Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 Review

I was disappointed by no "The End" title card....

Harry Potter is over now, both in book and film. And damn, did it go out with one hell of a bang. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, the final installment of an 8-film franchise, is not only the best of them all, it is also the best film thus far in 2011. It capitalizes on the better half of the second half of the book, and what may be more surprising than anything is how much it gets right. The Gringotts break-in, the confrontation with Aberforth (though Dumbledore's past was only touched upon, as opposed to being a central theme), The Battle of Hogwarts itself, and Snape's demise were all handled well, if a little less than perfectly faithful to the books. Once you get to Snape's story, however, the film zooms into overdrive, and delivers a more thrilling climax than anyone could have imagined. David Yates, who I've long criticized for altering the books too much, actually improves upon the original material here. The final action-packed duel between Harry and Voldemort did not feel as hollow as it did in the book, with a fight spanning across all of Hogwarts going on simultaneously with Ron and Hermione attempting to destroy the final remaining Horcrux. As for the acting, most actors gave their best here. Ralph Fiennes was outstanding as Voldemort, as you could tell he was having a lot of fun with the role. They let the Heir of Slytherin out of the cage here, as he feels far more direct and menacing than in previous installments. Alan Rickman, in his few precious scenes, gets to show far more range as Snape here than ever in the previous movies. And Daniel Radcliffe finally comes into his own. If these films (please God no) ever get remade, it will be virtually impossible to find a new Harry, as Radcliffe is indelibly Potter, whether he likes it or not. Emma Watson continues to be the strong link as Hermione, while Rupert Grint does a far better job this time. Most other cast members (including Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, and others) get their last moments, particularly Julie Walters as Mrs. Weasley (THANK YOU YATES FOR NOT CUTTING THAT LINE), and the effects and bleak cinematography outrank any in previous films. Up to this point, I championed Alfonso Cuarón's Prisoner of Azkaban as the best film in the series, and I would still argue that it is a far more ambitious achievement than all the other films. Until this one. While Cuarón's film maximized the possibilities from the book, Part 2 exceeds the book at times. While some parts get the short shrift, this is Yates' most faithful film in the series. Part 2 should be rightfully remembered as one of the best fantasy films of all time, right up there with The Lord of the Rings, and if you're a true fan of the series, your eyes will well up as the perfectly adapted haunting epilogue takes center stage. The return of the John Williams score in that final scene, combined with the callbacks to the beginning of the series, nearly got me, a stone-face when it comes to movies, to very nearly shed a tear. Part 2 is the best film of 2011 thus far, and gives the strong but uneven franchise the perfect ending. Goodbye, Harry, you will be missed.

Ah, the old familiar places.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 -  5/5 stars