Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

It must be hard saying goodbye to a movie franchise. Unless, of course, you are an evil necromancer like George Lucas, capable of resurrecting dead horses only to flog them some more... a bit much? I think not.
Anyway...
Perhaps it is a mark of respect, or pure fear, that no other films were released at the multiplexes this week. Only someone as foolish as Lord Voldemort would dare take on the power of Potter and his billion dollar empire.
Director David Yates has been aboard the Hogwarts's Express since film five, The Order of the Phoenix, and with him, a maturity has been brought to the Potter films. Gone are the Chris Columbus days where young audiences wondered at dishes being washed by magic and drooled over chocolate frogs in the first two films.
Alfonso Cuaron took over the franchise for The Prisoner of Azkaban and gave us a much darker Potter. Thanks must go to Mike Newell, director of The Goblet of Fire and The One Who Killed R-Pattz.
While the directors come and go, one of the names that hasn't changed in the end credits is that of the man who adapted J.K. Rowling's wonderous books to the screen, Steve Kloves. That man has the most awesomest resume ever. Adding to that, he's also written The Amazing Spider-Man which is coming soon.
So, this is the end, beautiful friend, the end.
And what a hell of an ending. Even though in Part 1 it felt like I was watching a special on camping grounds, I am so glad they split the final book and gave this last part all the time it needed. Although, I was expecting a good two and a half hours, not the just-over two hours running time. A small quibble.
I won't go through the synopsis, no spoilers here. I'm sure there are other people like me out there who read the books but can't remember what happened in them - it just makes the film even more enjoyable not knowing what to expect.
The cast, as always, was stellar. A few more scenes with Hagrid and even Fred and George would have been nice, maybe in the directors cut?  I guess that's the price one pays for having such a large cast and so much other stuff going on.
It was nice being reunited with a few of the characters we haven't seen for a while, even if it was only for a moment. I do hope all those lovely English actors will be able to find work soon now that the franchise is over! If only our film industry could enjoy a boon like the UK on must have had over the past ten years. Special kudos to Rowling for insisting the films be shot locally. What a lady!
I saw it in 3D, this is the first of the films to be screened in 3D. I can't help but wonder if they will, like a certain someone surely will, release them all in 3D in the near future. I hope not. But for this installment, I did enjoy the special Harry Potter glasses and all they had to offer. There were many great special effects sequences that were enhanced even more by the extra dimension.
Yates and Kloves have done a marvellous job in keeping the humour, heart and emotion in the story, there were many times when the audience laughed out loud, held their breath, reached for their tissues (guilty!).
I am sad it's over, but I'm also glad it went out with a bang. If you can name another franchise that has had eight films that have all been brilliantly done, I'll eat my hat*
Things I learnt: Alan Rickman does the best Alan Rickman impersonations; I can't wait to read the books again (uni reading load permitting); I'm gonna miss you, Harry Potter.
(Sorting) hats off!
Nine out of ten.



*may substitute my hat for a sandwich