David O'ConnellHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
July 12th 2011 02:25
And so the curtain closes, finally, on an epic saga spanning the past decade and the entire adolescence of its stars. For some this final instalment will be charged with bittersweet regret; for others, it will be more akin to waiting for an old grandmother – and owner of a family heirloom you’ve long had your eye on – to pass away.
The war between good and evil has been decided, the name Harry Potter resounding from the tongues of both the living and the dead. With relief it can be said that director David Yates, in his fourth outing at the helm, has sufficiently atoned for the disappointing ponderous first half of this final tale,. Here he delivers an exciting, rousing finale that brings an appropriately epic feel to proceedings.
In a series of final standoffs between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and the demented evil priest, Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), there’s a sweep and grandeur that satisfies on numerous levels. The special effects carry an even greater burden than previously, at the cost of the tide of humanity known as the cast, but for once, it's not an overly bothersome development.
In some ways The Deathly Hallows Part 2 feels like the most explicitly cinematic of the films, with Alexandre Desplat’s powerful score, by degrees bold, frenetic and stirring, ably enhancing the jagged emotional pulse of the film. It’s easily the best musical contribution to the series since Patrick Doyle’s brooding work on The Goblet of Fire (2005), even if none of his fresh thematic material matches that of John Williams whose influence on the early films can still be felt.
The uncanny utilisation of just about every living British actor of note has been a highlight of the Potter adaptations, adding colour and eccentricities to every phase of the storytelling. But all have ultimately been relegated to bit roles, a fate which has also sadly befallen offsiders Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) lately as the Harry vs. Voldemart battle has intensified and the stakes increased.
For those unfamiliar with the books there are some intriguing twists ahead, especially as the climax nears and the dark machinations of Harry’s inner torment unwind. There’s an especially nice return for a much loved character who re-emerges bathed in an aura of tranquil divinity. But in general terms Steve Kloves’s nicely judged screenplay has delivered exactly what hard-core devotees desired on a platter. It's been an enjoyable, if commercially-rationalised, elongated ride, and we’ll never forget Harry Potter – the merchandised goods alone are likely to survive all of us alive on this planet today.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 opens Wednesday July 13.
| 41 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Yeah, I think the general consensus is the third or fourth movie (Order of the Phoenix?)
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
The Prisoner of Azkaban is probably the highpoint of the series.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Village Roadshow you say. Hmmmm.