Film Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

This was by far my favourite, and in my estimation, the best Harry Potter film in the entire series. Part 1 was a pretty close contest, but whilst the calm before the storm is good, there’s nothing like the actual battle.

I went along with the midnight crowd, I cried, I cheered, and I mourned when it was over.
I then went back the next day and watched it again, this time making notes. SO below you’ll find my review and thoughts on the film, each of the major scenes that stood out for me has been broken down with a rough track listing for those who want to know where the tracks come in the film.

BE WARNED THERE ARE SPOILERS FOR THE FILM AND THE BOOKS BELOW. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T YET SEEN THE FILM AND DON’T WANT TO RUIN THE EXPERIENCE. I promise this will still be here when you’ve seen it.

Opening (track 1: Lily’s Theme)

Whilst I understand that showing Snape watching a very different Hogwarts come back in, it does seem a very random scene to have at the start of the film. On the one hand I understand why they do it, because otherwise we wouldn’t know that everything is bad and wrong at Hogwarts as well until we got there quite a bit later, but on the other hand, it seems a strange way to do it. I have to admit I was hoping for more scenes at Hogwarts, maybe showing some of the underground resistance. However, it’s a really haunting scene, particularly with the music, and certainly stays in your head to prepare you for how bad Hogwarts will be later.

However, it doesn’t quite have the same emotional impact as ‘Obliviate’ did in the opening of Part 1. I suppose in a way this is a good thing, because with the amount of tears and tension crammed into the rest of the film we all deserve a brief reprieve.

Whilst it’s good to have a brief moment to collect ourselves and work out what the plan of action is, I have to say I couldn’t wait for them to get going from Shell Cottage. In the book it was a reprieve that I wanted them to hide at forever, in the films it just felt a bit slow.

Uh Hermione/Bellatrix – awesome! Bellatrix has got so much of Hermione, even the little pouty jaw thing she does and the cute little girl puppy dog eyes. However, there is still a hint of Bellatrix in there that really doesn’t match the voice which comes across as a little bit weird. For the most part the polyjuice effects over the last couple of films has been staggeringly good, and this is no exception.

GRIPE: Why do they have such a big pantomime at Gringotts about Bellatrix’s wand, when in the scene before Ollivander has already identified one of the wands they’ve stolen as Bellatrix’s? It seems weird not to make the most of having it?...
Edit: After a few comments about this gripe I want to explain it further. In the book they do present Bellatrix's wand despite the problem of exposure. I feel that the film makes it confusing by saying they have it and then doesn't explain why they don't use it. I feel this could have been done better but I understand the reasoning behind it.

Gringotts (tracks 2, 3, & 4:The Tunnel, Underworld, Gringotts)

Oh my word I love Gringotts. It’s just wow. So much better than I remember from the first film, and so much more than I ever imagined in my head. It’s just so cool that cart ride! Also, when they’re in the vault and everything’s multiplying, that comes off so much better than I thought it would. Major kudos to the CGI and props departments for pulling that off.

I also love that they’ve altered it being Harry’s idea to ride the dragon to Hermione’s. It really shows that they’re all equal – and it really highlights the change that’s happened with Hermione over the last few years. Yes she’s still the sensible one with the good down to earth practical plans, but remember this is also the girl that practically bullied the other two into Polyjuice potion a few years back…

The Lake of Nakedness (track 5: Dragon Flight)

Thank you director for making Harry and Ron strip off. You made my day.

This has to be one of the best planning scenes the trio has had to date – even without the stripping. It’s edgy, the camera work helps with that, and I love Harry’s assessment of their plans.
“We can’t do that, we have to plan!”
“When have any of our plans ever actually worked? We plan we get there, all hell breaks loose.”
At least one of them knows that despite Hermione’s brilliance, their plans are pretty pants.

The Secret Lair of Bad Make Up

Whoever did make up for this film should be sacked – I spent most of Snape’s scenes side tracked by his wonderful eye shadow. Same goes for Aberforth and his eyebrows and foundation…

Uh, you’re kidding right? That’s what Dumbledore’s history is being reduced to? Where’s the backstory? Grindewald? HUH? I am quite peeved at this lack of backstory. I mean come on, you’ve got so little book to play with in Part 2 surely you could fit that in?
I’m just frustrated by the whole thing – I understand the need to cut things out, but I liked finding out Dumbledore’s backstory in the book and it seems such a waste to cut it all out for the film.

