Film Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

The six-month wait from part one to part two and decade-long journey has finally come to an end.  Virtually never before has such a motion-picture phenomenon existed, at least at the level of anticipation this film has received.  The Harry Potter franchise is nothing short of remarkable, in every sense of the word; it is a grand achievement on numerous levels, from continuity of actors, production design, and themes to the notable improvement from one installment to the next and ultimately to the epic finale.  While it is not perfect, the film is a pure blockbuster that fans will love, casual moviegoers will be enchanted by, and even critics of the series must admit that this concluding chapter is impressive.  It is not only visually captivating but also emotionally powerful as it resonates on more levels than any of the previous films have done.  In fact, it is a summer blockbuster that deserves some award recognition.  The movie is at least one the best, if not the best, of the series and a largely satisfying conclusion that alleviates the sorrow one may feel with the passing of the film franchise.

However, it does not possess quite the cathartic experience like we all had with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), nor does it completely satisfy all expectations; in particular those who have read the novels may feel disappointed with how some story elements were either changed or omitted.  In addition, due to its brisk pace, making this installment the shortest of the series, its denouement/epilogue seems rather rushed for a journey that has captivated us for a decade.  Nonetheless, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) is a worthy finale that captures the best pieces of its predecessors and then some with thrilling special effects wizardry, brilliant performances and best of all, undeniable emotion.  It is movie magic that must be seen on the big-screen as it is one of the biggest cinematic events of this century.  In short, it is a near classic that caps the [currently] highest grossing franchise in film history.

Forewarning: While no [major] spoilers will be overtly revealed about Part 2, those of you who have not seen the previous films may want to do so before reading this review or seeing the movie; this review does not spend much time bringing you up to date with all the past details.  Besides, watching the movie will be much more enjoyable and worthwhile if you have seen the others first.  Also, I have not read the novel, so this review only has a brief analysis of how well it has been adapted to film (largely based on consensus reports/critiques).

Monthly Watch List: July 2011

Not all of the following movies are highly anticipated or worth a viewing at all, let alone in theaters.  Still, the purpose of these monthly watch lists is to present what is available and offer a conclusion of whether or not to see the film, usually based on the filmmakers’ pedigrees and current consensus about it.  Also important to note while reading or skimming the list is that not all will be released in a theater near you on the mentioned date; take note of the “Limited” label.

Once again, I apologize for the delay in publishing another monthly watch list, but you didn’t miss much in the first weekend.  This month has a considerable amount of limited releases as well as a few big blockbusters or comedies, as July often does.  Some films were omitted from this post, both limited and regular releases, either because of their limited appeal or they were simply unworthy of a mention.  The most anticipated movie of the month, summer, and maybe year is the epic conclusion to the Harry Potter franchise, but there are several other films definitely worth a theater viewing if possible.  Happy July 2011! (However, just wait until you see what July 2012 has in store- check out the Most Anticipated Films page for a ranked list of all highly anticipated or notable upcoming films.)