The film studios really didn't want this to ever come to an end. It's been a fun ride for the past 10 long years, but now it's time for the Harry Potter franchise to step away from the big screen (for at least another decade, when they will re-release them all in 4-D-smell-o-think-o-vision technology). Since this is their last chance for a while, they actually put out dozens of different movie posters for this one film. Looks to me like a special edition TV Guide or Entertainment Weekly issue with multiple covers. Everybody gets a cover, you get a cover! You get a cover! Even Neville gets his own two posters!
I really enjoyed the film, it had something that no other Harry Potter film has had before, an ending. If you haven't seen the movie, you can probably gather from the many posters displayed above that this film is about a showdown between Harry Potter and Voldemort, or good versus evil if you look at simplistically. I have not read the books, and I'm sure there's more detail in them than the films. The first part of the seventh story made for a strange and mostly dull film for me, spending most of the time in a cold isolated tent with three young adults arguing about nothing. The second part is where all the action is.
The idea of bringing war to the home-front of Hogwarts intrigued me, but at times it never truly felt like the wizards were in any real danger. Throughout the series I have seen Hermione heal her friends' missing limbs and broken bones. By the time I should be on the edge of the seat for this all out war, I'm not really worried. Also, I'm not a fan of stories of fate or prophecy. Watching theses films for the past decade, the characters are always discussing this upcoming war, and I know it's all leading to this. And here it is. It's happening, right before our eyes. Ho hum, whatever, just tell me if he lives or not.
Some loose ends of the series are tied up beautifully, and without ruining what they are, I will say it was these conclusions to open questions that made this film more enjoyable for me than the others. I look forward to watching this one again, something I wouldn't say of the earlier films. The ending offers a quick yet satisfying conclusion to the film series. (I wouldn't be surprised if they stretched the last segment into a full length movie ten years from now.)
At the end of the day, I'm not sure if I agree with the messages portrayed in this conclusion. If presented with the same scenario I don't think I could step up like Harry, or even as Neville Longbottom courageously do in this movie. In a way, I suppose bravery is one of the main tenets of a fictional hero, so I shouldn't complain. I do appreciate the time the series has taken to make us question which characters are "good" or bad" guys. This is something that sets the Harry Potter series apart from most other films.
The series as a whole, is a hard sell for me with all the magical concepts that can solve any issue, and especially the persistent fatalistic themes. I prefer to believe in free will and choosing your own path. Harry never really had any control over his life. He was forced to go to Wizard school and trained to fight the most powerful wizard of all time so everyone else can be safe. The idea that Harry just has to grin and bear it, and that the fate of his world is dependent on his specific actions, in this specific scenario, is not only absurd, but may create a false sense of purpose to regular folks, letting people justify decisions or events in their own lives.
Much like Neo in The Matrix series, Harry has no choice in the matter, he must stand up to Voldemort or all of his friends of the wizard world, and eventually all people of the muggle world, will be killed/enslaved/whatever. His morals won't let him back away from a decision like that, and he is a prisoner of the situation. This lack of choice is what I hate about most mainstream movies. It implies we have no choice, or what choice we have is such a no-brainer that we effectively have no choice. Life isn't, or at least shouldn't, be that black and white. Harry is used by those who are older or wiser than him, to achieve "great" things, whether he wants it or not, and that doesn't sit well with me.
4 Stars (out of 5)
