Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II review
Okay, so I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II in cinema yesterday. I'll preface this by saying I liked it a lot. It may even be my favourite depending on the re-watch. I should also say that I've been reading Deathly Hallows leading up to the film, and so bits that would probably have been bypassed by some people, I picked up on. Finally, Part I and Part II must be seen together; this is mainly because Part II picks off pretty much exactly where Part I finished, and so the switching of hands were done really well, in my opinion.
Given that Part II clocked in at 2hr30, the film was well paced and I felt nothing was rushed (which for a Harry Potter film is not always the case) and time went unnoticed. Saying that, I would argue that the film is "top-heavy" in that the first third was much better than the last. The Gringott's scene was spectacular and more than I hoped for. However, I have major issues with the final stages of the Hogwarts battle at the end. I can't tell if this is because I've read the book so recently or if that particular scene was incredibly over-hyped or just that I can't separate the book from the film in this scene. Probably a culmination of all 3 reasons. The biggest reason I dislike the scene is because of the location of the battle itself. In fact, I know that's why I hate it, as it subsequently changes the subtext and underlining meanings of the whole battle. It was supposed to take place in the Great Hall; why why why didn't it take place in the Great Hall?! The whole point of it was so that Harry would be surrounded by his loved ones whilst finally battling Voldemort and he would state to Voldemort that he can't touch anyone because Harry already died for them, thus creating a full circle of the story all the way from the Philosopher's Stone with Lily Potter dying for Harry. I felt that the battle was more about Harry versus Voldemort rather than Good versus Evil, and whilst the book got the balance right between these two concepts, the film didn't. It makes for a good film from the director's point of view, though.
I cried a lot; pretty much from Fred's death onwards (including Snape "The Prince's Tale") but amazingly I cried the hardest at a part that wasn't even in the books to begin with. It was when Harry was heading to the forest but Ron and Hermione stop him and realise that Harry's about to give himself up and Hermione says, "I'll come with you." Urgh, tears forever. In fact, the added scenes to this film actually enhanced the film and not detracted from it, which is a massive compliment considering who wrote these books. For example, this specific scene may have been in the book and it would've added to the awesomeness. It was a really good idea!
Overall though, I adored it (the Gringott's scene is one of the best in the whole series) and I can't wait to buy the boxset so I can watch all the the films back-to-back in the comfort of my own home.
Other thoughts:
--Plot-hole 1) Harry's wand is left unexplained. We know it gets broken in Part I and he's supposed to fix it with the Elder Wand but he doesn't and instead SNAPS the fucking Elder Wand. Good grief.
2) Dumbledore's backstory is left completely unexplained and thus leaves him in a bad light throughout the film. Nothing about the links to Godric's Hollow and nothing on Dumbledore's seduction of power (Hallows) and how he blindly led Harry to find them.
3) Didn't explain why when Hermione as Bellatrix in Gringott's wouldn't hand in her wand even though she had it to the goblins. In the books, this was because the goblins knew Bellatrix's wand was stolen and they know she was an imposter.
--Michael Gambon killed Dumbledore. There, I said it.
--I loved Voldemort's voice speaking into everyone's heads. Sounded so sinister.
--The cinematography of this film (and really the series) is unparalleled. I love it so much.
Given that Part II clocked in at 2hr30, the film was well paced and I felt nothing was rushed (which for a Harry Potter film is not always the case) and time went unnoticed. Saying that, I would argue that the film is "top-heavy" in that the first third was much better than the last. The Gringott's scene was spectacular and more than I hoped for. However, I have major issues with the final stages of the Hogwarts battle at the end. I can't tell if this is because I've read the book so recently or if that particular scene was incredibly over-hyped or just that I can't separate the book from the film in this scene. Probably a culmination of all 3 reasons. The biggest reason I dislike the scene is because of the location of the battle itself. In fact, I know that's why I hate it, as it subsequently changes the subtext and underlining meanings of the whole battle. It was supposed to take place in the Great Hall; why why why didn't it take place in the Great Hall?! The whole point of it was so that Harry would be surrounded by his loved ones whilst finally battling Voldemort and he would state to Voldemort that he can't touch anyone because Harry already died for them, thus creating a full circle of the story all the way from the Philosopher's Stone with Lily Potter dying for Harry. I felt that the battle was more about Harry versus Voldemort rather than Good versus Evil, and whilst the book got the balance right between these two concepts, the film didn't. It makes for a good film from the director's point of view, though.
I cried a lot; pretty much from Fred's death onwards (including Snape "The Prince's Tale") but amazingly I cried the hardest at a part that wasn't even in the books to begin with. It was when Harry was heading to the forest but Ron and Hermione stop him and realise that Harry's about to give himself up and Hermione says, "I'll come with you." Urgh, tears forever. In fact, the added scenes to this film actually enhanced the film and not detracted from it, which is a massive compliment considering who wrote these books. For example, this specific scene may have been in the book and it would've added to the awesomeness. It was a really good idea!
Overall though, I adored it (the Gringott's scene is one of the best in the whole series) and I can't wait to buy the boxset so I can watch all the the films back-to-back in the comfort of my own home.
Other thoughts:
--Plot-hole 1) Harry's wand is left unexplained. We know it gets broken in Part I and he's supposed to fix it with the Elder Wand but he doesn't and instead SNAPS the fucking Elder Wand. Good grief.
2) Dumbledore's backstory is left completely unexplained and thus leaves him in a bad light throughout the film. Nothing about the links to Godric's Hollow and nothing on Dumbledore's seduction of power (Hallows) and how he blindly led Harry to find them.
3) Didn't explain why when Hermione as Bellatrix in Gringott's wouldn't hand in her wand even though she had it to the goblins. In the books, this was because the goblins knew Bellatrix's wand was stolen and they know she was an imposter.
--Michael Gambon killed Dumbledore. There, I said it.
--I loved Voldemort's voice speaking into everyone's heads. Sounded so sinister.
--The cinematography of this film (and really the series) is unparalleled. I love it so much.