inordinately high for a satisfying conclusion to the epic cinematic journey. Thankfully, for all concerned, HP7b is thrilling, dynamic and thoroughly engaging, easily becoming the high water mark of the series, bolstered by the extra sense of occasion afforded by that which has gone before.

Most notably, the sense of scale, which was lacking in previous adventures, is finally apparent. It has always been a frustration that the rise of Lord Voldemort over the last few films seemed to be rather too easy. Where, for example, was the equivalent of the Riders of Rohan streaming over the horizon to the defence of the Citadel of Hogwarts? The world of Harry Potter felt a little too small.

Here, however, the series finally spills over into the epic. Thousands of Voldemort’s followers descend on Hogwarts in fury, as the remaining magical community make their last stand. Meanwhile, the intimate story of the central three teenage friends, always a strength of the series, is woven artfully into the grander scale, as Harry, Hermoine and Ron attempt to destroy the last of Voldemort’s soul-containing Horcruxes (yes, you really do need to have kept up) in order to finally destroy the One Who Cannot Be Named (or the One Who Is Now Inconsistently Named).

After the lacklustre pace of The Deathly Hallows Part One, all of magical hell is unleashed here in spectacular fashion, with copious amounts of death and destruction of school property. However, while the action and digital effects are well above the standard previously on display, the real joy is found in some of the great British thesps demonstrating their full acting chops. Ralph Fiennes is finally given room to revel in his full maniacal malevolence, Professor McGonagall’s (Maggie Smith) icy exterior breaks wonderfully, and Alan Rickman’s Snape, a long-standing gem of the franchise, is given the most emotionally impactful moment of them all.

There are definite flaws. The Epilogue, which in the book served as a pleasant coda, on film is unintentionally amusing and totally unnecessary, grating against the grain of the tone previously established. There are also some fairly dodgy face-editing techniques employed, and some of the more significant emotional moments feel a tad hurried. However, when all is done, this is a marvellous send-off for the boy wizard, a fitting conclusion to one of the most successful franchises of all time.

Rated: 4/5