- LA Youth - http://www.layouth.com -

Movie review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

They saved the best Harry Potter movie for last

Reviewed by Aaron Schwartz, 17, Gabrielino HS

At 10 at night, I stood in line with hundreds of fans who were totally psyched to see the final Harry Potter movie. As I waited, surrounded by ecstatic fans in scarlet and gold Gryffindor scarves, I wasn’t sure that the movie I was about to watch would be worth the wait, since I’m not the biggest Harry Potter fan. It was. In fact, not only was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 a great movie, I think that it was the best movie in the entire series.

The movie tells us the final part of Harry’s quest to defeat Voldemort, which leads him to return to Hogwarts to fight an epic final battle against the dark lord himself. The movie is action packed, while at the same time having a bit of character development, humor and romance.

All of the acting was great. Snape (played by Alan Rickman) was dark in his usual way, yet at the same time showed another layer of emotion when we learn about his background. McGonagall was funny when she seemed almost giddy in her efforts to prepare Hogwarts for battle, and Neville’s rise to become the leader of the Hogwarts student army was very believable. But I thought that the most meaningful acting in the movie was Harry’s slow march to Voldemort as he prepared to sacrifice himself.

Another thing I really liked about the movie were the fight scenes. Even though a lot of things were going on, it was easy to understand what was happening. I liked the fight scene between Snape and McGonagall when Harry returns to Hogwarts. But the best fights were when Ms. Weasley fought Bellatrix and the final fight between Harry and Voldemort.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was really fun to watch, and it was a worthy ending of the Harry Potter movie series. 


l
The final Harry Potter movie was so worth the wait

Reviewed by Avika Dua, 16, Walnut HS

I was so excited to see the final Harry Potter movie that I waited five hours in line with my friends for the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I had never gone to a midnight premiere before, but I’m a huge fan and thought the last movie would be the perfect opportunity to go all out. My friends and I dressed up as Gryffindor characters and stood in line next to people wearing Dobby masks, Bellatrix Lestrange costumes and different house colors. People were having fake duels in the line, which wound around the theater and outside into the parking lot. One of my friends brought tissues for everyone because we felt really sentimental about the movies ending and knew we were going to cry. We did cry, but we also laughed, cheered and sat in awe of the continuous action and excitement of the movie. I was tired by the time it started and was scared I would doze off, but the movie was so gripping that it kept me awake beginning to end. It had everything I wanted to see.

While the plot in Part 1 was slow, it set up the story and allowed Part 2 to jump into the action right away. Part 2 picked up right where Part 1 ended, with the evil Lord Voldemort acquiring the Elder Wand as Harry dug a grave for Dobby, the house elf. Harry, Ron and Hermione continued on their quest to find and destroy the three remaining horcruxes that were keeping Voldemort alive.

Whenever there was excitement during the search for horcruxes, I sat forward in my seat. The special effects turned magic into something believable, like when the trio broke into Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault to find the next horcrux and they left by riding on the back of a dragon that set the vault ablaze. The effects in that scene and throughout the movie matched the images I had in my head when I read the book.

I also liked how most of the movie took place at Hogwarts because it gave the movie that sentimental, at-home feel that’s missing in Part 1. When the trio went back to Hogwarts to find the next horcrux, they saw characters from the entire series and worked with them to fight Voldemort and his followers. Watching many of these familiar characters die was hard to see, even though I knew they were going to die, since I’ve grown up seeing them in the movies and reading about them in the books.

My favorite parts were the ones that made me cry. I could hear a lot of people around me in the audience also sniffling when Harry looked into the pensieve and witnessed Snape’s memories, learning about his true motivations. The most epic scene was also a tearjerker, where Harry was willing to confront his fate and approach Voldemort, ready to die.

Because this was the shortest of all eight movies, it didn’t include as much interaction between characters. I was hoping for a little more romance, but Harry and Ginny only interacted in one scene, where they shared a weak kiss. I was disappointed by Ron and Hermione’s kiss since I had been anticipating it for a long time and it looked fake. I think more romantic scenes and character plot could have been added if the movie had been longer.

But seeing this movie was definitely the most magical Harry Potter experience I’ve had. Everyone would applaud whenever a character first appeared or when a character triumphed. This combined with how epic the movie was made the final installment my favorite out of the eight movies. In the final scene, time jumped 19 years into the future and the characters were adults. This came off as cheesy in the book because they aged so suddenly, but the movie pulled it off and it was really believable.

If you were discouraged by the slowness and lack of action in Part 1, don’t worry about the same thing happening in Part 2. If you haven’t read the seventh book, you might be confused by small details but you’ll still be able to enjoy the movie. If you’re a hardcore fan, you’ll be as amazed by this movie as I was.


l
A great ending for fans

Reviewed by Patricia Chavarria, 19

Like the quote on every poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 — “It All Ends,” — the series indeed does. And the end is amazing. The Deathly Hallows Part 2 is packed with action, suspense and chilling moments that make it my favorite of all the Harry Potter films.

In this movie we follow Harry, Ron and Hermione for the last time on their quest to find and destroy the remaining horcruxes, which contain Lord Voldemort’s soul. And since the most powerful wand, the Elder wand, has now fallen into Voldemort’s hands, they must be quick in doing so before Voldemort finds Harry and kills him.

While on their quest to find the horcruxes, they find one hidden in Gringotts (the wizard world’s bank). But getting it out puts them in life or death situations involving drowning in a sea of enchanted objects and a dragon. Although the movie had some great fight scenes during the Battle of Hogwarts, this was my favorite scene because it shows how far Ron and Hermione will go to help their best friend destroy the most powerful dark wizard of all time. Although I read and enjoyed the book, when I saw this part in the movie it was much more intense.

As the gang goes back to Hogwarts for the final battle with Voldemort and his Death Eaters, the movie gets much more thrilling. There are wizards fighting for their lives around every corner. I held my 12-year-old sister’s hand throughout the movie, especially when the faces of those who died appeared. I’m not ashamed to say that I cried a few times, especially when one of my favorite wizards took their last breath.

I loved this movie. It had it all. Laughter, when Voldemort gives Draco an awkward hug. Happy moments, like when Ron and Hermione finally kissed. But above all a lot of action! Being the last film of Harry Potter I can gladly say that it ended in a triumphant way.