Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

• Here it is. The conclusion to one of the most popular film series ever, and one of the most iconic franchises of all time. That being said, this is one of my favorite films of the series, and arguably the most emotional. Well, maybe not arguably. It IS the most emotional. It picks up immediately after the first part without skipping a beat. The two Deathly Hallows parts are good examples of a very solid and seamless back-to-back watch. Maybe I’ll do that one day. Anyways, it picks up in the middle of the hunt for the Horcruxes, slowly building up to the epic Battle of Hogwarts. Much like the previous film, it takes its time showing the exploration and journey of the main three, rather than immediately rushing to the end. The pacing is quite wonderful, and there’s not too many moments that drag on or seem pointless. It’s just a great adaptation of the second half of the book. Then comes the Battle. Not only is it super fun, and THE battle of the series, but it’s quite devastating and will definitely destroy your heart. I’m, of course, referencing certain deaths, but I obviously won’t say which (spoilers). That’s what makes it so monumental though, because the stakes are REAL. It’s not a good conclusion unless bold decisions are made involving the lives of certain characters. I’ll stand on that. The score is absolutely fantastic, and really helps fuel the flames of war and destruction. Not only that, but it also helps deliver maybe the most sentimental and emotional moment of the entire series (Snape’s one word, which we’ll talk about soon). The VFX are probably the best of the series, and the Academy Award nomination was well warranted. Now, the cast. Amazingly great, with some of the best performances of the series. The main trio are fantastic, Michael Gambon’s flashback scenes are powerful, Ralph Fiennes cements himself in cinema history as an all time great villain, and Alan Rickman…..well, let’s talk about Alan Rickman. That man deserves eight different Oscars, one for each film performance. But this film is by far THE performance that defines his character, and a reason why he’s my favorite character in the franchise. His delivery of the most heartbreaking word of the series should have been enough to get him an Oscar nom. Who knew that six letters could be so beautiful, heartbreaking, and gut wrenching. It might be a top ten favorite moment in cinema history for me. Alan, we miss you. Overall, this is one of the best endings to any film series, and there’s a reason it grossed over a billion dollars. I would recommend it to all Harry Potter/fantasy fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!