The Room of Reuniting (track 6: Neville)

I love that again they’ve taken out all of Harry’s reluctance to share information with anyone and we get straight to the point. We need to find something.

 “Ok, what is it?”
“We don’t know.”
“Alright, where is it?”
“We don’t know that either. I realize it’s not much to go on.”
“That’s nothing to go on…” Ah Seamus, I’m so glad someone still has a sense of humour in all of this.

I also love the little one in the corner gleefully saying that ‘lightening has struck’ it ties the radio in so neatly with Part 1 and gives a valid way for the rest of the order to show up randomly in the next scene.

 “I’m only her brother!”
“She got lots of those though, there’s only one Harry.”

I do wish that Harry could look a little less gormless in the face of one true love being reunited with him after six months. After the initial “Ginny!” he just sort of swallows and looks a little confused. It’s just so frustrating when the trio have gotten so much better at acting over the last few films and Harry is unbelievable in the action and heart wrenching moments, but tell him to have a tender moment with a girl and he turns into a plank of wood.

The Great Hall of Lax Security (tracks 7 & 8: A New Headmaster and Panic at Hogwarts)

WHOOP! You have no idea how much I fist pumped at Harry’s surprising entrance. Whilst it wasn’t in the book, I have to say I really loved the showdown where Harry comes out and points out “It seems you still have a security problem headmaster…” Cue Weasleys/rebels joining the party.

Although I am a little grumpy that the whole everyone arriving and it all snowballing is sad to miss – and I’m particularly peeved that Percy’s story and entrance is cut – all of a sudden he’s just there. But I wanted the touching reunion dammit!

However the whole bringing Harry straight out and not bothering with the invisibility cloak was a really good move – it moved the plot on a lot quicker and made for a brilliant showdown with Harry that you know he’s going to regret later. It makes for a very satisfying scene all round, since Harry was deprived any real chance of having a rant at Snape after Dumbledore’s death given the ending of Half Blood Prince.

Also, another major fist bump for McGonagall leaping in to defend Harry on Snape’s wand raising.

The wand effects seem way better here than in any other film – which is a relief given all the posing going on in “Order of the Phoenix.” I like the idea of different stances, but if everyone’s fumbling for the right spell stance it does put a little bit of a dampener on any battle going in. This seems a lot more raw and real, and I love it.

I have to say, I never really gave much thought to Voldemort’s messages and how they might be delivered, and I quite like this whole woozy green thing that has children screaming for their lives. It makes it a lot more menacing than just a voice. And also a hell of a lot more chilling when that first scream cuts through. Although it did take me a couple of seconds to work out if this was another Harry fainting fit, or something everyone could join in with.
The whole thing is genuinely terrifying in a way the books couldn’t convey – actually the whole film is pretty terrifying, but I’m so glad it is. It makes me all happy inside.

GRIPE: I LOVE in the book when Pansy yells to grab Harry, and first Gryffindor table rise, then Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and all of them stand to protect him. It makes a lot more of an impact than Ginny rushing in to look after him. Although the Weasley twins do cut a menacing figure…

How long do we reckon McGonagall has been waiting to a) call Filch a blithering idiot and b) lock the Slytherins in the dungeon? Although I am peeved that they leave out any effort to get the younger students/Slytherins out of the castle and to safety.

The Courtyard of Awesome Spells (track 9: Statues)

Major love for a lot of what happens next.
Neville and Seamus being given permission to blow stuff up by McGonagall.
“To blow it up – boom?”
“BOOM.”
“Wicked – but how on earth are we gonna do that?”
“Why don’t you confer with Mr Finnegan, as I recall he has a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.”
“I can bring it down!”
“That’s the spirit.”
The fact that McGonagall has no qualms in using the older students to help defend – hell is giving them free reign to have their chance in the fight, and is also playing to their strengths. Although I’m sad we don’t see Neville using his herbology skills as we do in the book, I do love their plan they use instead…

AND I LOVE THE WHOLE OF THE DEFENDING OF HOGWARTS. I had shivers/was practically crying throughout the whole of this scene. The music the statues coming to life and marching to defend them, and the teachers spelling the borders to protect the castle – done to perfection. I love it.

“I’ve always wanted to use that spell.”

The Ghost of Petulance (track 10: The Grey Lady)

Love the casting for Ravenclaw the younger – she seems perfect, although again, so much backstory cut out. But I suppose given how much of the ghosts they’ve cut out over the last seven films it would be a bit weird to introduce it all now. I love how they’ve done this whole scene, and the effects for the ghost – it’s so much more effective than any of the ghost stuff in previous films.

