July 15, 2011
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Felton
Director: David Yates
For ten years, it has all been leading up to this moment. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the final episode in the eight-part movie saga, culminates in the awaited showdown between the teenage wizard and his lifelong nemesis Lord Voldemort, who finally enters the gates of Hogwarts to seek out Harry. At roughly 2 hours and 10 minutes, Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the shortest film in the series, and understandably the most grim.
The new film picks up exactly where the last one left off, with Harry, Ron and Hermoine still searching for Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes, which they must destroy if the Dark Lord has to be once and for all defeated. Meanwhile Voldemort is in possession of the coveted Elder Wand, which he has stolen from the tomb of Professor Dumbledore and which will make him invincible.
In one of the film’s stunning early-set pieces, our trio of young heroes recovers a Horcrux after breaking into a vault at Gringotts, then makes a thrilling escape riding on the back of a fire-breathing dragon. Following this, the action quickly shifts to Hogwarts, where the mood is expectedly somber given that Death Eaters and Dementors loom large outside campus walls.
Even as you count down to the brutal confrontation between Harry and Voldemort, director David Yates ties up many loose ends along the way. Major secrets are revealed, including a shocking one involving Professor Snape, and much-loved side characters like Professor McGonagall and Neville Longbottom finally get their big moment in the spotlight. The Battle of Hogwarts is easily one of the most inventive set-pieces executed in the entire series, and Yates and his team of VFX artists once again exploit the opportunity to deliver some truly exhilarating moments.
Harry Potter, now wiser and older than his years, must contemplate the inevitability of death and the true value of friendship. Daniel Radcliffe bites into the part with a steeliness we’d only seen a glimpse of before, and delivers a mature yet vulnerable performance that touches the heart. His best scenes in this film are those in which he realizes the sacrifices he must make for the greater good.
Ten years ago, the casting of unknown child actors Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone seemed like a stroke of brilliance; but each has evolved into a polished young actor who owns his role completely, bringing a wide range of emotions and such depth to each character’s roller-coaster journey. Ralph Fiennes makes for a suitably fearful Voldemort, but it’s Alan Rickman who leaves a lasting impression for his delicious portrayal of the complex Professor Snape.
It’s impossible not to be overwhelmed in the final’s final scene, which brings its principal characters to a full circle since we first met them. I found myself holding back my tears in the end, much like one would while saying goodbye to old friends.
I’m going with four out of five for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. It’s not merely a fitting farewell to a much-loved series, but also that rare summer blockbuster that marries an emotional, stirring story with jaw-dropping visual flair.
(This review first aired on CNN-IBN)
Rajeev Masand and 4 stars? This movie must be epic for sure!! Love ur reviews sir!
Comment by Vamsi — July 15, 2011 @ 11:26 pm
If its not on 3D.. then dont watch it..u’ll spoil the fun if u watch it in a cheapo theatre..
CG & VFX TOPNOTCH!!
Comment by Mathur — July 15, 2011 @ 11:46 pm
whoaaa!! rajeev is been generous dis week …..3 1/2 for znmd and 4 for hp ………………nice!!!
Comment by rohit — July 16, 2011 @ 1:37 am
I never Wanted it to end But……………
Yeah definitely a blockbuster Followed by T3.
Great visual and will get an oscar for Visual
Comment by priyabrata — July 16, 2011 @ 2:45 am
You’re right Mr.Masand….I also felt like saying good-bye to an old friend I’d never meet again…..An action-packed emotional roller-coaster…..The whole theater broke into tears when the credits rolled….Truly, a fitting finale to an immortal series….an epic movie…..I’d go with 4.5/5 for this movie…..
Comment by Deepu Nair — July 16, 2011 @ 6:57 am
didn’t like it…..maybe because i didn’t like the way it ended in the book itself…..and they were should have been more good action set pieces……but i guess it’s my problem that i didn’t like the way the seventh book ended….i guess ppl will enjoy the movie.
Comment by sanket shah — July 16, 2011 @ 11:26 am
went with unreasonably high expectations.. and they were met. i made the whole hall join me in excited clapping after some jaw dropping scenes. i was holding back my tears by the end too.
Comment by amit nagpal — July 17, 2011 @ 1:20 am
Hi,
The movie is awesome and I completely echo your words. Just wondering .. why is there no facebook like or google+ button on this website / Individual reviews?
