Harry Potter & the Deathly
Hallows: PART TWO
4 flamers
2011, Warner Bros. Pictures. Directed by David Yates. Running time: 130 minutes. PG13. Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson,
Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes.
Mathew: So, it's really weird to think I've spent ten years watching Harry Potter movies and this one was the last one.
Helm: T'is actually quite sad.
Mathew: You mean the movie is sad or that you're sad the series is over?
Helm: I mean it is sad that you have spent ten years watching these movies.
Mathew: Come on. Don't be like that. I'm being serious. It's weird to be able to look back on a decade of these characters on the big screen. I feel like I have a history with them, like I've watched them grow up. Why, it seems like only yesterday that Daniel Radcliffe was just a child.
Helm: And now he is grown, but you are still just a child. How is that possible?
Mathew: Always got to be a hater, don't you Helm? But I think the gruff thing is just an act to cover the fact that this movie actually got to you. Didn't it? I heard you sniffling! And more than once, too.
Helm: Bah!
Mathew: There's no shame in it, dude. We've got a lot invested in these films, and this is probably the best of the bunch. It's got a lot of cool action, some great battles, awesome magic, the acting is pretty good and there's an extra emotional wallop because the whole thing is finally over. Not quite like the impact when we finished reading the books, but still...
Helm: The last book was, of course, better than this film.
Mathew: Sure, sure. But everybody knew that would be the case going in. The surprising thing was that the film was actually pretty good despite not being as good as the book.
Helm: I do not understand, however, why they feel it necessary to alter key moments in the story. The book was well crafted and paced. The changes did not really improve it.
Mathew: Yup. Agreed. With a few of the changes, it was kind of obvious why they changed stuff, but a lot of them seemed like just, you know, gratuitous messing around.
Helm: And I was somewhat disappointed by a few moments that should have been bigger in terms of their emotional impact. For example the deaths of certain characters seemed a bit glossed over or underplayed.
Mathew: True. Especially, you know, that one particular death.
Helm: Yes.
Mathew: Okay, but those points aside, pretty cool?
Helm: Yes. Pretty cool. The film is worth seeing on the big screen. But probably only if you have seen the other films. I do not know that it would work as a film entirely on its own.
Mathew: Very true.
Four Flaming Sword!!
Four Flaming Swords!!
Helm: Uhm... Mathew?
Mathew: Yes?
Helm: Would you mind putting in one of your Harry Potter DVD's before you go to bed?
Mathew: Mind? Not at all. I was actually thinking I might just run all seven of the other ones back to back and stay up all night watching them. I don't sense any evil afoot. You in?
Helm: I am. But the first two are truly awful. And the third is little better.
Mathew: Truly. But, I kind of feel like we have to watch them all.
Helm: Damn that Chris Columbus.