Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Review

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1 / Part 2

Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rubert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michael Gambon

Doby? Doby. Doby! “Yes Sir?” Let me give you a recently worn sock for your freedom. First, I ask only that you wash it with Tide, because I  flew around all day as black mass of energy, and they rank of something terrible. “Aye, Sir”.

Okay, so that never happened in any of the 8 films, but I needed some way of leading myself into this movie review, and what better way than product plugging. Now on with the show. I will be first to tell you, that I was never really sold on the Harry Potter bandwagon. Never read a single J.K Rowling book, and never uttered “Winguardian Leviosa” with a plastic wand from Walmart. When the first film came out it was interesting but appealed more to my younger brother’s age group (he’s 2 ½ years younger than me). After that, I didn’t stay too in tuned with rest of the following films as they were released. It wasn’t until 2007, when I started to catch up to more recent films. I saw Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, and The Goblet of Fire. Still, the dark and emotionally in depth complex that you would expect from a transitioning group of magic bound friends from children to adults wasn’t there (Besides the death of Robert Pattinson character at the end of the Triwizard Tournament.)

Then finally, came The Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2. Both films are focused around the idea that Harry Potter needs to find all of these Horcruxes. The Horcruxes are seven objects in which Lord Voldemort split his soul into. As long as the Horcruxes survive, so does Lord Voldemort. These last two movies, a split from the final book are emotional wrenching, and filled with moral dilemmas that leave Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and even Severus Snape at the crossroads. In the last movie we learn the motivation behind Snape’s betrayal on Dumbledore. Something that Harry never could of imagined. All I will say is that for the last 7 films I always believed Snape was a sleeping villain. Someone who constantly convinces us that  he is on the side that counts, but still holds this poker face that you can’t help but question every step of the way.

The last two movies bring about jealously, envy, and most of all coming to terms with death. Martyring yourself for the sake of the ones you love. Knowing that cards have been dealt in your favor long enough, and that its time to ante up. Let’s not forget after all of the awkward tension, we finally get to see Ron and Hermoine kiss after destroying one of the Horcruxes in the snake’s chamber. We also get to see Neville Long Bottom (Yes, the kid who used to get potions blown up in his face) ultimately saving Ron and Hermoine but decapitating Nagini (Voldemort’s snake and Horecrux). Through out the vicious attack that falls upon Hogwarts Castle that leaves it ruins, Harry manages to trick Voldemort (who is now mortal) into a duel in which Harry destroys Voldemort forever. Part 2 leaves a triumphant end to such a long running story, but also brings ends to some of the audiences favorite characters. I’d say that these last two movies were a whole different level for Harry Potter movies to come before.

For the first time, I was able to feel the character’s tears, joys, and losses as I watched their comfort world torn to ruin. The most heart wrenching scene was in Part 1 when you watch Hermoine put a spell on her parents to erase any memory of her from their lives. It was that scene alone that set the tone for the best two Harry Potter of the series. I won’t spoil too much more of the plot, but I’ll just say that I highly recommend ANYONE to see the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2.

7 out of 10 for Deathly Hallows: Part 1

8.5 out of 10 for Deathly Hallows: Part 2