Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

And so it ends. Eight movies, all glorious; millions of fans, all utterly devoted; billions of dough flooding the bank, all very much deserved. The "Harry Potter" franchise truly has become a gigantic staple of contemporary popular culture, each magical movie wonderfully adapted from the beloved series of bestselling books written by celebrated British author J. K. Rowling. And it is with great sadness and grief that we slide off our pointed wizard hats, raise our wands in the air and light up the sky to bid farewell to this magnificent saga as it takes its grand final bow.

Yes, it's all over for Harry Potter and his wizarding pals, but there's no use crying over spilt pumpkin juice. Okay, maybe just a few tears (they are characters with whom many have grown up, after all). We last saw speccy, redhead and bookworm on a sandy beach at the end of "Part One" of the "Deathly Hallows" double, where poor little house-elf Dobby had just fallen fatal victim to a knife flung by bitch-of-a-witch Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech").

"Part Two" picks up soon after this tragic affair, with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) planning their next move against the monstrous Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, "In Bruges") and his nefarious companions, the savage Death Eaters. The trio also continue their search for the rest of the Horcruxes, which those who have paid attention to the series should know are different parts of Voldemort's wicked soul, and they all need to be destroyed if he is to finally meet his maker.

Last year saw "Part One" of the epic conclusion to this superb film franchise receiving some mild criticism for its slow-moving pace and general lack of action (much of the runtime was set in a tent, after all). Some exclaimed that it was not exciting enough, and that the consistency of thrills was insufficient for a fantasy blockbuster of this sort (I must say I completely disagree). But if anything, "Part Two" provides us with every ounce of excitement and exhilaration we've come to yearn for when setting eyes on a "Harry Potter" film, and then some; action set-pieces run rampant in this electrifying finale.

If you were to call "Part One" a drama, "Part Two" is very much an action flick; it's mind-boggling that both instalments were filmed at the same time. Dialogue takes a bit of a side-step in favour of rather loud banging, crashing, wand-zapping and heartless child-murdering (fun for all the family!). Indeed, the film will leave you breathless, energised and much more satisfied than "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" ever would or could.

Firstly, there's Harry, Ron and Hermione's risky break-in to the goblin-crowded Gringotts Wizarding Bank in an attempt to unearth a possible Horcrux in the vault belonging to the tricky Miss Lestrange. And lying within the entrance to this vault is a fire-breathing dragon, which promptly takes a bit of a building-destructing stroll across the rooftops of London. It's a marvellous sequence, but it serves only as preparation for the action-packed extravaganza that is soon to follow.

This stimulating spectacle is the battle to end all battles: the last stand between brave Harry Potter and evil Lord Voldemort, who unfortunately now has the all-powerful Elder Wand in his possession. Harry arrives at Hogwarts School, which is now run by grumpy git-gone-bad Professor Snape (Alan Rickman, "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"), and is met with vocal threats from He Who Must Not Be Named. Soon enough, standing outside the gothic castle is an overwhelming army of Voldemort's loyal cronies, all thirsty for the blood of the young wizards and witches standing and waiting within the grounds and hallways of Hogwarts School.

What follows is a dizzying array of astonishing special effects, as the students and teachers of Hogwarts defend the magic school to the death (and there are many deaths to be seen). Wands zap away, wizards stampede and lumbering trolls hurl guards made of stone off towering bridges, all the while Harry, Ron and Hermione run about the corridors of Hogwarts, trying to destroy every last Horcrux so that Harry may at last kill Voldemort once and for all.

And in amongst all this eye-pleasing explosive action lies heart-wrenching drama, as characters we've come to know and love are tragically lost in the larger-than-life clash between good and evil. Shockers and bombshells run afoul throughout, whether they be unexpected demises or a sudden changed perception of a supporting character (a scene in which Snape's memories are accessed is a thing of cinematic beauty). Many surprises and revelations are certainly in store for those who are yet to read Rowling's climactic novel, so please try your hardest not to spoil it for them, faithful bookworms!

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" is an incredibly elegant blockbuster. Every aspect of its runtime (which is the shortest of all the films in the franchise, clocking in at just over two hours) is polished to absolute perfection. The action is breathtaking, the special effects are jaw-dropping, the emotional impact is deep and moving, filled with characters we care so much for having to fight for their lives against unimaginable forces of relentless evil. With a franchise so widely adored and cherished as "Harry Potter," an ending as astounding and fulfilling as this is an exceptionally fitting conclusion for its international fans. As the saying goes, "Harry Potter" has went out with a bang. So long, Potter. We shall miss you dearly.

10/10

End note: I saw the film in eye-popping 2D, so I cannot comment on the quality of the post-converted 3D, though I have heard many negative remarks about it. Still, I can confirm that the film is absolutely gorgeous in just two dimensions, with sights such as the Quidditch field going up in flames and Hogwarts castle having a protective force field crafted around its walls certainly easy on the eyes (Eduardo Serra is a wonderful cinematographer).