Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Analysis/Review
Preface:
Re-watched it in blu-ray on a 4k TV.
Harry Potter fan.
The last movie of an eight movie series. Part 2 of the final installment of this epic adaptation. The final note of Harry Potter. The conclusion of the Harry Potter saga (well, of the films. Cursed Child throws that out the window.) Did it do this great series any justice? I think so.
Likes:
- Some of the CGI is beautiful. By some, I mean most of it. It has the quality to it that just fits with the series. The dome over Hogwarts, the spell magic, the Knight warriors…I loved it.
- There were some great shots. The scene of Remus and Tonks dead and their position was perfectly tragic. The shots with the burning Hogwarts in the battle as a background piece was also good.
- The Prince’s Tale was executed capably. Abstract in the best way of possible. Explained what happened without using much dialogue exposition. Good scene breaks that made the story flow. Rickman did the delivery of ‘Always’ perfectly.
- Snape’s death by Nagini was suitably brutal. So dark.
- Speaking of dark, it had a very, well, dark and mature tone to it that fit with the material but it wasn’t grim dark. It had the light to it that made it worth going on.
- Draco’s internal conflict, with the small parts he had, played well.
- Goblins and the heist sequence. The Dragon looked worn out yet vibrant when it went free. The goblin effects were extremely believable and they looked nearly the same as they were in the first movie. Consistency!
- The wearing down of the trio and their desperation was clearly felt. Good performances all around.
- Hermione pretending to Bellatrix polyjuice scene was perhaps one of the best polyjuice scenes in the entire series. The acting was great.
- The resurrection stone scene with Harry. The ghost effects looked great and the de-saturation played well with it.
- The afterlife scenes were about as I pictured them and were good on their own right.
- Some of the parts of the final duel between Harry and Voldemort I really liked. The robe-wraps and the slap was cool. I liked when they swirled around in the air and such.
Dislikes:
- So many Death Eaters/soldiers in the final battle! I was like, how did they get that many wizards? It felt so off seeing a few hundred guys there. The Wizarding population really has that many people willing to join the fight? I don’t know.
- The de-aging on Alan Rickman in some of the pensive memories was a bit off — his face looked unnatural.
- The Fiendfyre scene was good up until the flying, which was easily the choppiest special effects scene.
- I’d say Epilogue, but I despise the Epilogue in all forms. I watched it once and read it once. I can’t stand it. I have to put this somewhere, so I put it under dislikes. Because I dislike it. They should have eliminated it. Pretend it never happen. Because it did not.
- The Neville/Luna sub-sub-plot felt tossed in. I mean, it works, but it isn’t Epilogue canon nor book canon nor does it become of anything, so its a bit like why? It is funny in some aspects, don’t get me wrong, but it feels out of place.
- I feel like Harry and Voldemort needed a conversation before the big fight they had. The book’s version of the duel was basically a long conversation. It had its merits, but the movie had some sweet moments that also conveyed it. In an ideal world, a balance would have been obtained.
Conclusion:
It’s been a ride, for sure. Seven movies before it and it was tasked with final note of the legacy of its series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 does things right and wrong, as with all the movies. There were definitely places that could have been improved, knowing how it is in the novel, but the aesthetic adaptations are on point. It may not be perfect or a perfect end to the saga, but it was an end that was worthy.
I felt content after watching it.
Except for the Epilogue, but that can’t be helped.