Actually all of the CGI and special effects for this film are incredible. I’m so glad that Lord of the Rings came first and did all so much ground breaking over massive CGI fights, I can’t help but feel it made a huge difference to how this film could have turned out.

The Chamber of Secrets – the grown up version (track 11: In the Chamber of Secrets)

Loving that Ron gets his moment. I get that in the book we’re following Harry so we only hear about the Chamber, but it’s so great to see Ron really come into his own – how cocky and self-assured he is for a few moments, and again that he gets to be a hero too. It’s a great throw back that Hermione finally gets to see the Chamber of Secrets – after all that’s the only adventure that she’s really missed out on.

I like that they get their moment together, their own personal adventure that sets them apart from Harry. And their own epic moment to really give them their moment with the kiss. I love the humour in the book with Harry pointing out that is now really the time, but after seven films of build-up, it seems fitting that they get their own epic moment for the kiss. The kiss does feel a tiny bit sudden – despite all the near death experiences going on. I wish that maybe one of them had turned to the other first, or reached for the other. 

Although again, I know time is short, we’re in the middle of a battle here. The kiss itself is pretty awesome. Take that Ginny and Harry; this is what real make out scenes should be like, none of those awkward pecks on the lips stuff. I love love love this moment, complete with the strange little giggle at the end. Have to say Film Ron has seriously grown on me during these last few films – ever since he got rid of that awful hair do in Goblet of Fire…

You know, strangely, I think the moment when Ron tells Hermione she can destroy the Horcrux, is one of the most tender moments they’ve ever had. I want to play it over and over and frame it. They are so cute when they’re not being all self-conscious.

The bridge of fire hazard safety (track 12: Battlefield)

Again, another added scene that’s brilliant. I like that we see the other students fighting to protect the school, and it gives Neville his own personal brand of hero moment which sets him up nicely for the epic hero he becomes with the sword later. The way for a moment you think he might not have made it, and then he clambers up with a pithy line. Neville, you truly are starting to shine. It also sets him up for his ‘spitting fire’ moment in the next scene.
However, Ginny seems to be making a habit of standing there looking gormless, which does put a slight damper on what would otherwise be a truly terrific scene.

The staircase of poignant moments

“You haven’t seen Luna have you?”
“Luna?”
“I’m mad for her – I figured I probably ought to tell her since we’ll probably both be dead by dawn!”
I love this new hellfire Neville - he is truly epic in a way you never expected him to be given how he started out in the first film.

Strangely that is one of the most poignant moments I think Ginny and Harry have. I couldn’t work out if after she’s kissed him Ginny says “I know.” Or “Fly now.” Or possibly something else entirely, but I hope it’s one of those two, and I like both of them. I hope Lupin and Tonks got one of those sorts of kisses in the middle of the battle.

The dungeon of wrong sidekicks

Uh, excuse me Mr Malfoy, where the hell is Goyle? You can’t go taking Zabini with you instead of Goyle! What sort of lameassness is this?

The room of never finding anything (tracks 13 & 14: The Diadem and Broomsticks and Fire)

The girl in the row behind me at the cinema described this as Harrys ‘oh f**k’ moment when looking at the sheer size and scale of stuff that’s been hidden over the years. You can’t really blame the poor boy though. Luckily he has an in built ‘precioussssss’ monitor though, which gives him a bit of a heads up on finding the damn tiara.
P.S. I love the film version of the diadem. Way cooler than the picture I had in my head.

I love the sheer size and scale of this room – you never seemed to really see that when we see the room in film six. It’s one of the most impressive sets the films sees (despite the fact that most of it must be CGI.)

Woah, hold up, when did Draco’s henchmen get ideas above their station? I love Malfoy in this scene, and I love Tom Felton’s portrayal of him over the last few films, of someone who has been cornered and doesn’t know what else to do other than what is expected of them. He’s not actually an evil person, just misguided, and I like that Felton shows that side to him.

“That’s my girlfriend you numpty!” Unless Ron and Hermione have already had ‘the talk’ I think that may have been a little foolish wording on Ron’s part… Although she does look pretty chuffed about it all.

