An Epic and Bittersweet Farewell

Rating: 10/10 (23 April 2013)

This may just be the most true review I have ever written. And the most geeky praise review I have ever written. I truly have never come out of a movie with a feeling quite like leaving Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Pt. 2. Magical some have called it. Amazing others have labeled it. Personally, It was perfect. Don't take the confusion as a bad thing. Deathly Hallows is bloody brilliant.
The critics are correct in every claim.
The acting is unlike any of the other films, in a good way. It is truly emotional and intense, and Radcliffe's performance is stellar. None of the characters "over-do" their acting, and each main character has key moments that really shine (especially Neville! What a BA), and all have truly learned how to perform their characters perfectly. Next to the acting comes the stellar, glorious action. Throughout the HP movies, we have gotten tastes of the magic duels and massive battles, but none have been as grand and as epic and as extended as Deathly Hallows Part 2. The action couldn't be anything without the amazing special effects.
From the explosive final war to the dragon to Gringott's to Hogwarts to the final duel, everything is beautiful, eye catching and wonderful. Everything looks believable, everything looks magical and everything looks perfect.
And who could forget that famous theme, composed by none other than the masterful John Williams? The music fits so perfectly, so flawlessly with the film from mysterious start to grandiose finish. The variations of the original theme, and the ending 19 years later segment music is so spine chillingly spell binding, I was overcome with sheer happiness and emotion. Desplat has crafted a gorgeous score, that for sure! And this being the final movie, everyone was hoping for the most intense Potter film.
For me, the Part One of the Deathly Hallows was lackluster. It was boring and flat, but I knew the payoff was going to be worth it. It was, in every way. Like I explained before, the action is plain huge, the acting is top-notch and the cinematography is beautiful. Every special effect is eye catching and the attention to detail is astounding.
This has truly been a treat, and this has been the first book movie since the epic Return of the King that earns the label of astounding. So all this boils down to the final word. This huge Potter fan was pleased by the movie, but there is something else there, and that was the feeling as the credits rolled. Throughout the 10 years that the Harry Potter movies have been in production, there has been something wonderful emanating throughout the movies. The charm of the small band of heroes has had such chemistry from the start and they've always been a likable group of friends.
But strangely enough, as the credits crept up, I felt like I was sending off someone close as well. Saying goodbye to Harry, Ron and Hermione was unlike anything I have felt before coming out of movie. I grew up with Harry Potter and the HP movies, and I feel like I've grown alongside the characters all these years. Seeing these characters go feels bittersweet, like bidding a good friend goodbye. I'm sure (I hope) that I'm not the only one that feels this way, a strange combination of joy and sorrow. It's just a weird feeling, bidding goodbye to such a magical series. But so good as well, because now there is more incentive to return to the earlier movies, read the books and relive "our" adventures all over again. And thats the exciting thing about the finale of the Harry Potter film saga.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) is no doubt the perfect send off of Harry and friends. It is emotional, intense and action packed. It is a glorious exploration of dark themes with a hopeful finale in an expertly crafted way. And as you could've guessed, it's an incredibly well crafted movie of epic proportions. It's the pitch perfect send off for a timeless series.