Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Tom Felton, Robbie Coltrane
Director: David Yates
I continued to keep the book out of my mind when I went to see the eighth and last film of the Harry Potter series. It helped a lot and I watched the movie for the sake of it. Actually, I watched the film a week ago but never got around to write the review.
THE STORY: The film takes off from where Part 1 ended with Dobby’s death. Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione persuade Griphook, the goblin, into breaking into Gringotts with them. They need to get into Bellatrix’s vault to find Hufflepuff’s cup – a horcrux.
Later, the three go to Hogwarts to find the horcrux hidden there. They don’t have a clue as to what the horcrux is. They meet Aberforth Dumbledore (Professor Dumbledore’s brother) and with his help get into Hogwarts with Neville. The old DA members have made the ‘room of requirement’ their home.
While Harry Potter sets off to find the Horcrux, Professor McGonagall holds the fort (literally) along with the other heads of houses, to keep Voldemort and his followers out. The new headmaster, Professor Snape runs away to join his evil master.
Soon, war breaks out at Hogwarts. Watch the film to see the outcome.
MY PERCEPTION: The film is the darkest of the lot, metaphorically and literally too – just as expected. Hogwarts’ portrayal is simply amazing.
Daniel Radcliffe has grown handsomer and has acted too well. He has got better and better with the film series and this one is his best.
The scene that moved me to tears was the one where Snape breaks down holding Lily Potter’s dead body in his arms. Alan Rickman has been consistently excellent in all the eight films.
Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have done their best, which is very good. Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom deserves a mention - he was very good in the last film.
The trio’s escape from Gringotts riding on the guardian dragon was very well shot and the fight sequences were simply amazing.
The wizard war late into the night with spells throwing up sudden light in the surrounding darkness gives one goose bumps – a visual treat indeed.
The scene I liked best was when Professor McGonagall utters the spell ‘piertotum locomotor’ and the suits of armour jump down from their positions. Just loved this one!
The film was portrayed well as regards the clash between good and evil - Harry and Voldemort. But at the same time, the impact of all those deaths was pushed to the background. I felt that it was not good enough. The deaths of Fred Weasley, Lupin, Tonks, Colin Creevey and more were just not given any kind of importance. Pretty sad!
19 AD of Voldemort… It was a cutely made sequence where Daniel Radcliffe was the best of the lot.
VERDICT: If you are a Harry Potter fan, you must have already seen this. If not, it’s definitely worth a watch.
RATING: **** Snazzy
* Silly
** Shaky
*** Smart
**** Snazzy
***** Super
:D No wonder u took so long to put up the reveiew ;)
ReplyDeleteI liked it too, but like you said it was sad but not impactful. Felt like there was more to come.
You have mentioned all the 3scenes I liked along with some others.
Good review. Hope to re-read the books :)
Hey Nilima,
ReplyDeletethat was prompt and encouraging, thank you so much!
I did not expect more as I realise that a film has only so much to offer. That's why switched off from the book before I went to watch it. But felt rather bad about the deaths and so little shown about it. Planning to read Half-blood prince this week before writing the book review ;)