I love the look on Hermione’s face when Harry pulls out the diadem. I like to think that whilst Harry and Ron have been rampaging around looking for philosopher’s stones and chambers of secrets, Hermione has actually had a seven year quest trying to find Ravenclaw’s diadem. And now Harrys going to ruin it all.
P.S. Crabbe’s fire torrent that won’t stop? BEST. THING. EVER.

I will freely admit that one of my all-time favourite fan girly moments in both the book and the film is when Harry saves Malfoy by pulling him onto his broomstick and flying him to safety. I don’t know why, but after seven years of animosity it’s a pretty awesome culmination. Shame that Malfoy runs off as soon as he can.

The boat house of becoming unhinged

The whole possession thing is brilliantly done. I love the incorporation of the head twist that was Voldemort’s/Harry’s in the sixth film, and how they’ve brought the narrative through into the film, showing how easily Harry slips from one mind to the other now. I liked the possession at the end of Order of the Phoenix, and I think that’s one of Dan Radcliffe’s best moments – and he’s improved since then. Harry is truly at his best whenever he is interacting with Voldemort, be it watching what he does through their link, or fighting him off in the courtyard.
Also loving how Voldemort becomes more unhinged and sweaty the more Horcruxes are killed.

The Courtyard of battles (track 15: Courtyard Apocalypse)

First off, amazing piece of music, it really sets the tone of the whole scene. I love the special effects, I think this is the best film for special effects really, and they sure go to town to prove it.

The whole thing is incredibly done and very moving. You’ve got throw backs to previous films – the troll, the spiders, then the werewolf and the dementors. And for once they really go to town on the carnage – is that Colin Creevy dead on the floor? The soundtrack plus the screams and bangs from everyone around them are brutal, and the looks on the trio’s faces just says it all. Horror, and no idea what the hell to do other than keep moving and try not to die. And help a few people if they can. It’s horrific but it’s brilliant, and I think they’ve kept it just on the right side of horrific – which is impressive. You get just enough facial shots to see that everyone is really out there fighting, students and all – but not so much that it looks silly and you think they’d probably be dead by that point.

The Boat House of Death (track 16: Snape’s Demise)

Snapes final scene with Harry is beautifully done, and it gives you an idea how awesome the flashbacks are going to be in the next scene. Whilst I wasn’t crying for his death, I did like how there seemed to be some sort of understanding reached between Harry and Snape – even if it was only one of peace and compassion, no overwhelming love on either side. Rickman has always been horribly underused throughout the last few films, and I am so glad we get to see so much more of his range and brilliance in this film.

The Great Hall of Death

I am really grumpy about Fred’s death not being shown. We just get the Weasley’s mourning over his body in the hall, and that really doesn’t cut it for me. It’s so much more powerful in the book, and it just felt like it was being virtually glossed over.
Also could Ginny look any less upset? She just stares at Harry the entire time. C’mon woman show a little emotion.

Tonks and Lupin on the other hand was perfect. It was just how I pictured it in the book, and if we couldn’t see their death then at least we could see them properly in the great hall. They’re laid out perfectly and the hands just touching, the mirror of them almost holding hands when the battle begins breaks me every time I watch this scene.

The Pensieve of Back Story (track 17: Severus and Lily)

The pensieve scene is another brilliantly handled piece. It offers all of the information that Harry gets from it in the book without becoming too slow and bogged down in the details. Love the younger versions of Snape, James, Lily and Petunia, and the little bits of Harry’s own past slotted in. I also love that we see more of the night Lily and James died – Snape going to the house and finding the bodies is inspired, and the image of him clutching Lily’s body and sobbing is something that’s stuck with me ever since my first viewing.

Rickman is incredible, you really feel for Snape in a way that hasn’t been possibly before, and his grief over Lily’s death both at the house and again with Dumbledore is one of the things that had me in tears. It’s beautifully handled, and I’m so glad that they’ve tackled it so gracefully.

Radcliffe’s handling of Harry’s realization that he has to die and that’s what everything has been leading up to is truly heartbreaking. He looks utterly broken as he stumbles to the stairs and sits, and the lack of soundtrack only serves to make the moment even more powerful. All in all I think this is one of my favourite scenes from the whole film – it’s certainly one of the most emotionally scarring ones.

The Staircase of Emotional Goodbyes (track 18: Harry’s Sacrifice)

I love the set in the castle – books and rubble everywhere, and I swear Hogwarts has never been as good as in this film. It’s a shame it’s practically destroyed by this point though.
Again, the continuation into the explanation with Ron and Hermione and Harry’s complete acceptance of the situation, Ron’s abject refusal to let Harry go and Hermione’s understanding but heartbreak over the whole thing is brilliantly played.
The skip over exposition is well done with simply passing it off as Hermione’s had it worked out for a while now, which saves time trying to convince Ron about the whole thing.

