A Film (and Book) Phenomenon Nears the End

Rating: 9/10 (2 January 2011)

The Harry Potter books and movies have been among the greatest and most successful franchises of all time--more successful, I dare say, than the New York Yankees whom people from other American League cities love to hate. This movie is the beginning of the end. Half of the final book. As I understand it, the other half is already in the can. With the story, the trio of young actors who have grown up in front of our eyes -- Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint -- will move or have already begun moving into the next stage of their careers, which we will follow with interest. It's likely, however, that they will never escape entirely from the penumbra of the Harry Potter series.
This particular chapter can be said either to drag in spots or to provide intervals of quiet between the violence that attends the pursuit of Harry Potter and his friends by Lord Voldemort and his minions. Although Radcliffe, Watson and Grint are undeniably the stars of this series, almost a generation of excellent British actors has employed in featured roles in various episodes of this series. Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter have meaty parts in this particular film, and since chewing the scenery is quite appropriate to the characters, Ms. Bonham Carter in particular comes very near chewing up an entire sound stage to splendid effect. Mr. Fiennes as the evilest of all the evil characters is successfully detestable, and Radcliffe, Ms. Watson and Grint are their usual brave selves under terrifying circumstances.
I'm not the age but I enjoyed the hell out it, something I cannot say for any other franchise film that I've had the misfortune of encountering.