Comment by Kapil — July 17, 2011 @ 11:57 am
Seriously,4 stars?By Rajeev Masand.It must be an epic.I am die-hard fan of the movie and your review just boosts me to watch it…..Thankz Mr.Masand,
Comment by Richu — July 17, 2011 @ 8:21 pm
Just ended
hi, I recently watch harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2. Now this movie series become a epic like Star War, Indiana Jones, particular fan’s of that movies. When I watch these movies I just like that but not become a fan. Now harry potter series people become a fan’s. If i talking about me i not read Harry Potter book I watched only movie so first I can’t compare this movie with book. Now talking about movie I like first three part’s of movie mostly prisoner of azkaban is part show the threat of magic or say bad magic how much dangers Lord Voldemort (character), same thing is chamber of secrets that if its open so school need to be closed. First problem is that movie is situational magic means one part’s they use that magic other part they don’t like prisoner of azkaban time back locate. good wizard die quickly die only, In goblet of fire children play deadly games all mistress solve only Harry Potter, Hermione Granger & Ron Weasley. And most important for me how much dangers Lord Voldemort i mean i not filling that he is very power full like he know some or create own dangers magic spells, fight alone more than one wizard’s how is gathering is forces and under his command. you know there is eight part’s of that movie don’t you think there is lots of thing must be show.
ok anyway now talks about this last part. Star of the movie and first half is good but after second half they make it fast and just finish fight between good and bad wizard ok. it can be more interesting and dangers and Voldemort death is not show good i mean simple. silly thing children’s of Hogwart School fighting i mean’s where is their parents . funniest scene of that movie after 19 years all look silly and fill like that next day after fight and they not look happy and all have same age kid’s . In that series like mostly Professor Severus Snape character.
I gave 3/5
Comment by robin mishra — July 20, 2011 @ 11:54 am
Hello,
Well, for the first time, I somewhat disagree with the ratings given, especially due to second half of the movie. Yes, first half was definitely intense, exciting and had all the makings of the great end to the series, but…
Second half did not carry it on well. Few scenes, e.g. one where Harry meets Dumbledore, or even the meeting with Helena Ravenclaw, or the final ’19 years later’ were very ordinary, and hilarious at times. The final fight between Harry and ‘The-one-who-should-not-be-named’ AKA Voldemort, which was the climax of the movie and the series, ended before it began. It could have been a bit longer with Harry explaining Voldemort about the elder wand’s resistance which he does later to Ron and Hermione. Another thing, when we have been seeing the death eaters fly around in all the parts till this, I could not understand why they suddenly chose to get grounded and run. The battle of Hogwarts seemed like a small fight.
Visually, movie was awesome, but its just like the fantastic icing on an uncooked cake. An additional 20-30 minutes in the movie with some more details would have done no harm. If I would have been you, I would have been too generous to give it a 3/5, 4 is way out of question.
Comment by Mangesh — July 22, 2011 @ 2:48 pm
@ robin…
completely agree with you. they could have used time back locket and went into the past to save the died people.
and
most importantly approx 40 year old look of every one was very funny…
this movie is made to make a lot of money only…
Remember , when a hero dies in the suoer hero series he becomes immortal in the hearts of every fan…
They should have made harry died in the last battle.
Even the battle between harry and lord was silly…
2.5 out of 5….
skip deathly hallows part 2 and watch “half blood prince” again…
Comment by ravi — July 22, 2011 @ 9:59 pm
if only the ending(confrontation b/w harry and dark lord and epilogue) had been better then 9/10, my rating is 7.5/10
Comment by utkarsh garekar — July 23, 2011 @ 1:06 am
Rajeev and generosity with hollywood blockbuster movies goes hand in hand
Comment by Prabhu — August 2, 2011 @ 1:21 pm
Well well well, how we yearn for more (we still do)! Words fail me when it comes to describing how it felt to watch this ‘whole thing’ come to an end. Reading the novels and the final one in particular, had an inexplicably marvelous impact on me. It was akin to absolutely nothing I’ve ever experienced! And so has been the experience of watching this awe-inspiring movie. Quite frankly (and I’m positive that my opinion is shared unanimously by almost everyone who happened to watch this one), I couldn’t possibly think of a better way to adapt the novel, to be precise the last 200 pages of the novel (roughly one third of the story).
It is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, a highly commendable piece of work, so much so that it appears to be quintessentially cinematic. Rave reviews is what is pouring in from all the four directions for Yates’ meticulous work and for all the aspects of movie-making that define movies. Rotten Tomatoes (based on some 260 professional critics’ reviews) has a ‘certified fresh’ rating of an unprecedented 97% for Deathly Hallows 2! 41 Top critics of the same site have a 100% approval rating for the same!! And it’s already ‘the third highest grossing film of ALL TIME’ only behind Cameron’s Avatar and Titanic! It isn’t really about how much the others liked the movie or how much moolah it made at the box office… I believe it’s just about how much YOU liked it. As for me, well, you can figure out the answer to that….
Comment by Abdul Basit — August 27, 2011 @ 2:10 am
ummm …. those of u confused abt the time turner … u can’t jst go back using the time turner and save people who died … bcz if u save the people who died then they do not die and then u dnt go back to save them! if u are citing the example of book 3 buckbeak was NEVER dead … he seemed to have died … but he never actually died … he was saved everytime all the harry’s and hermione’s took him away before the executionar came -_- … and as fr this movie … i’d give it 3.5/5
Comment by Monal — July 22, 2012 @ 1:23 pm