HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2.

US/UK, 2011, 130 minutes. Colour.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Domhnall Gleeson, Clemence Poesy, Warwick Davis, John Hurt, Helena Bonham Carter, Kelly Macdonald, Jason Isaacs, Helen Mc Crory, Tom Felton, Ciaran Hinds, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Maggie Smith, Jim Broadbent, Miriam Margolyes, Gemma Jones, George Harris, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, David Bradley, Nick Moran, Geraldine Somerville, Robbie Coltrane, Gary Oldman.
Directed by David Yates.

Well, that’s that.

We can presume that there will be very few Harry Potter fans who will not enjoy this grand finale to a series that began on the screen in 2001. This is the eighth in a series that has followed Harry Potter and his friends, Hermione and Ron, going to Hogwarts as student magicians, a series of struggles with the powers of evil, embodied in Lord Voldemort, that has seen their growing up, a number of sad deaths, lots of magic and spells and a conclusion that takes on issues of the battle between good and evil, willingness to lay down life for others, and an ending that offers happiness and peace.

Not having succumbed to the temptation to read the novels, I rely on well-read experts to discover whether the films follow J.K. Rowling’s novels closely or not. Current advice is that this final film is very close to the novel.

Part I began with drama and threats to Harry Potter and attempts by the Order of the Phoenix to protect him from Voldemort. Then it moved into a more quiet, slowly suspenseful mode as Harry and his friends sought the horcruxes which contained part of Voldemort himself. Then the film stopped. The second part is, one might say, both active and contemplative. The action and effects are impressive. One could single out the early visit and disguises for a visit to Bellatrix’s secret vault (and a dragon flight). The battles are impressive, with the tending of the dead and wounded looking like a World War I hospital scene. Then there are the wand battles (Maggie Smith especially relishing Professor McGonagle’s? duel with Voldemort). And there are the villains’ explosive deaths. It was also a pleasure to see flying brooms again.

As regards the contemplation, there was a lot to think about, especially for those who have not read the books, in the flashbacks, the explanations of Harry’s origins, the role of Professor Snape, Harry’s psychic connection with Voldemort and the strategy of Dumbledore (who turns up as a considerable presence in this film, along with his previously unknown brother) with Snape as regards Harry’s ultimate fate.

Practically all the main cast are back, even if for only short scenes (Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black). Ralph Fiennes has been an excellent Voldemort, Michael Gambon a persuasive Dumbledore and Alan Rickman, a mysterious Severus Snape. No need to despair, Robbie Coltrane’s Hagrid eventually turns up. The only major new character is the Ghost of Helena Ravenclaw, played by Kelly Macdonald.

The other major thing about the series is that audiences over ten years have watched Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson grow up from age ten to twenty and have accepted them – and probably could not imagine their characters any other way.

A worthy end to the series and a special word of gratitude is needed for American writer, Steve Kloves, who has written all the screenplays except for The Order of the Phoenix, and for David Yates who directed the final four films which kept the audiences wanting more until the end.

1. The impact of this final film? Entertainment? The popularity of the novels, the films? J.K. Rowling’s world? Her appeal to the imagination?

2. The finale, all the strands coming together?

3. Audience expectations of the characters, the struggle, the magic, Hogwarts and the staff, the students? The battle between good and evil? Voldemort and the enemies? Harry as the hero?

4. The satisfactory explanations of the mysteries of the plot, Harry as a baby, his mother, Voldemort, the presence of Snape? Harry as a Horcrux of Voldemort? Inside Voldemort’s mind? Dumbledore and the plan for Harry, fostering him? The role of Severus Snape? Dumbledore’s death? Responsibilities? Snape, his attitude towards Harry? His death? Saving Harry? Draco Malfoy and the death of Dumbledore? Harry and his final choices, to die, to rise?

5. The satisfactory happy ending, nineteen years later, the new generation going to Hogwarts?

6. Part One and the issue of the Horcruxes, Harry and his being hidden, Hermione and Ron and their support? Alone? The time to confront Voldemort?

7. The central three, their age, growing throughout the films, their experiences, the development of their personalities, relationships?

8. Going to Ollivander and asking his explanations? The elder wand? The ownership, the control, the obedience of the wand? The mysteries of who possessed it? Snape, Draco Malfoy? The death of Voldemort and Harry having the wand? Deciding to destroy it?

9. The goblin, Griphook? The discussions with him, saving his life? The promise of the sword, his helping the three into Bellatrix’s vault, leaving them to be trapped, his death?

10. Going to the bank, the plan, Harry and the invisibility, Hermione as Bellatrix (and Helena Bonham Carter taking the role)? The visuals of the bank, the dwarf staff? The officer, his suspicions? The guards and their police and uniform attitudes? Going down, the vastness, the vault, the treasures, their multiplying, getting the chalice, the escape? The dragon, the sound intimidating him? Hermione, getting on the back of the dragon, the others, flying away? The destruction of the vault, the bank? The staff?

11. The decision to go to Hogwarts, getting the train?

12. Voldemort, his appearance in the prologue, his power? Snape and the glimpse of the school, Hogwarts under his control, the dragooned students?

13. Harry, arrival at Hogwarts, the students, happy to meet him? Snape and the assembly? The threats? The student reactions? Harry coming forward?

14. Harry, the plan, to find the Horcrux in the tiara and destroy it? Voldemort and the attack?

15. The battle sequences, the hostile forces advancing from the forest? The use of magic? The giants, the statues coming alive? The arrows? Using the wands? The people dying? Professor Mc Gonagall, her appearance, decision to help Harry? Confronting Voldemort with her wand? The glimpses of the other members of the staff?

16. Dumbledore’s appearances, his acting as a guide? Harry and his understanding some of the mysteries? Going to Dumbledore’s brother’s house, his initial hostility, the sister in the framework? The criticisms of Dumbledore? Later helping?

17. Dumbledore and Snape, their discussions, the truth about the deaths, the plans for Harry, Snape, Voldemort killing him? His final talk with Harry – and Harry understanding? Audiences’ interest in the complexity of Snape’s character?

18. The last Horcrux, in the tiara, Helena as the ghost, her whims? Harry and the encounter, the search, finding it? The destruction – and the effect on Voldemort?

19. Voldemort and his snake, the power? The threats? Stopping the snake?

20. Voldemort, the appointment in the forest, Harry’s arrival, Hagrid and his being bound? The escape?

21. Mrs Weasley, her presence at Hogwarts? The confrontation with Bellatrix, destroying her, the deaths of her children?

22. Harry and his knowledge, understanding the truth of his situation? His heritage? The fact that he had to die, for others? Being ready? The resurrection stone? Voldemort destroying him – Mrs Malfoy declaring he was dead (and her motivations to save her husband and son)? The ambiguity of Draco and his indebtedness to Harry for saving his life? Hagrid carrying Harry to Hogwarts?

23. His rising, the confrontation, the death of Voldemort? Hermione and Ron and their presence?

24. Harry as a Christ figure? Death, resurrection, laying down of life for others? Saviour? Order restored at Hogwarts?

25. The postscript, the nineteen years, Ron and Hermione and their love for each other, Harry and Jenny Weasley? Seeing their children, the discussions between Harry and his son, the train to Hogwarts?

26. The achievement in this film, and in the whole series? Its popularity? Firing the imagination of so many readers and viewers?