Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 (2011) Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 (2011)

The Deathly Hallows Pt 2 follows Harry Potter, on a mission to destroy the last of the Horcruxes and make one final stand for the fate of the magical world at Hogwarts. 

The eighth, and final entry in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is a fitting finale for one of the best and most consistent series of the past two decades. I laughed, I cried, I was left breathless in disbelief, I cried again, I jumped up and down in excitement, I probably cried again, (I cried a lot) but most importantly, I was left satisfied. Say what you will about the past few Yates helmed Potter movies, but man, this sticks the landing and gives us a finale for the ages (not an easy feat) that rolls wonderfully between excitement, thrills, and emotional drama that just feels exceptionally earned. 

From a story standpoint, the way we shift from one scene to the next is so fluid and fast, and yet, it never feels rushed. It feels like the first film in awhile that is focused on what it wants to do and where it wants to go as it navigates from exhilarating scene to exhilarating scene. And while those are great as always, it’s the final battle that we’ve been waiting years for that really makes all of this worth it, as it delivers in spades. It makes such perfect use of cinematography, special effects, and years worth of character development to make the Battle of Hogwarts, as well as the battle between Harry and Voldemort, have genuine meaning. With each connecting of the wands, each death, each victory, all of it is done so well, culminating in a battle that rivals that of what the almighty LOTR series has to offer. 

We get probably the biggest cast yet (a decades worth), starring Ciarán Hinds, Helena Bonham Carter, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, and Daniel Radcliffe. Fiennes, for what little of him there is (still somehow the most in the series) is beautifully terrifying and when paired with Radcliffe, gives us one of the best final battles yet that, in context with Rickman’s end, feels incredibly earned after such a long wait. You also have to really commend this series for their overall impeccable casting and retention of said cast over the years. It really made the battle of Hogwarts feel like the true culmination of years worth of families, students, teachers, and villains all coming to a head and fighting for all they hold dear. 

Based on the novel by J.K. Rowling, The Deathly Hallows Pt 2, directed by David Yates, is the culmination of 10 years and 8 movies with of storytelling and delivers on the impossible task of wrapping of these stories conclusively but also with beauty and grace as it honors the fans and those who have stuck around long enough to see it through. You won’t be disappointed. 

9.2/10