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Review: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 2

June 1, 2012

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Released July 15, 2011

Rated PG-13

Directed By David Yates

Starring Danielle Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson

130 Minutes

Arguably the best film in the Harry Potter series, Deathly Hallows Part 2 impresses on nearly all levels. It’s a bittersweet end to a series we have all come to know and love and it literally hurts to see it leave. The characters, the spells, Hogwarts, it’s all been a pleasure to be a part of Potter’s world, but all good things eventually come to an end.

Deathly Hallows Part 2 is epic to say the least. It’s everything Potter fans could ever want, from the final face-off with Voldemort to the final farewells. The film gets emotional, so bring the tissues. It makes for an endearing experience, especially for those who have seen the previous films. That in fact, is it’s strongest asset.

If you want to get technical, everything that made previous Potter films great are all here, from the awesome battles to Hogwarts and all of it’s glory. Well, Hogwarts isn’t exactly the most desirable place to be here, but seeing the place dark, gloomy and under attack gives a new perspective of sorts. It may be a sad sight, but you know Potter and friends are more than capable of saving the day. One scene that was particularly intriguing was the one where Potter and Dumbledore were walking in a very heavenly-looking place, dubbed as a “station”. The scene was marvelous, it’s moments like this that make a movie great. It was touching and emotional.

As for the acting and directing, it doesn’t get much better. Radcliffe and company have grown into these characters and it’s been second nature for them for the past decade. Director David Yates has done a spectacular job, especially here, to finish off the renowned series. The visual effects are simply mesmerizing here as well, making for a realistic experience. Production values? Through the roof.

There isn’t much bad to say about the film, other than it’s lack of sheer build-up, angst, and excitement of the previous entries. It’s not perfect, but it’s the perfect way to end one of the most impressive, dazzling film series of all time. Long live Harry Potter!

Score:

4.5 out of 5

Posted by Wade Williams in Entertainment Tags: 2, deathly, hallows, harry, part, potter, review

Review: Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire

April 30, 2012

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Release: November 18, 2005

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth installment in the Harry Potter series, and based on the J.K. Rowling book of the same name. Goblet of Fire manages to push the envelope and improves over all of it’s predecessors in every way. It’s complexity is what pushes it ahead, boasting new and interesting characters such as Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), while Harry, Ron and Hermione are all maturing, respectively. Goblet of Fire also makes less mistakes than previous installments, with more intense action, new spells and character development. You will also see the rise of Lord Voldemort, which makes things that much more exciting. It’s the first time Harry and Voldemort get a taste of each other’s magic skills, making for one of the most nail-biting “fight” scenes in the series yet.

Goblet of Fire delivers on it’s premise in every possible way. It manages to be diverse and compelling without sacrificing any of the classic Potter substance we have come to know and love. The emphasis put on the story really puts Goblet over the top, and with new characters, exciting new games and activities taking place, it’s sure to hold your attention through out the two hour plus run time, leaving you begging for more. Goblet is also the most emotional Potter yet. You’ll be cheering Harry on as he battles the evil Lord Voldemort in an epic battle scene, but a few minutes later you’ll be crying because new character Cedric Diggory meets his demise at the hands of the dark lord. It’s a roller coaster from start to finish, one you won’t want to get off of.

The characters are all growing and maturing, and it’s fun to watch as the series progresses. This time around, you start getting attached to them and actually begin to care about their well-being. This is where Harry starts to emerge as the main protagonist and starts showing qualities of a hero and leader. There’s just so much good to say about Goblet of Fire, it’s the best film in the series thus far. It brings so much to the table, making it a real winner, especially for hardcore Potter fans. “Epic” is probably the best way to describe this entry in an already fantastic series. I can’t say enough about how much the series grows with each entry. Chamber of Secrets improved upon Sorcerer’s Stone and Goblet of Fire improved upon Prisoner of Azkaban. The writers and director just keep plugging away and really deliver for the masses here.