Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – Film Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 is an epic, emotional, though somewhat flawed cinematic finale to J.K. Rowling’s literary saga. It literally picks up where Part 1 left off and continues the narrative plunge into darkness and chaos before the inevitable resolution. If there’s a over-arching criticism of Part 2 is that it feels less personal, deliberate and intimate than its immediate predecessor. With so much to accomplish, it is almost an unfair to make such an assertion. But the uneven pacing and sometimes awkward editing are a direct result of the story’s chaos occasionally infecting the film itself.

Still, for what it’s worth, Part 2 provides a thrilling, ultimately satisfying conclusion.

The greatest asset of the film — indeed, its entire emotional center — is accomplished by framing the story with the character Snape. After the obligatory recap, his gaunt, inscrutable image is the first we see — accompanied by a new, haunting musical theme that literally symbolizes Snape’s motivations (knowing that the theme is named after Lilly Potter makes the cinematic moment all the more poignant). And one of the final lines of dialogue will recall and explicitly define his character. In between, much of what we see is a direct consequence of Snape’s actions. More than anyone else, he is the character with the greatest emotional arc in the film.

It’s also a testament to Alan Rickman’s nuanced acting that Snape is featured so prominently.

Still, this is Harry’s story. Daniel Radcliffe’s performance remains strong and compelling. In many ways, the young actor is tasked with carrying the film through its initial exposition, the various action set pieces, and the final, climactic emotional revelations and sacrifices. And he succeeds. The performance itself may not be award-winning, but it’s hard to find fault with the results. The same holds true for Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Ron and Hermione. The trio once again handles the spotlight with aplomb, even if the character moments are further and fewer between in this installment.

And, really, while the film does a deliberate and laudable job of keeping the narrative grounded in the characters’ emotions and conflicts, there’s just way too much spectacle for the characters to be truly center stage. On one level, this film feels a bit lacking … but on another, it benefits greatly from the character work accomplished in Part 1. The result is that, while the film is action-oriented, it still manages to hold on to enough of the emotional center to make the action matter as much to the audience as it does to the characters.

And if it’s action you want, Deathly Hallows, Part 2 does not disappoint. Whether it’s the Gringott’s Heist or the Battle of Hogwarts, there’s no lack for kinetic, riveting sequences. In fact, Hogwarts is featured in nearly half of the film — and the nearly-continuous assault is breathtaking in its scope and lethal consequences. There’s plenty of room for crowd-pleasing moments as well. McGonagall’s brief-but-intense duel with Snape was impressive. But it was merely an overture to much bigger and more meaningful moments.

And this leads to perhaps the biggest revelation of the cinematic adaptation of Rowling’s finale: We see, clearly, just how much the story has come full circle. Returning to Hogwarts as a final battleground is more than just a cool plot device. It makes sense visually, symbolically, and even from a character standpoint. After all, both Harry and Voldemort came of age and discovered themselves within the walls and battlements of Hogwarts. It makes perfect sense that their story end here as well — including the many references to previous installments like the Chamber of Secrets, and Dumbledore’s Army.

The film also provides an opportunity for a parade of cameos as nearly every character featured in the movie adaptations has at least one moment on-screen — from Professor Trelawney to Professor Slughorn to Seamus and Dean and Percy. In this respect, the film provides plenty of opportunities for nostalgia and closure.

This is, after all, a story about closure. For Harry and Voldemort, for Ron and Hermione, for Snape and everyone else. Some stories end abruptly and tragically — just ask the Weasley family — while others will end triumphantly and heroically (that Neville fellow seems to have grown up, hasn’t he?). But the final revelations about Harry’s purpose and destiny, engineered by Dumbledore’s plans and brought about by Snape’s actions, lead to an emotional climax that should move many a viewer close to tears.

It’s true that, over the course of seven books and eight films, there have been missteps and outright blunders in storytelling. But if anyone viewing the final film has managed to remain invested in both the story and the characters, it would be difficult not to connect with such moments as Molly’s fury, the tragedy of Lupin and Tonks, Snape’s life story, and Harry’s discovery that his loved ones have always been close to him — in his heart. Indeed, the scene immediately following Harry’s discovery of the Resurrection Stone is both touching and profound.

As far as aesthetics go, the film looks incredible. Despite the spectacle, David Yates really has a handle on a style which conveys the destructive and horrific consequences of war. There’s not much romanticism of conflict to be had here. The score, once again by Alexandre Desplat, manages to be both incredibly poignant and heart-pounding. Though, much like the film, the score isn’t quite as seamless and nuanced as its predecessor.

Overall Grade: B

Ultimately, that’s what makes the film so satisfying. There truly is an ending for all things. And while we know that, ultimately, good will triumph over evil, it’s the details, the journey to the conclusion, that matter most. Despite some flaws, Deathly Hallows is a journey worth taking. Particularly if you’ve already been along for the ride. The film is a ride in and of itself. Enjoy it. Because Harry Potter has come to an end.

Just don’t ask about the epilogue. Aside from Harry’s comments about Snape, the less said, the better.

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