Harry Potter pulls his wand out for the last time...

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2011)

I was right! The Harry Potter theme's pretty much non-existent at the beginning of this final film in the series (though we still float through the WB logo/film title). Unfortunately, we have to trudge through a recapping of where the previous film finished and some painfully slow exchanges with Olivander and a backstabby goblin. Yes, let's waste time on slow-talking/pointless moments of silence, movie (especially when you have the shortest runtime of the whole series)! Thankfully, things improve when Hermione assumes Bellatrix Lestrange's form so they can break into her vault. Wonderful Helena Bonham Carter doesn't get much to say/do in this film, but she makes up for it by perfectly capturing the facial expressions/demeanor of Hermione awkwardly pretending to be the complete opposite of herself. It's some nice humour in an otherwise pretty serious film.
There's a memorable scene involving a 'Gemino Curse', which causes anything that's touched to double. I felt sorry for the poor dragon that was trained by those nasty goblins to expect pain when it heard a certain sound, so I was happy to see Hermione not only rightfully call that out as 'barbaric', but also set it free, as the trio hitched a ride (and it paid back its tormentors with fire!). The trio eventually reunites with their fellow Gryffindors (an actual *fitting* time for the HP theme), looking for a Horcrux at Hogwarts, but don't know what it actually *is*/where it's located (there's a funny line acknowledging how little they have to go on). Kelly MacDonald's role as Helena Ravenclaw, a ghost who's less annoying than Moaning Myrtle (but still angry...and only vaguely helpful with finding the Horcrux), is small but important/memorable.
It's good to see Luna again (even losing her 'cool' at one point, raising her voice to Harry...not that he didn't deserve it), and apparently Neville has a thing for her. Luckily, Neville's grown more confident over the course of the films and not proves himself worthy of someone as cool as Luna, but also that he's as much a hero as Harry. Ron and Hermione finally express their true feelings for one another...using their tongues, while other characters are lucky to get a line here or there and simply stand around, saying nothing. At least McGonagall had some stand-out moments, both funny (remarking on a spell she's always wanted to use) and showing she means business (putting Slytherin House in its place...namely the dungeon, which felt a bit harsh, lumping an entire House together for the actions of some. Unless it's assumed everyone in Slytherin is a jerk. Seems a tad counterproductive to stick all the 'bad' ones together, doesn't it? This question could've been addressed at the very end of the movie with the discussion of the Sorting Hat's placement of students. Alas, we'll never know).
Draco, who I'd originally thought was going to be a bigger enemy to Harry than he ended up being, doesn't seem to have 'grown' much as a person, remaining his 'foul loathsome evil little cockroach' self (thanks for that description, Hermione...and for punching him in the face that one time) to the end. His best moment here is when Voldemort gives him the most awkward hug ever. While Narcissa plays an important part, in the end the Malfoys scurry away (as you'd expect). One wonders how students are even still getting sent to school considering what a hellhole the place is under Snape's control as Headmaster. We find out that this whole time he hasn't been quite what he seemed...but I still question WHY he had to be such a JERK (even if flashbacks revealing how much he cared for Harry's mother/how much he and Dumbledore knew about what would happen is intended to explain/excuse his behaviour). His ending is somewhat surprising and quite nasty, but the 'reveal' of his true allegiances will probably elicit more of a "Huh." reaction than anything else from non-book readers.
There're some mighty big battles (Slytherin's probably thanking McGonagall for sending them to the safety of the dungeon, since Hogwarts takes major damage. Goodbye, Quidditch pitch!), which are quite memorable and result in casualties on both sides. I was most sad to lose Bellatrix (HBC was SO awesome in the role and I found it disappointing/unsatisfying that she got taken out by...Ron's mum. At the very least it should've been Neville who did her in, considering what she did to his parents) Tonks (we hardly knew ye!) and Lavender (might be an unpopular opinion, but I found her entertaining at least). I guess I should've felt sadder about Fred Weasley dying, but didn't they learn anything from how little impact Mad-Eye's off-screen demise had in the last film? There's a point where Voldemort seems to have won and Harry has a spiritual meeting with Dumbledore (gross Voldemort fetus-looking thing alert!), but you *know* Harry will triumph. Harry/Voldemort's 'epic battle' amounts to little more than lightsaber clashing with wands (speaking of, Harry snapped the 'all-powerful' Elder Wand pretty easily).
When the films started, the actors chosen were somewhat awkward in their roles, but they've proven themselves to be the right choices. Radcliffe, Grint and Watson grew up onscreen with these characters and the most effective/emotional moments are with them together, especially at the end. Speaking of, we get an epilogue (that apparently some weren't fond of) where the actors are 'aged up', and I'm glad they did this. Having actors we'd never seen before to play the trio as parents in the final scene of the movie would've been the wrong move, in my opinion, as we would've felt no 'connection' with them. This was an epic movie series with more 'hits' than 'misses', that had so many great British actors/actresses assembled together (the likes of which we're unlikely to see again), and it's nice to get a proper conclusion to a teen movie franchise (when others aren't so lucky). So long, Harry, Ron and Hermione...thanks for the magical memories (and all the obvious 'wand' jokes you inspired).