Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2

We went for this movie the next day after it released. I had submitted my review of this movie on ibnlive.com and waited for the results but didnt find it on the website. So imagine my pleasant surprise when a courier arrived 2 days back with a T Shirt!

I started reading the Harry Potter series in the year 2001 and since then I am almost a HP fanatic!! So, when the last ever movie in the Harry potter franchise released, I was very eager to watch the movie and I took along my 21 month old daughter to the movie with the hope that she would peacefully sleep and she was co-operative too!

Here is my review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part -2 begins with Lord Voldemort taking the Elder wand from Dumbledore’s tomb with the belief that it will help him defeat Harry. Harry buries the faithful Dobby outside Shell Cottage and then decides to retrieve the next Horcrux from Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault at Gringotts with the help of the goblin Griphook who demands the sword of Gryffindor in exchange. Hermione disguises herself as Bellatrix using Polyjuice potion and the next few scenes are really funny with the vicious Bellatrix speaking like Hermione!! They manage to reach the vault but pass through a waterfall that reveals their true identity. While Griphook leaves them, they manage to retrieve the next Horcrux-Helga Hufflepuff’s cup. They narrowly escape by flying on a dragon which was supposed to protect the vault.

Harry has a vision into Lord Voldemort’s mind and finds out that the next Horcrux is at Hogwarts and that it is related to Rowena Ravenclaw. They apparate into Hogsmeade only to encounter the Caterwauling Charm and are saved by Aberforth Dumbledore who provides them with a safe passage into Hogwarts. Harry finds all his friends from Dumbledore’s Army under Neville’s guidance. Lord Voldemort arrives at Hogwarts and the Battle begins. When Professor Mc Gonagall gleefully casts the “Piertotum Locomotor” charm to secure Hogwarts, you know that the epic battle will not let you down. Harry sets forth to search for the next Horcrux and finds that it is the lost diadem of Ravenclaw that is hidden in the Room of Requirement. (This portion is slightly different from the book)

Hermione and Ron manage to get into the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve a Basilisk fang that enables them to destroy the cup. Meanwhile Harry finds Draco and his cronies in the Room of Requirement who prevent him from taking the diadem. One of them casts the “Fiendfyre” charm that eventually engulfs the entire room and kills him too. Harry and his friends escape on broomsticks and also save Malfoy. Thus, this Horcrux too is destroyed leaving behind only Nagini.

Harry and his friends then proceed to see Voldemort killing Snape as he believes that since Snape killed Dumbledore, he must kill Snape to ensure that the Elder Wand obeys him. Before dying, Snape gives Harry some of his memories which reveal that Snape loved Harry’s mother Lily and that he had tried his best to protect Harry all these years, despite hating his father. Harry also learns an unbelievable fact that he was a Horcrux too-an unplanned one that was created when a fragment of Voldemort’s soul entered him when he tried to kill him as a baby. He also learns that he must face Voldemort and die to destroy the Horcrux. Harry uses the Resurrection Stone hidden inside the Snitch and sees his parents, Sirius and Lupin who promise to be by his side. He faces Voldemort who casts the “Avada Kedavra” curse on him.

The next few scenes where Harry meets Dumbledore form the crux of the story which may not be easily understood by someone who has not read the book. The gist is that Voldemort destroyed the Horcrux in Harry leaving behind the mortal Harry who comes back to kill Voldemort. The final battle sequences are jaw dropping and the adrenaline kick is awesome. When Neville gets his best moments in the movie by killing Nagini, one can’t help but clap in sheer joy that the last Horcrux is gone. Finally, when Harry beats Lord Voldemort, the experience is unbelievable! (Since Dumbledore was disarmed by Draco Malfoy and since Harry was using Draco’s wand, he was the true master of the Elder wand)

My only grouse against the movie is that the kissing scenes were awkward and unnecessary. Also, the death of significant characters like Fred Weasley, Lupin and Tonks was not adequately portrayed.

The last sequence which shows the grown up Harry and his friends with their kids after 19 years is simply a must watch!

So there goes the last HP movie and I have just 1 request: “Dear Ms Rowling, even if Daniel Radcliffe doesn’t want an eighth HP book, we all wish for one!!”

PS: I found the link with my name!!