Meggin Watches Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two

           Because mostly the entire world knows what happens in the last Harry Potter film due to having seen the movie already or having read the book (and if you haven’t done any of these, you’re out of your mind. Why are you even reading this?), this review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two is going to be different. Or special. Whichever word you prefer. Instead of providing a synopsis of the movie and then the comparisons and my opinions of it, I’m going to provide my reactions to this OUTSTANDING movie. Yes, before I start off, I rate it five out of five stars for epic performances by the entire cast, great retelling of the novel, and the visual effects.

            I went to the midnight premiere of the film with several acquaintances of mine (cosplaying as Cho Chang. Asians ftw), but that very weekend, I went back to the cinema and took notes. This is what my thoughts look like: 

It’s a bit jumbled up, isn’t it? So here’s my much more organised version of what I thought about the movie. WARNING: This is not in chronological order.

            I watched the Literal Harry Potter trailer before heading off to the cinema, so at the really intense/serious moments, I’d think of the trailer to keep from crying my eyes out.

Students in Hogwarts marching in lines everywhere? Snape’s definitely increased discipline in the school...Reminds me of those strict fictional boarding schools I read about.

Neville = BAMF

Brilliant music! Alexandre Desplat is one of my favourite composers (closely following John Williams, Danny Elfman, and Murray Gold).

Neville + Luna. <3!! Even though that wasn’t originally in the book, it’s great to see how the film played out the awkward romance.

Professor McGonagall is one of my two favourite Hogwarts teachers. Maggie Smith is a gem; I’ve seen her play the strict-corset-grandmother role in so many films and costume TV dramas, and it’s so great to see her out of her typecast. Her epic duel with Snape is just outstanding, and I adore her hilarious quotes! “I’ve always wanted to use that spell!”

Way to mention that Harry’s Invisibility Cloak is a Deathly Hallow...There was one moment where Harry was the most powerful wizard ever...

Beautiful recreation of the Resurrection Stone. It hardly looks like a stone at all, but a perfectly carved gem. I did notice the Deathly Hallows symbol on it..

THE DRAGON IN GRINGOTTS OH HOLY EFF. I’ve never been so scared of a dragon in my entire life.

BELLATRIX LESTRANGE IS MY FAVOURITE VILLAIN IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE. Half the time I often ask, “What the frack is she doing?” because she’s always doing something weird or different from all the other Death Eaters.

When Hermione is disguised as Bellatrix: brilliant acting! All the more reason why I love Helena Bonham Carter!

Bill Weasley is fit.

WTF is Cho still doing at Hogwarts?

I spy Percy...

“My lord?” *Voldemort kills* That’s a great way to die...

What?! In the book, Lavender does not get nommed on by Fenrir Greyback!

Neville vs. the Snatchers. Hilarious and epic. Neville’s changed so much!

When Harry explains who really owns the Elder Wand...Hilarious how he worded it a bit blatantly sarcastic. “It’s mine.” Laugh.

VOLDY, DON’T BREAK THE ELDER WAND!

Brilliant photography. Hats off to the cinematographers.

When Harry reads “I open at the close,” I then understood what it meant.

Voldy’s army. My reaction: “Oh shit...”

Harry, upon seeing his dearly departed relatives after retrieving the Resurrection Stone, hardly looks at his dad. Gee, way to leave out James...

RIP Lupin, Tonks, Fred. :’(

“That’s my girlfriend, you numpties!” One of the best quotes of the entire movie.

Snape is such a triple agent...

The kiss in the Chamber of Secrets – is that how it was supposed to happen? That was a bit too theatrical to me. But, hey, whatever pleases the audience...there was great whooping and applauding at that bit.

Snape is the second of my two favourite Hogwarts teachers. His life is so twisted and complex, and he’s always had the best taciturn moments of all the movies. He is the most dynamic character out of everyone. A lot is revealed that makes us sympathise for what he’s been through. Personally, it should have been Lily and Snape forever. Snape’s memories are so sad! It was the second time I cried through anything in the movie (I’ll discuss the first later), but this time, I cried for the longest amount of time. His death reminded me of his actor’s death in Sweeney Todd: first the razor-quick swipe across the throat, then the collapse to the floor. While he wasn’t stabbed repeatedly by a singing barber and thrown backwards into the furnace below, his attack from Nagini is just as horrific. Snape deserves the longest paragraph of this entire review, because he’s always been an outstanding character to me. He manages to make a laugh escape from me, followed quickly by waves of revulsion. He is one of the most confusing and interesting and romantic characters out of everyone in this series.

“Not my daughter, you BITCH!” This was the most highly anticipated line of the whole movie. SO well said. Perfectly drawn out, perfectly executed. Molly Weasley, kudos to you.

When the Malfoys all walked away after that awkward hug from Voldemort, I was thinking, “There could be a spin-off series about the history of the Malfoys. They’re always such pure-blooded cowards, hiding behind Voldemort, and Draco and Narcissa changed so much in the past three movies. This should happen.”

“Let’s finish this the way we started – together!” BROMANCE!!

Love the fake ending, slowly fading into “Nineteen years later...”

Okay, out of all the people who’ve aged, Hermione didn’t.

Albus Severus Potter is such a cutie. I can tell he’ll be another popular figure at Hogwarts. The Potters never disappoint...

The first time I cried was when all the Hogwarts teachers and students and members of the DA and (ex) Order of the Phoenix cast the protective enchantments over Hogwarts. I was thinking, “Oh God. This is it. Don’t lose it, don’t lose it, oh shit...”

This movie is just. Wow. There really aren’t any words to describe it. I so can’t wait for it to come out on Blu-ray so I can watch it in uber HD. Alas; the chronicles of Harry Potter are now officially, completely chronicled. I’m always in a melancholy stupor whenever a series ends. I was miserable for days when A Series of Unfortunate Events ended. I had endless, tearful Star Wars marathons after I saw Revenge of the Sith in the cinema. I cried for days when David Tennant regenerated into Matt Smith on Doctor Who. But, in the words of the Doctor himself, “Everything’s got to end sometime; otherwise nothing would ever get started.”