A review of a special showing of the debut of the new Harry Potter film.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
07-17-2011
- by Dante Alexander, Staff Mumbler
A review of a special showing of the debut of the new Harry Potter film.

I went to the midnight showing of the new Harry Potter film when it debuted and, statistically speaking, so did half of you. It's a movie that's breaking pre-sale records like nobody's business as fans flock to the theaters to watch the last two and a half hours of their childhood fade away in the most satisfying way they could hope to ask for. It's been many years, in which the series can boast seven novels and eight books, and though the end may feel strange or sad for the most devoted fans- those that have grown up with the franchise -it should be noted that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II does the series every bit of justice it deserves. I would have to say that it is doubtless the best movie of the eight, and I would know because I was one of those devoted fans [editors note: psychos] that watched all seven previous films in a row the day before the premiere.

Maybe it's just overwhelmingly satisfying to see so many bits of storyline wrapped up, or perhaps it's not the film itself, but the fact that it is based on the book with the largest scale storyline (an epic battle of hundreds upon hundreds of crazed wizards certainly beats out the boring bits about Harry shopping for textbooks), but for whatever reason was the most potent, this is easily the best movie in the series. Easily. The actors seem to have grown into their parts enough so that they have a great handle on what they're doing, the action keeps you tense, Allan Rickman shows his most amazing acting out of the whole series, and every bit of comic relief- usually hit and miss with Harry Potter -is indisputably funny.

"I've always wanted to use that spell," retorts professor McGonagall with a near smirk after bringing an army of statues to life for the defense of the castle in the imminent battle.

If you have any experience with the Harry Potter franchise, this is a film you want to see- an epic conclusion that will blow you away. The last film has taken the series to new grounds in storytelling and dramatic tension, and so much so that it even seems strange to think that is in the same series as the quite nearly whacky kids movies from the beginning. This movie isn't only a landmark in the series, but it stands out as a great accomplishment for all movies, and while I wouldn't recommend seeing it without having seen the rest of the series, I would give this film a 9 out of 10 rating even when compared with the most renowned of Hollywood classics.