Hexed, Vexed, and Perplexed

Rating: Null/10 (18 July 2011)

This film is recommended.
Good versus evil! You'll hear no spoiler from me in this review, although it doesn't take a rocket scientist or any wizard to guess the outcome in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. The gang's all back and more in the final thrilling installment of the HP series.
In the incomplete HP7: Part One, we left off with Harry, Ron, and Hermione still trying to gather the Horcruxes ( pieces of Lord Voldemort's soul ) to finally rid the world of this villainous predator and his black magic crew of crazies and Death Eaters. Sacrifices were made and lives taken in the ongoing struggle against evil domination. And HP7: Part Two wastes no time with any informational flashbacks or needed exposition to aid its audience to recall any history or plot. It's up to each and every moviegoer to do their homework and bring their own prior knowledge to the proceedings. Every Muggle for himself! ( It is here that I must confess that I had some difficulty with my lack of knowledge about some minor characters from other installments who now have major roles in this segment of J. K. Rowling's massive saga. Their importance and interrelationship with others seemed incongruous to the action on the screen before me, while other more interesting characters from earlier versions never materialized in this last chapter. I was in desperate need of a program, map, or CliffsNotes to guide me through the film's cast of thousands. )
This final film emphasizes action and special effects with very little narrative and character driven dialog. It's all about tying up loose ends and providing a jolly good conclusion for its loyal fan base. That the film was somewhat anti-climatic and a bit unsatisfying to me came as a surprise. Yes, all the beloved characters are there, even if it is only a cameo bit for some. All are armed with magical wands and potent potions, ready for battle, but the film's pace felt a bit rushed and on overdrive to me, with this part relying too much on special effects to counteract any real emotional connection for me. Still it's a minor quibble with all the lush production values, lavish sets, sound effects, marvelous CGI and make-up, and valuable assists from the cast members of this monumental series.
For the last ten years, the moviegoer could sit back and partake of an illustrious collection of talented British actors that have lived and prospered with enough serious British coinage and global fame from this film series. We watched these actors breathing new life into Rowling's multi-dimensional supporting characters and journeyed with them, caught in the complex genealogies of Harry and family and participating in their physical and emotional growth. Special praise must be given to the perfectly inspired casting of Daniel Radcliffe as our hero who has grown more as an actor than one would have expected. Radcliffe's likability and poise given to his role, along with the fine chemistry with his cohorts, Rupert Glint and Emma Watson, brought an added intensity to the films. The film's strong supporting cast, which includes Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, and the reliable Ralph Fiennes as the Dark Lord, are just some of the thespians who provided their own unique form of magic with their endearing eccentricities and subtle quirks that helped to make this series so successful.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 may satisfy many moviegoers and devotees of the books. However, for this ordinary Muggle, it was more of a technical triumph than a purely fulfilling movie-going experience. HP7: Part 2 is a fitting ending for a mammoth undertaking that has become an impressive part of cinematic history and epic filmmaking. One could easily admire the craftsmanship and dedication of all those involved with this worthwhile project rather than truly love the finished result. I, for one, was more bewildered than bothered and certainly not bewitched this time around. GRADE: B
NOTE: Visit my movie blog for more reviews: www.dearmoviegoer.com