Review By - Leo Oliveto
I was fortunate enough to be invited to watch the final Harry Potter on the Warner Bros. lot. This already being an exiting even for the simple fact that it was the conclusion of ten years of something a lot of us have been following. Walking through the WB back-lot made it that much more magical! But enough about that lets get to reviewing this movie. 
There's no need to talk about story or character as these things were pretty much set in stone. Although its worth pointing out that Daniel Radcliffe put on a great performance as his character might have been the only one to have a major turning point. Also, there is no need to talk about the visuals because like most all there other summer blockbusters the effects are truly amazing. What should be pointed out is the great job that was done unraveling the story of this film considering that a major portion of the entire thing is a battle. I believe it triumphed as an action epic where others movies, this summer, have fallen flat. Instead of a non stop, explosion ridden, gratuitous slow motion using three hour bore that leaves you numb; HP7P2 actually manages to keep my interest the entire time and never seems repetitive. This is partly because of the great story but it also has to do with the way the film is paced. The audience is given a chance to breath and digest the scenes and situations. Yet still keeping it interesting by making the slower and smaller moments of equal or more importance as the actual fighting. There is also an amazing use of subtleties. These little gems are spread spread within the most exiting moment and the more personal ones creating a sense of believability, which allows for the audience to connect with the characters on screen. Most epic action movies today seem to focus on flash instead of character causing the audience to loose interest in the goals of the protagonist on the screen. Once that connection of audience and hero is lost the movie becomes pointless i.e. boring. Luckily this film has the opposite effect. I felt like i was with Harry every step of the way! When he hurt I hurt. When he was sad I was sad. When he felt joy I did as well.
Indeed all the regular elements of a great film are accomplished by HP7P2. But its biggest accomplishment by far is taking an action packed film and connecting with the audience with nuances and character.
Check out My review as a reader of the books & HP7P2 preview after the jump
Its is interesting to see that the media is saying that Harry Potter purist (Meaning those who believe the events and charters in the books is the only true telling of the story) have happily embraced the films. Yet many of the true die-hards I have come across hate the changes they have made throughout the films. I personally can understand that films that are adapted from novels can never be exactly the same as the book, for the simple fact that some things that work well as a written work totally fail as a visual.
The order in which I came to Harry Potter is a bit unorthodox . I had seen up to the fifth movie, I believe, with out ever picking up a book. After a while I got tired of someone close to me complaining that the story was being butchered. So I decided to read the books before the sixth film came out.So read them I did. Back to back. With in the span of a couple of month. Mind you I hadn't really like any of the movies after the second one. I felt they were very choppy and hard to follow. After reading the book it became real clear that tons of things were left out. Not just little things but major events and several character. My assumption of the films being choppy was correct because it was a chopped up story pulled out of a details rich book. Still what is left out for me is never as bad as when things are added. That was my only issue with this last film as far as the books are concerned. The worst instance of this was the final battle between Harry and Lord Voldemort . It was such a difference that it took me out of the movie and I lost a bit of the ride. But considering all the changes made this is a minor offense. Although I wonder if I had never read the book would I have been able to follow the story... probably not.If you haven't read the books and are sad that the movies are over do yourself a favor and read them. It will be like a super extended directors cut full of left out scenes and character. Plus since you've seen the movies youll know what most everyone looks like giving you a vivid clear picture.
Also (and this is my personal opinion) I don think this is the last we've heard of harry potter or at least that universe.
Dude, I gotta disagree. I watched the movie two days ago, and the more i think about it, the more i think it sucked. Maybe it didn't suck terribly, but it is a thin line between bad and mediocre.
ReplyDeleteIn general, the HP film series has been nothing short of professionally-made, well-acted, and nicely-designed. It just is that the films are rarely deeply-felt. This one is the same, and unlike the better films in the series,this film has even fewer moments of genuine inspiration.
Yes, the special effects are nice looking, with top-shelf CGI. But they aren't anything we haven't seen before. I say the creatures, and even the battle scenes, were all done better ten years ago, when they were in Lord of the Rimgs films. Peter Jackson tried his hardest to give us something new and exciting. David Yates is content giving us his version of Peter Jackson's accomplishments.
Tje storytelling falls into all the same traps as the earlier fikms, trying to squeeze too much plot and too many characters into too short a run-time, and the acting is always fun too watch, but i just wish they tried a little harded. But i guess making 8 movies in 10 years will do that to you.