The goodbye between all of them, whilst a new addition as a scene is beautifully done and I am so glad that it was put in. It’s painful and raw and really showcases the trio and how far they’ve come over the course over the last seven films. Again, the complete absence of soundtrack until Harry walks away and out of the castle makes the whole thing seem even rawer.

The Forest of Dead People (track 19: The resurrection Stone)

I think at this point the entire cinema dissolved into tears. Particularly when Harry opens his eyes, sees his mother and rushes towards her, only to have his hand go through hers. The look on his face of complete desolation, and the fact that he seems pretty damn close to tears at this point, is enough to give the whole scene a really emotional edge.
“Why are you here? All of you.”
“We never left.”

This was always a poignant moment in the book, and the translation to the screen hasn’t lost any of the emotion – in fact I think it’s heightened it. I love that we get some closure with Lupin, and the mention of his son, which I think has been glossed over in the rest of the film.

I was a bit confused why James barely spoke at all – it seemed strange, but that was just a passing thought. I love the conversation with Lily, and Sirius was my particular downfall.
“Does it hurt, dying?”
“Quicker than falling asleep.”

“You’ll stay with me?”
“Until the end.”

The Boy who has more strength than all of Voldemort’s Army put together (track 20: Harry Surrenders)

And now we have the emotional climax of the whole film – with Harry looking at death head on and unflinching. It’s perhaps this attitude that comes through and makes it one of the most incredible scenes, and everything I personally hoped for.

And it leads to one of the strangest yet incredible scenes ever. When I first read the book I couldn’t believe that Harry had willingly given himself up to die, but when he talks with Dumbledore in the ‘kings cross station’ place between, it quickly turned into one of my favourite scenes. The film does it complete justice, although it felt as though Dumbledore was a bit too eager to rush of, whereas in the book it felt like he was quite happy to sit and contemplate existence with Harry for a while. But I suppose you have to keep the audience entertained with the film, and after the emotional tension spiralling up ever since Snape’s death, it’s good to keep this scene a little shorter and get back to the action.

However I am really pleased that they followed this scene pretty much to the letter from the book. It translates from page to screen brilliantly.

The Courtyard of ‘In Your Face you lose.’ (track 21 & 22: Procession & Neville The Hero)

I’m so glad that they’ve kept in Hagrid carrying Harry back to the castle – seeing his first friend from the wizarding world crying over his body affected me more than I thought possible.
Although Ginny coming out and realizing Harry’s dead is possibly her finest moment ever. I actually felt for her. The looks of devastation on everyone’s faces just make this scene almost unbearable. The emotions have been climbing since Snape’s death, and I have no idea how they’ve got this far without breaking, but it works, and it’s horrific, and I love it.

I know it’s irrational and I knew that it wouldn’t happen, but for a moment, I really hoped that when Lucius calls Draco over to Voldemort’s side, that he wouldn’t go. I knew they wouldn’t alter something as fundamental as Draco’s loyalties, but it didn’t stop me hoping – especially after Harry saved him earlier. Although Voldemort trying to remember how to hug someone is almost worth it.

Voldemort seems to be going crazier by the minute – his reaction throughout Neville’s limp forward and speech is terrifying on whole new levels to those he’s previously reached. I love that Neville is the one to rouse them all – they all seem about ready to roll over and die now that Harry is supposedly dead, which is awful given how hard he fought for all of them to have a chance. In fact that’s my only complaint – that they all seems so completely lost without him, and in the book they still had spirit and fight and nothing Voldemort said or did could stop them.

However this is almost made up for by Voldemort getting crazier by the second once Harry makes his move. Again, something that’s translated really well from book to screen. And I love that whilst Voldemort is going insane and the fight is amping up again, Mrs Malfoy and Draco just walk off.

The Long Anticipated Showdown (track 23: Showdown)

Firstly, I love how difficult the snake is to kill. All the other horcruxes just lay down and let them get on with it, but I love how this battle rages on alongside the one between Harry and Voldemort and keeps the attention split.

