But In The End It's Right

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (2011)

Harry Potter film series has come to a close. The Harry Potter series has meant a lot to me. I believe it has for a large number of people. It was the biggest phenomenon of my generation. I read the first book when I was 11, way back in the year 1999. Obviously, the question whether Harry Potter is a literary work of art does not matter to me even one bit. It's been a long eventful ride. For me, it ended in 2007 when I finished the last book quicker than any other any other book I had ever read before. The film franchise started in 2001 and to be honest I loved it, especially the first three movies. Now, it is coming to a close and it is a sad time. The last Harry Potter is a befitting finale. But the fact that I am a Harry Potter fan and one who has lived and grown up with the series, it must have its implications (good and bad).

I love the first 3 movies. The first two directed by Chris Columbus had the correct amount of child-like wonder and "magic" so to speak. The music, oh my god, the music. John Williams literally told the Harry Potter story just with the music. The third one peeled off all the Harry Potter-ness of the previous two and Alfonoso Cuaron created a gem. The fact that the third book is also my favorite book helped. The fourth book, on the other hand, was always my least favorite. I felt like it was a step back for JK Rowling. The fourth movie was sufficient. It was like a high school movie, a territory which even the books did not enter. I admit it was fun to watch. Till then, the film franchise was going good, keeping my personal reservations aside.

Then came the fifth book, which I loved. It was dark, the characters were maturing, the innocence was shedding off. Although, the beauty still existed. The film version appalled me. I was speechless. How could you suck out all the magic from a Harry Potter movie? Only a dementor can and that dementor is David Yates. I'm sorry, but you sir have ruined the Harry Potter series for me. The sixth book was not the best book so a mediocre director could definitely not improve it. The last book is also one of my favorite books. It was a grand finish. A tremendously satisfying one. But Mr. Yates ruined it with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010). Again, there was no magic in the film, no beauty. But I was waiting, I pacified myself thinking there is still one more to go, some magic could happen. But the magic occurred only in parts and sadly, not at the most important point. By magic, I do not mean wizards casting spells, I mean movie magic. When you have a phenomenon like Harry Potter and JK Rowling's magnificent imagination, you need a director who can understand its mythology, if not match it. I wouldn't say Chris Columbus is a genius, but at least he understood the books the way a child would. There was a sense of wonder in both his outings. Not to mention bucket-loads of movie magic. He explained the plot, the little details for Potter virgins. The Yates movies are not Potter-virgin-friendly at all! In the final film I can bet most people who haven't read the books wouldn't even know that Lupin had a child till he mentions it. (Oh yes, he "mentions" him, they don't show him). Heck, there was so much detailing even visually in the first 4 movies. Yates, on the other hand, leaves his frames empty. It is preoccupied with being dark. There is no transcendence for the audience. I'm sure non-Potter fans would turn away from the entire anthology of books and movies if they saw any of the final four first.

But on the bright side, this is Yates' best stab at the Harry Potter films. Especially the first hour is a fine one. From the trio breaking out of Gringotts to Voldemort breaking into Hogwarts, it's absolutely great but after that it took huge dip, at least for me. I loved the amount of weight Snape has been given in the final film. He is my favorite character in the whole series. (Yes, the books and the film). Snape's memories that come alive in the Pensieve is uniquely touching. David Yates got it right with this one. What Yates does not get it right is the final battle and Voldemort. The war, okay wait, where was the war?!! You split the final book into two movies for this? Certain deaths of major characters were completely side-lined! The romance between Ron and Hermione is limited to abrupt kissing and holding hands. (Mature, isn't it?) Most notably, the climactic duel between Harry and Voldemort ended with a whimper and not with a bang. You don't cut to Slughorn talking about his missing wand after a scene people have been anticipating since 7 films. Total lack of imagination on the director's part. A pity. The epilogue, let me not even talk about the epilogue, it makes my blood boil.

There is also some humor that Yates has introduced through his four films. It worked in the Half Blood-Prince. But here it fails. In fact, there is some unintentional humor. Especially when it comes to Voldemort. When you have a brilliant actor like Ralph Fiennes, you can rarely go wrong. Next in line to blame comes the director. If you see the fourth film he looks menacing, creepy. Now, he looks like just another villain and not even a good one. The scenes between Harry and Voldemort almost fall flat. Voldemort's evil laughter is not threatening at all.

Now, keeping aside the fan in me, the film is not bad. It is a good one. I loved Professor McGonagall going badass. I cheered when Bellatrix Lestrange was destroyed by Molly Weasley. (Oops, spoiler, sorry). When the Ron/ Hermione romance finally saw culmination I did feel relieved. My heart was still pretty much satisfied. But for my head, it is disappointing. I should have been satisfied but to be honest I don't want to be satisfied, I want to be blown away. I was glad to see bits from the John Williams score used here again. It added to the magic a bit. It is a befitting finale because well, the story is already told in the books. It was befitting on paper already. Kurosawa said "With a good script, a good director can produce a masterpiece. With the same script, a mediocre director can produce a passable film. But with a bad script even a good director can't possibly make a good film." Analogizing this, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is a little more than passable film. 

The first three films will stay with me forever. I'm pretty sure I won't be going back to the last four films that much. Yes, I will revisit them because I have no other choice but not with an unadulterated sense of elation. Dare I say it, I would like to see a remake of the entire series. Till then, Harry Potter will live in my head and heart more than it will on screen.

Albeit, I must not discount the fact that these 8 films have accounted for the best times I have spent watching movies this decade. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, take a bow. Steve Kloves and David Heyman have gallantly stuck by the films throughout. Not to mention, the amazing feat of including this handsome band of actors in one franchise: Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, Emma Thompson, David Thewlis, Gary Oldman, Jim Broadbent, Brendon Gleeson, Helena-Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Jason Isaacs, Bill Nighy, Julie Walters, Miranda Richardson, Rhys Ifans, Ciaran Hinds, John Hurt, John Cleese, Warwick Davies and Imelda Staunton.   

Rating: 

(Confession: The rating is high just because it is Harry Potter and not for the film as such)

Order of preference-

Books - 3 > 7 > 5 > 2 > 1 > 6 & 4

Films - 3 > 1 & 2  > 4 > 7.2 > 6 > 5 & 7.1