Harry Potter review. The seven Harry Potter books have delivered eight film productions over a period of 11 years. Initially, it was just a lively book aimed at adolescent readers about a boy-wizard learning to use his magical powers.
The book became an international best-seller and that feat of commercial magic caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Soon the best-selling book was followed by a blockbuster film, and a screen legend was born.
Since then, vast sums of money have been poured into the production of this series, but even greater cash rewards have poured back into the studio's coffers and into JK Rowling's personal account. Harry Potter became a unique pop-culture phenomenon, but also a monetary miracle for all concerned.
Now we have come to end of the line. The first Deathly Hallows came out last year, and to be honest, I did not care much for the film. There was a lot of action and drama, but it felt stretched and unsatisfactory, as if they were holding back the big finale for the second part of the film. Having now seen the second film, it was obviously a clever commercial ploy. They had only one story to tell, but they broke it into two separate films, confident that they would double their box-office takings. That's Hollywood accounting at its smartest.
The good news is that the emotion, suspense and action that was lacking in the first Deathly Hallows film has been trebled in this second. Harry, his friends and his enemies sweep the drama to the brink of chaos and provide exactly the ending the series deserves.
The finale of this magical saga is laden with amazing CGI effects and excellent performances. Director David Yates draws all the story lines together with clarity and high style, and even though the film runs for more than two hours, you hardly notice it.
One gets caught up in it on two levels. The immediately obvious events are fascinating, with huge battles staged on an epic scale and Yates shoots them with great power and speed, but he is careful to stay within the emotional and personal challenges of the characters.
The relationship between Hermione and Ron seems palpably real and is unexpectedly charming. I also loved the way that some of the older performers, such as Maggie Smith and Julie Walters, surge into battle. Yates gives these women an opportunity to show their acting mettle. When Walters takes on Helena-Bonham Carter, who plays the malicious Bellatrix Lestrange, it shifts from a duel into a major fight.
Smith's eloquent eyes bring the fear and passion of the situation to life; we get a glimpse of Emma Thompson as Sybil Trelawney, and there are poignant cameos from John Hurt and Gary Oldman. It cleverly reminds the audience of how many characters and events from the previous films have lent texture and substance to the current drama.
The screenplay by Steve Kloves shows the audience just how complex and interwoven the stories are when they finally come together in the ultimate, enormous battle between good and evil.
There's a vast amount going on in the film, especially between Harry and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). For them, this is a duel to the death and Harry must, after having spoken to his long-dead parents and the more recently lost Dumbledore, gather strength to confront Voldemort in a dazzling duel.
It is superbly done and exciting to watch, but underlying the action are the issues of courage, faith and commitment that run through the whole saga. It's not just an adventure spectacle. It's a rite of passage from boy to man - for Harry and all his friends.
The film ends on an elegant note. Some years later, the main characters - Harry, Hermione and Ron - are on the station platform waiting for the train to Hogwarts. They have brought their own children to send them off to Hogwarts. It's a happy scene, except that Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is also on the station with his children.
Do we smell a sequel? I hope not.
The Harry Potter saga is an amazing fantasy drama, complete in itself and I hope that neither the movie company nor JK Rowling make the mistake of trying to start meddling with it in future years.
Source: timeslive
