HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOW - PART 2 -My Raw & Unofficial Review

I will just be sharing to you guys the raw and unofficial review I did way back July 17, 2011 when I happen to watch the end part of the spell-binding saga of HP.

A decade had ended and finally we’ve reached the end of what I now call "The Final Confrontation". Seven Rowling novels have been turned into eight films which take around 20 hours to see or maybe more in DVD versions. The phenomenon is infinitely greater. A generation of readers and filmgoers has grown up with the bespectacled, wand-waving wizard and savior of the world from Privet Drive. Such a brilliant ending the way J.K. Rowling presented it.

Before the influx of thousands of excited people queuing in the ticket-booths and die-hard fans dressed-up to mimic their favorite Harry Potter characters and carry on their fancy wands, a lot has been talked about regarding this phenomenal saga. Many say it was an epic masterpiece. A movie unparalleled by its contemporaries in fantasy flicks except or even LOTR. And I must say a class in its own era.

I was able to watch the full length movie in an online site shared by a friend earlier in the morning during my three-hour break. Being a big Harry Potter book fan myself, I was overjoyed to see it. The best word to describe the second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is epic. But even that is an understatement. I was blown away by the movie, and it was not even viewed in a gigantic and state-of-the-art & 3D-designed cinematic screen but only to the comfort of my own laptop. The final Potter film is a tour de force, with enough momentum that I think it will ride in victoriously during awards season. Hopefully, it might gain a citation or a nomination in the coming awards season.

I’m taking a moment now to form some more coherent thoughts on the film. Overall, the film is great. I felt the beginning was a bit rushed and choppy. But I think the choppiness was mostly due to it being watched in an online site only. Aside from the fact that the copy isn’t too clear and I suggest anyone to use a headset to capture a quality sound. When I saw the screening for Part 1 last July of 201o at SM City Sta. Rosa, Laguna with my nephews, I would say Part 2 was way more polished than the one I saw a year ago. Part 2 has 2-to-3 times more special effects than Part 1 had. As for it being rushed, it seemed like they wanted to get the trio to Hogwarts as soon as they can. Meaning that they had to change or leave out some plot details from the book. Normally, I’m okay with whatever changes they make, but one change sort of bothered me (see for yourselves when you finally watch the movie). Yet, it’s not significant enough to make me not like the movie.

In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort.

Deathly Hallows Part 2 is basically an action-packed, physically-draining sprint towards the inevitable finish line. When it does take the rare, extremely important detour, adrenaline is replaced by heartache.

There is a tentative attempt at the beginning of The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at clarification, when a goblin asks: "How did you come by the sword?", referring to the Excalibur-like weapon retrieved from the bottom of a lake in The Deathly Hallows: Part 1. "It's complicated," replies a desperately tired, unwashed Harry, who rapidly dispenses with anything that might be described as a synopsis of preceding events, leaving people who don't know their Horcruxes from their Dementors to muggle through.

When the trio get to Hogwarts, that’s when the movie settles into the right pacing. It’s really from that point when you start thinking “Wow. This is it.” There’s about 3-4 stages of the battle. If you’re familiar with the story, it’s very similar to the book. Minerva McGonagall really takes charge, and it was so exciting to see! Same goes to Neville (Matthew Lewis). Lewis always successfully delivers the both sincerity and courage to his portrayal of Neville, and you truly see it in this film.

Yet, without a doubt, Alan Rickman’s Snape is the performance of the movie and I must say the shining star-acting wise. He delivered fantastically brilliant. The Prince’s Tale (a.k.a . Snape’s memories) is the most powerful part of the story. And they completely nailed it in the movie. I was so impressed. It’s the heart of the movie. It’s at that point when it hits you about how magical this story is. Many can be rendered teary-eyed with it.

It doesn’t help that the scene following it is just as emotional. My second favorite scene of the movie is when he turns to the Resurrection Stone and is reunited with his dead love ones. It’s another powerful scene that will take your breath away and sting your eyes. Again, this is the true magic of the movie.

The deaths hit you just as hard as they did when you read them in the book. If there are still any questions about it, the movie is many ways is faithful to the book, using some of our favorite lines. The movie ends at the right place. It really does come full circle. It’s bittersweet and short. Still, I was satisfied with how it ended.

Whether you’ve been a fan of the books and movies for years, or only know Potter’s story from the silver screen, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 doesn’t disappoint. Non-fans might find it strange at times, but who cares? They shouldn’t have come to a seventh sequel in the first place. This movie is the close-enough-to-perfect cherry on top of a franchise that will be remembered for years to come. It’s ripe, beautiful, and you’ll be sad – but satisfied – when you’re done with it.

Many may differ in their insights and analysis about my raw review but that’s all for now so far. I will watch it again to re-polish my review and ends-up having a pro’s entry.

Enjoy your eyes ride guys. Have a nice read.