Wizard of Awe

Harry completes his journey, plus Pooh’s new chapter

(July 21, 2011) HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2. As some readers know, I began my association with the Journal as a film reviewer in November 2001 when I reviewed Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone, the film adaptation of the first in J.K. Rowling’s seven-book series. The cover story of that issue dealt with three grade-school children who attended the film with Arts and Culture Editor Bob Doran and reported their reactions to him.

As I recall, I had mixed feelings about the film, and I particularly disliked the seeming endless and tedious Quidditch match. The three young critics no doubt enjoyed the film more than I did, and I sometimes wonder what they thought of the subsequent film adaptations of the Potter books. As for me, I became a fan as the films got darker and more complex, and Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the only major commercial release I have looked forward to this summer.

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2

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In retrospect, I can see the first film as an appropriate setup for the story to follow. In any case, the second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a triumph. The images that run during the opening credits are a beautiful tonal bridge from the end of Part 1 to the story’s continuation and conclusion here.

While there are still significant details to be worked out, the real thrust of the narrative here is the build up to the showdown that has been in the works since the beginning, and in this instance Harry must carry the burden of the climactic moments mostly on his own.

Of course, this series has never been about a simple confrontation between good and evil; Rowling is a much better writer than that. This is a story about discovering and dealing with the evil embedded in all good. While the surface story does indeed pit the good wizards against the powerful and evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, of course, better than ever) and his minions, that battle does not define the deeper story. Rowling is clever at dropping hints throughout her series about the nature of the final showdown, and director David Yates, who has helmed the last four Potter adaptations, is very good at revealing them with appropriate narrative discretion.

It is seldom that a film viewer gets to spend some 10 years with the same characters and actors, and it has been an interesting and strange experience to watch Harry, Hermione and Ron grow into mature young adults while also observing the maturation of actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, both in age and sophistication as actors. But the films benefit equally from what might be the best cast ever assembled for a film series. Offhand, I cannot think of a single weak link in the casting.

This eighth and final film of the series is less brooding and more action-oriented than its predecessor, and Yates’ direction is focused and efficient. He ramps up the tension almost without the viewer noticing.

It is a bit melancholic saying goodbye to Harry and his friends and enemies, and I can only imagine how the actors must have felt at the end. But the film has come to a very fine and very enjoyable complete circle. Perhaps this reviewer should think of doing the same. 130m. PG-13. In 3D at the Broadway and Fortuna, 2D at the Broadway, Mill Creek and Minor.

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