Rather disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (15 July 2011)

I had really high expectations for Part 2 based on the plot JKR had written brilliantly and the trailers that seemed really amazing. The film in general wasn't bad at all... but there were certain things that made my disappointment inevitable.
However, let's start with the good stuff: - The visual & sound effects: I think that the visual effects (including the effects at the battle, the dragon, etc.) and the background music worked very well and gave the film a great touch. - Snape's tale: One of the rare parts of the film I really really liked. Sure, they left some things out (which was to be expected) but the overall scene and especially the performance by Alan Rickman was exceptional and touching. - Gringotts: A nicely done scene (speaking in general) and a great performance by Helena B. Carter. The flight with the dragon was short but nicely done and accompanied by some fine music. However I also have some complaints about it as well. - The scenery: I especially liked Gringotts and King's cross. - The epilogue: I think it was quite acceptable and the actors were well artificially aged. (Except for Emma but hey... how can you make miss beauty herself older?:D)
The disappointments (uh, where to start?) - It is more than obvious that Yates isn't really good when it comes to action scenes. (even if he is still my favorite hp director -or... was?) For starters at Gringotts, everything is too passive (they are detected but still get to the vault unharmed and climb on a dragon's back without getting hit by a curse.) That makes me question whether Gringotts is really that impossible to break in&out according to Yates? - Since when does pollyjuice potion not change your voice into the voice of the person you changed into?? If that was true, how could have B. Crouch Jr. pretended he was Moody for a whole year? Explain that producers/director! - They left out the entire Dumbledore's story? OK it may have been a 'sacrifice' but hey... I can't accept that. - Reemus&Tonks have a son? Well I wouldn't have known that for sure if I hadn't read the book. A stupid mistake... they shouldn't have brought it up if they weren't planning any explanation, then :/ - The death of Fred and the arrival of Percy... I got a feeling: 'it happened, let's go on with our lives.' - Voldemort's death... Not epic at all!! Probably the biggest disappointment. The end of the film should have been a blast not a by-the-way-scene. Not to mention his 'blasting into confetti' (as well as Bellatrix & Nagini) which was so not like the book. - NOT TO MENTION the scene after Voldemort's death. Harry comes into the great hall with a cup of tea, people talking like they are in a bar, no one notices anything, no joy, no emotion... all you hear is Slughorn's story how he once lost his wand and see Filch sweeping the ruins. - Which reminds me! The wannabe 'funny scenes' for example Filch, Ron saying: 'harry talks in his sleep...' (sooo not like in the book), Neville shouting: 'yeah, you and whose army?' (that phrase is soooo old! -.-) etc... may be an addition to the film but really didn't fit in. Everyone was in life threatening situation... why would they say something like that? It broke the tension and I didn't like that. - Harry snapping the Elder wand and not mending his own... Really? Is that the solution to make a scene that would last 2 minutes only 30seconds long?
Overall... I think the film wasn't epic enough. As a Harry Potter fan I expected this film to be an emotional blast... a film that would make your jaws fall to the floor and not sleep for two days. I expected a 'boom' at the end, I would have accepted a cheesy applause accompanied by a strong song when Harry victoriously returns after defeating Voldemort for starters! But nothing... it left me cold and disappointed. It was unable to capture the 'epicness' of the book on so many levels(except for Snape's tale). In my opinion, the franchise should have ended with a bigger emotional blast so that people would never forget it. Of course I will never forget it... but I will remember the books rather than the films.