A Fast-Paced End to Harry Potter's Exciting Battle

Rating: 8/10 (15 July 2011)

'It all ends'. The magical adventure of a young famous wizard known as Harry Potter on the big screen for over a decade has come to a conclusion . I did not read the books and so I judged the movie as an usual audience. The first part of the 'Deathly Hallows' had been released last year,and I find that the film concentrated more on character's development and getting us to warm up before the exciting final battle from this Part 2. Harry Potter and his two best friends continued to find and destroy the remaining horcruxes before finally dealing with Lord Voldemort.
I felt disappointed on the flow of the story. As the story in Part 1 flows in a steady manner with ample of time for Harry Potter to find the horcruxes and deal with his friends, everything gets too rushed in Part 2. Everything is squeezed into the final film which is taking only two hours. I think around 30 minutes should be added for additional depth given to certain parts of the story as stressed from the book as far as I knew from the book readers. I find myself confused for a moment where the true story behind the character of Professor Snape is revealed after he died. That part is explained too fast, and it is hard for people like us to get to understand it.
Professor Snape is my most favourite character in Harry Potter's films, and I think same goes to many others too. He is actually a very complicated character with not much to reveal on him, not until after so many chapters. He is indeed a good character as I have predicted from even the first film itself. In many ways, he is actually helping Harry Potter on the other side, unseen by others. Alan Rickman, portraying as the character of Snape did a fantastic job all over the eight films. More time should be given in justice for Snape whom is one of the main characters especially at the moment everything of his complicated history is shown after he died.
The battle at Hogwarts had taken almost half of the film and I'm glad for that. This is the main portion of the film that gets people excited and even emotional. The staffs, the members of the Order of the Phoenix and even some students are finally shown to be using their powers in defending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I like the part where Professor McGonagall is taking control back of the school from Snape with her magical abilities and acting as head in defense of the school. She is given very minor role in all the other films, except the first one and this final one.
Yes, the film succeeded in bringing the audiences into an exciting fast- paced ride through Gringotts with the goblins and dragon, through Hogwarts with all the battle with Death Eaters, and through final battle between Harry and Voldemort. Whenever a scene comes and goes, I am then saying 'What? That part is gone? A bit wasted, isn't it. That particular scene can be described even more, isn't it, for a better film with great story flow?'. And so, I find this film still lacks something, some important details which should be shown. (I don't mean the very much details from the book). Anyway, I still think this is considerably fine.
The acting performances by the casts, especially the main ones are getting improving after so many years dealing with their imagination in wizard world, especially Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter himself. I like the moment when he stood out and talking with Severus Snape in anger. And finally, the pair, Hermione and Ron started their love relationship and shared their first kiss in a tough time, while Ginny is still in love with Harryand it is very satisfying that their relationships are just shown in a quick manner which is sufficient enough.
The epilogue; 19 years later may be necessary for Harry Potter, but it is created in a way too simple and ordinary in ending the film. It would be very emotional and great if a moment where the turning-old Harry is flashing back on his childhood memories full of great obstacles while looking at his children boarding the train to Hogwarts at the 9 3/4 platform of King's Cross Station, which is invisible to muggles like us. A scene showing the rebuilt Hogwarts back to its glory and fame should also be shown in the epilogue for a captivating ending not only to the movie, but also to the whole thing of 'Harry Potter'.
I also find that the last words from the book which is very significant to be placed into the end of the film too. The last words are '"The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well." I have to mention also that the soundtrack for the film is suited well in the final film, with additional intensity or emotion added at proper moments, even though the film delivered the emotional approach not at its best. The visual and sound effects are impressive too, especially at the parts where 'Hogwarts is threatened' – a quote from Professor McGonagall. The computer generated images (CGI) effects shown in the film are just great, like the part where Snape flee away from McGonagall, Voldemort breaking the protecting barrier of Hogwarts, and Death Eaters casting their destructive spells to the school, and many others.
The whole franchise, the whole story, the magical world of Harry Potter would be kept forever in our hearts even all the books and movies for it ended. This final film can be considered well satisfying, beautifully created, and in some way, is a truly epic conclusion with happy ending as predicted.
This review is edited from my original review from my blog; www.vincentloy.wordpress.com