Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - My thoughts on the movie.

I recently went to my local cinema with one of my friends to watch the final installment of the Harry Potter movie franchise. Both of us are avid fans of the books and the films and we expected great things from the finale. After purchasing snacks from the extortionately overpriced shop in the foyer, we donned our 3D glasses and took our seats near the front.The film takes off from where it finished in Part 1 - Voldemort has finally got his spidery, villainous hands on the fabled Elder Wand and is ready to take on Harry and his companions. The first half an hour or so of the two and a half hour film seemed to pass by in a rushing whirlwind of goblins, dragons and a hazardous ride on an underground rollercoaster. I am of course referring to the Gringott's break-in. It was fascinating, enthralling to watch and I thoroughly enjoyed every scene (the brillant Helena Bonham Carter playing Hermione disguised as Bellatrix Lestrange was a highlight of the first half) but it seemed to me that the filmakers had rushed through the beginning of the film in order to get to to main action - the Battle of Hogwarts which is the esscence of this installment and doesn't fail to dissapoint.
J.K Rowling's writing is fully realised here and many parts of the action I recognised from my own imagination from when I had read the novel - perfectly portrayed as if the scenery and characters had leapt off the page and onto the screen before me. As hundreds of Death Eaters converge on Hogwarts, giants and oversized spiders join the fray, stumbling and trampling and scuttling their way through the melee, as spells ricochet from the walls and whizz and spark across the screen - and it all looks so incredibly real.
The trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione, played by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson respectively, are at the heart of the action although despite their leading roles, they were were somewhat overshadowed by the spectacular performances of the supporting cast. Professor McGonagall played perfectly by British acting legend Maggie Smith, leaps into action as she orders the stone statues of Hogwarts to protect the school, while managing to add the humorous remark "I've always wanted to use that spell!"
Matthew Lewis who portrays the bumbling and clumsy yet loveable Neville Longbottom really gets to shine in this movie and Ralph Fiennes makes an especially terrifying Lord Voldemort. Warwick Davis returns to play Griphook the Gringotts goblin and reprises his role as Professor Flitwick, Jim Broadbent pops up here and there as Professor Slughorn and Robbie Coltrane as the much loved Hagrid appears only at the very end.
But the star of this movie has to be Alan Rickman who made his best performance yet as the quietly intimidating, mysterious character of Professor Severus Snape. The pensieve scenes were emotional and captivating in equal measure and the brutal yet poignant moment Snape finally met his end was the best non-action scene in the entire film, Rickman delivered an Oscar worthy performance.
Daniel Radcliffe had brief yet frequent moments when his acting became wooden and forced and Rupert Grint who is a better actor, did not seem to have many lines to say at all. Emma Watson, although not brilliant by any means, is beyond measure the most proficient actor of the trio.
All in all, a very enjoyable film with a great story, impressive cast and amazing special effects. A must see.

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