The fitting end to the Potter trilogy.

Rating: 8/10 (21 July 2014)

Based on the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, this is the second film of two parts and the final film overall of the Harry Potter trilogy, where Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their mission of finding and destroying the remaining Horcruxes in order to defeat Lord Voldemort. However, after Voldemort is on to the wizards' plan, it leads to the ultimate battle between the wizards and the Deatheaters.
After a lackluster Part I movie, the imagination, magic, adventure and drama returned in full force in this final film. Director David Yates and the team of writers and special effects people gave an intriguing and action-packed movie with non-stop thrills and suspense; I particularly liked the tense atmosphere of Hogswart during Professor Snape's takeover, all the students being on their guard under Voldemort's dictating eye, a pursued Harry sneaking into the castle with Ron, Hermione and Neville Longbottom to infiltrate Voldemort's gang and the battle between Snape and Professor McGonagall. These scenes all remind you that the once spirited, magical and prosperous Hogswart and the surrounding wizard world have come to a dramatic halt, and only a suspenseful war between good and evil can determine the future of the city of Hogsmeade. And, the destruction of the Quidditch field during the Deatheaters' attack also symbolized an assault on the prosperity of Hogsmeade, contributing to the overall feel of a final movie. In addition, the acting was spot-on, most notably the believable and dramatic performances of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes and Michael Gambon.
In addition to the action, the scenes bridging the past and the present is a great balance of drama and spectacle that leaves unanswered questions solved and everything coming full circle in the trilogy regarding Potter's life.
***spoiler ahead*** While definitely one of the better Potter movies, I wished some of the final scenes weren't deleted from the initial theatrical and DVD release, like scenes showing Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall battling the Deatheaters, and wished the battle scene between Molly Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange was made longer and more dramatic. I also would have liked to see more one-on-one battles between the good wizards and the Deatheaters rather than focusing mostly on the Potter vs. Voldemort and Weasley vs. Bellatrix scenes. However, it is an exciting and riveting final battle nonetheless and one of the final scenes that show a camera pan of all the surviving students and professors was a nice and conclusive touch. ***spoiler ends***
Overall, this is one of the most tense and thrilling Potter movies that definitely ends the series on a high note.
Grade B