It all ends...

Rating: 10/10 (16 July 2011)

...and ends with a bang. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a near-perfect movie, with jaw-dropping visual effects, spectacular acting showcase by veteran British actors, grand production design and an emotional end.
The film starts out where the Part One ended - Voldemort now possess the Elder's Wand, Harry and his company set out for a mission to destroy all the remaining horcruxes. The first outstanding set piece in the film is the breakout at the Gringott's Bank and a bumpy ride on a enormous Dragon (very, very well made CGI).
The film will make most of the fans happy and a wee bit emotional as well. The film has certainly the most critically acclaimed film of the year, and sure the film will break many box office records.
Daniel Radcliffe is pretty decent as Harry (as always), Hermione and Ron don't have much to do except for supporting Harry. But the Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman stole the show - Ralph's vulnerable Voldemort is highly affecting - specially his hisses and heavy dialogs - are perfectly delivered. Rickman, although with even a with a screen time of some 10-15 minutes, gives a performance of his career. Among the others, Maggie Smith is awesome as McGonagall, Julie Walters finally gets a kick ass moment and Helena Bonham Carter, is just outstanding in the early scene where she plays Hermione.
The film is not flawless - specially after King's Cross scene onwards, the film feels a little rushed. The whole Elder Wand theory is not properly explained. And the final showdown feels a but anti-climatic.
But still, it is one of those rare films in which you have to over look the flaws - after all it is the end of a generation. Director David Yates, screenwriter Steve Kloves, production designer Stuart Craig, cinematographer Eduardo Serra, composer Alexandre Desplat and hundreds of other technicians gave the fans most fitting finale.
3D is a bit dim (as always), but not very bad. Still, there are some standout scenes in 3D - watch it in both 3D and 2D if you can.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 marks the end of an amazing era. I wished Jo wrote another novel.
10/10