Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II (****)

After 11 years, the Harry Potter saga has come to an end. Through ups and downs, we have witnessed the maturing of three actors before our very eyes, and finally we must say goodbye. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II may not be the best movie of the series (in my opinion) but it makes up for most flaws with great acting and a sharp narrative which zips forward at lightning speed.

Picking up immediately from the last moments of Part I, Harry, Ron, & Hermione leave the cottage at the beach on a whim to find another horocrux, this time in Bellatrix Lestrange's bank vault. The book records weeks of planning to break in, while the film presents it as though it all happened in an afternoon. While the performance of Helena Bonham Carter is humorous as Hermione, I felt as though enough time was not spent developing the scene for it to reach its full effect. The Gringotts scene, likewise, rolls through and is soon gone, with barely enough time for audiences to ask when the goblins had transformed from the first film into more deformed Hobbits now.

Soon they arrive in Hogwarts, and rightly so, as the bulk of the film is spent on the long-awaited battle, which is deservedly praised and well-filmed. Seeing nearly all the characters from past films, no matter how fleeting, was an incredible treat if only to realize the impressive lineup of accomplished actors these films have had. Among them is Maggie Smith, who steals every scene she is in and delivers applause-worthy one liners.

Severus Snape, as played by Alan Rickman, is perhaps the most talked-about performance of the film. Although it appears Rickman has put on weight and a bit more eyeshadow, his final moments in the film are beautifully-acted and powerful pieces of acting. Any other year, Rickman could potentially be a dark horse for an Oscar nomination, but I believe the early release date and genre will prevent any such upset.

Of course the films are not without their flaws, I for one constantly noting how diluted the original writings of JK Rowling are from book to screen. Of course they can't fit everything in, but to loyal readers, some of the choices of inclusion and exclusion more often than not detract from the final film. For one who has not read a single Harry Potter book, this could potentially be a flawless film, who knows. I personally found Part I to be a more rewarding and better-made film, but that's just me. I know people who think differently. There's no right answer.

Technically the film is great, with the destruction of Hogwarts representing some of the best sets of the year. Alexandre Desplat, film composer, finishes his work with the films, having scored both Part I & II. I believe his score for the first film could have easily been an Oscar contender, but don't expect this score to win. Too much of John William's original score from Sorcerer's Stone is interspersed for it to truly be considered 'original,' though that should not be interpreted as derogatory; Desplat ends the series on a high note

At long last, the film has come and gone, and we can finally look back on one impressive film series - in fact THE most successful film series in history, grossing over $7 billion worldwide. Yes, these figures are impressive, but to readers, the simple joy of seeing the beloved books come to life is amazing enough. While Harry Potter has not fared too well at the Oscars thus far (a combined 9 nominations with no wins so far). I doubt the film has enough credibility to produce an actual win (perhaps in Visual Effects or Art Direction) though there have definitely been times in Oscar's past where Harry Potter was ominously overlooked for gold. Overall a wonderful film and a great conclusion to a truly magical series.

(Awards potential: Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing)