Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
With Wit, Reviewed By Kimmo Mustonenen
With “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”, Harry Potter moves into the final battle.
Really the very last.
Sad people everywhere.
For Harry Potter fans, the “Harry Potter” movies are as a kind of Horcruxes – those in which the arch-enemy Voldemort small pieces swapped of his soul and has spread to delay his death (if you say “what?” read the dang books already).
In particular, since the last book appeared in 2007, the disciples of each film have a small piece of the Potter fortune invested, and a director would have to make very many mistakes to screw up the brains of the masses into a revolt which would turn into a hatred of young Harry and his movie. It is a bulletproof film yet still delivers like a train to the heart.
Especially Hermione. Cannot forget her (yowza!).
David Yates, who is responsible for all films since the fifth volume, has done nothing wrong! And that is so right!
The second part of “Deathly Hallows” is a seamless continuation of the first one with Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) – with the house-elf Dobby the helpful on the beach – and seems at this beach now, very briefly, the sun (this is complicated business).
Then it is dark again, and Harry is alone again. Naturally.
Again, what could be said from the first part of “Deathly Hallows”: Yates has not illustrated the book, but a mood – a mood of farewell and goodbye.
This is not the romantic, but barren volcanic landscapes, almost surreal in its vastness and desolation, as though Harry Potter’s soul Salvador Dalí carted out and cast in stone.
One would hardly have thought it possible, but “Deathly Hallows 2” is even darker – a more solitary Harry.
The first part staged the “us-versus-the-rest-of-world” friendly celebration of Harry, Ron and Hermione; the second now the “I-need-act-alone” by Potter.
And alone acting is cool.
Daniel Radcliffe plays his last days surrounded by magnificent scenery as a harried warrior who out of sheer guilt (there had been enough to die for Harry Potter – but who wouldn’t?) accept more aid and the fight against the Dark Lord finally wants to put behind him.
Since there is no heroic martyr, Harry, as a reluctant hero rushes into battle, as if he were going through the stations of a sadistic treasure hunt, to destroy Voldemort along with his Horcruxes and find the three “Deathly Hallows”.
These tasks must be ticked off as soon as possible so that Potter, finally (whew!), has his rest.
And if it is the eternal – no matter.
Which does not mean there is no action spectacle awaiting viewers: Some people speculated on the quiet first part that the director had abolished all the effects for the final.
Wrong, buster!
Yates is interested in still more for characters than for dramatic showdowns. The villains implode rather incidentally – the grandeur of Hogwarts castle turns into a refugee camp.
Crazy.
What an ending!
SPOILER ALERT!
The much-criticized epilogue to make us go “19 years later” wasn’t as much suck as you would thought at first glance (again, you perplexed? Read the dang book!).
Daniel Radcliffe and one that was made earlier with the help of ‘digital 19 years later’ and now looks like Marty McFly, but not so much older than 17.
No, we do not want to keep Harry Potter in memory. No, we want a Harry Potter heart.
At least there will be no more “is your Potter Hairy?” jokes. And God is thanked for that!
Two vigorously wagging thumbs.
This the end that really ends things. Take that “Lost”.
Kimmo Mustonenen (Kimmo On Kino) – Behind The Proscenium
Crappy review… there’s no detail about what was good and what was bad, but of course the creep has to make a comment about Watson being attractive, which is shallow at best, and has nothing to do with the film, as if her looks somehow makes the movie good or bad. Just the structure of the “review” looks like something you’d find on a 15-year-old’s livejournal.
This is not true. My review is awesome.
Okay, that was a pretty funny response. Awesome rules.
I agree. His review is awesome! What’s wrong with you? Two thumbs up on Kimmo’s review and his funny response.
It’s a review I shall treasure. Thank you, Kimmo.
English is CLEARLY not this fellow’s first language. Cut him some slack.
It’s going to be an emotional one. I can’t wait to see it tomorrow night with my daughter. She grew up on the books and movies.
I never read the books, never saw the movies. I just might see this movie to see what all the fuss is about. It will most likely become the biggest grossing 3 day opening ever $160+ million. Beating The Dark Knight. And will probably stay the biggest until The Dark Knight Rises opens next year.
I saw a report that has it tracking at $150M for the 3 days which would not be a record. Batman fans would rejoice. I think it will break the record.
Well from where i was at there was 8 viewings of the movie tonight and there was zero parking. There were cars parked across the street, all up and down it, in the shopping centers a mile down and so fourth. The movie was a HUGE thing here. The movie was great, didn’t follow the book all that well but great none the less.
The reviews are great! I cannot wait! Unfortunately my tickets aren’t until 10pm until Saturday.
Thanks for the review. I understood most of it. Your English is getting much better. Next time put more plot points and what you liked about it in your reviews. Your Hangover 2 review was one of the best I have ever read.
there is no way to end these movies. I guess its the best we can hope for. it’s like Star Wars with the horrible Ewok song. What else are you suppose to do?
You’re right Kimmo. The Lost ending sucked.
Why is there an extra “en” at the end of your name? Why can’t you write in proper English? If you grew up in Finland you should be able to write English better than any American. Something is weird here.
You haven’t made me want to see Harry Potter but every other review has so I can’t wait to see it.
Once Ellis Island gets a hold of your name, they sometimes add some weird stuff. I say SEE HARRY POTTER. I don’t know how I didn’t make it clear enough. Two thumbs up!
Ellis Island?
The Ellis Island reference is to New York and the Statue of Liberty. Many people who came to the US found their original surnames botched up by the officials on Ellis Island. They are notorious for having shortened, lengthened, and completely changed the spelling of many of the new arrival’s last names.
Thanks for the review, Kimmo!
Looks good. I imagine I’ll be taking my kids to it.
Thanks, Kimmo. Marty McFly reference. I don’t know what it means but it made me laugh.
After the show, as we were walking back to the car, my daughter Grace said, “I feel sad.” Me too.
It feels similar to how I felt at the end of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (don’t get me started on the parallels).
My other daughter, Isabel snarkily relpied,”19 years weren’t kind to Ginny.” True, Isabel, 19 years of hard wizard living does take its toll on a girl.
I am so happy we went out at midnight, and came home at 3:00am, such a fun way to spend an early morning; seeing off old friends.
When I say, “Harry”, you say,”Potter”!
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