What Do You Think of the Final 'Harry Potter' Film?

Editor's Note: The editor of sister site Studio City Patch was able to view Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 a few days ago, but of course was sworn to secrecy by Warner Bros. until now. We decided to share his sentiments with Hermosa Beach Patch readers.

A group of rather jaded critics who were going in ready to skewer with the sword that Harry Potter carries around attended a private Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 screening earlier this week.

But, in the end, at least three critics contended that not only was this the best of the Harry Potter movies, it could also be a Best Picture contender at the Academy Awards, and win more for special effects or music.

Some of the past movies were a bit confusing, even if you did read the books, but the writing here is more crisp, and the action never wavers.

The acting is better too. Perhaps because the performers have had a decade to develop their roles.

Daniel Radcliffe does more than look baffled or quizzical in the title role, and Emma Watson is more of a young lady as Hermione Granger. It’s Rupert Grint who turns Ron Weasley from a comic sidekick to a true believable hero and remains as likable all the way.

This is the bloodiest of all the books, as it probably should be, because of the epic final battle. It does follow the book rather religiously, and for that fans will be happy.

The story picks up where director David Yates ended the last one. Ralph Fiennes as the creepy noseless Lord Voldemort is snatching the powerful wand from the grips of the corpse of Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Then, Harry is burying the selfless elf Dobby and joining his friends at a safe house along the beach.

It’s here that we first notice that Harry is getting a bit scruffy and should be shaving. And, it’s odd that his scruffiness grows thinner and thicker in each scene even though the action is so non-stop he couldn’t possibly have a chance to shave.

It’s a minor consistency point, but very noticeable. And then, there's an almost gratuitous scene showing the guys take off their shirts. 

One of the most memorable scenes is when they travel down the depths of Gringott’s Bank in a rollercoaster ride reminiscent of a Raiders of the Lost Ark scene, and land themselves in the room of a dragon.

After some deception and surprises, they ride the dragon to safety in a spectacular computer-generated scene and make it back to Hogwarts.

Professor Severus Snape, deliciously played by Alan Rickman, is running Hogwarts and all the usual professors are there (expect a cameo by Emma Thompson as the googley-eyed professor), but there’s a dark shadow over the school.

It gets worse when Harry Potter shows up, however, even though the team is reunited with old friends, especially Neville Longbottom (Matthew David Lewis) in his ever-expanding role.

One of the top-billed performers in the movie is Helena Bonham Carter as the crazed sorceress Bellatrix Lestrange, and she’s just as wacky as ever in this final appearance, making every scene of hers a stand-out performance. (Could this be her Oscar for a dark-horse Supporting Actress nod?)

If you’ve read the books, you know who lives and dies, and you know how the end jumps ahead a few decades to show where everyone is later in life. All of it is satisfying, funny and heartwarming. It’s a successful conclusion to a series that shepherded a lot of youth through their childhoods.

It took until the last movie to recognize the brilliance of The Lord of the Rings, so that the final installment could finally get its just recognition. Perhaps Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 could be named the year’s best movie as the Potter chronicles come to an end.