Secondly, that Harry and Voldemort’s battle takes them all over the castle to some of the big sites for previous scenes over the last few years. Whilst the epic showdown of words in the great hall was good in the book, well not good, but pretty cool, Voldemort of the films has never been a particularly usual villain in wanting to hash out every single detail that’s lead to this. He’s more a kill and get out kind of guy, so I love that the whole showdown is comprised of very little speech and just a lot of the two of them fighting it out. Also love that there’s a bit of variation in the ways they try to kill each other.  And that dual flight with them wrapped around each other trying to claw the other off is something I could never imagined and is one of the creepiest things ever – particularly when their faces almost merge. I love what they’ve done with this fight sequence though, and it remains one of the best in the film.

However, what the hell are the Weasley family doing in the great hall?

One of the things I really loved in the book was that EVERYONE was fighting. Some, like Bellatrix, had three people fighting her at once. Yet here are a few members of the Weasley family seemingly standing around doing nothing when Bellatrix tries for Ginny. It just strikes me as completely ridiculous given the number of people fighting around them. I kind of get them watching Mrs Weasley duel Bellatrix, but even that seems a little silly. If they don’t pay attention then they’re going to get hit.

Major fist pump for ‘Not my daughter you bitch.’ Yes, just yes.
The duel between the two of them, whilst short is pretty awesome. Mrs Weasley comes in with some pretty awesome moves, and that corset tightening spell? Wow. Bellatrix is going to wish she’d worn something else to battle...

The Courtyard of Battles (track 24: Voldemort’s End)

I love that what we couldn’t get in the book because it was focusing completely on Harry, is all the things going on around him. The fighting inside the castle, the snake chasing Ron and Hermione out into the courtyard, Neville destroying the snake, and Ron and Hermione folded in on each other sobbing – along with the showdown in the middle of the courtyard. It makes the whole thing so spectacular to see all these different aspects of the fight.

The thing that truly amazes me is that Ralph Fiennes manages to make you feel pity for a creature like Voldemort. He just looks so frail and bewildered over what’s happening when the snake is finally killed and Harry defeats him. It’s incredible (although I refuse to be drawn in to how silly it is that Harry never actually kills Voldemort… he just disarms him) and Voldemort’s actual death is one of the most incredible cinematic moments of the whole film. It’s a truly amazing moment, watching the pieces float up into a new dawn with Hogwarts broken in the background. It’s an incredible end, and I personally feel completely satisfied with that as an end to one of the biggest baddies of the twenty first century.

Whilst I’ve loved all the little moments with Ron and Hermione since the kiss, not least being him trying to protect her from the snake. I think the moment where they enter the great hall holding hands, and Harry just watches as Hermione looks at their joined hands and then back up at Harry and beams, says it all.

The Bridge of Endings (track 25: A New Beginning)

I like that that little bit of backstory with the elder wand is slotted in here – it makes a lot more sense for Harry to explain it to his best friends later after the heat of the battle is over. I also love the look on Ron’s face when Harry chucks it into the ravine. Poor boy – you got the girl at least!

I defy you not to have cried whilst watching the trio hold hands at stare at the new day of the rest of their lives. It was poignant, it was brilliant, it was simple and a little bit cheesy, but actually I can’t think of a better way to finish the film off prior to the epilogue. And they looked so much like kids again after all the trauma of the battle, that it just makes it all feel so much *more*.

Epilogue

Right, I’m going to go out on a limb and say I actually really like the epilogue. I wasn’t all that fussed on it in the book but I didn’t hate it. I think in the book I was more upset that these characters that I had grown up with had suddenly gone on ahead and grown up. They had kids and lives and I wasn’t a part of that anymore – and I think instead of giving me closure which I guess was what it was meant to do, ended up making me mourn the series all the more.

However in the film I really liked it. I’m glad they went back to re shoot it, because the original pictures made them look like grandparents, not parents. 

However the film version is spot on – they look old enough to be nineteen years later, without any over kill. In fact Harry looks like a younger version of Alan Titchmarsh to me – strange I know.
Hermione is the brilliant mother, Ron’s paunch! Love it! Ginny was a bit meh, 

nothing particularly maternal about her.
I love that we still get to see Draco and his wife and son, preening and looking fabulous.

And I love the kids interacting with the trio – altogether really well done. And the shot of the three of them together, older and watching their own children head off to Hogwarts was enough to have me in floods of tears again.

So in all, I loved this film – it was by far the best and my personal favourite of the series (with part 1 a close second.) I had a few gripes which I’ve explained, but for the most part I thought it was a really faithful adaptation, and it translated brilliantly from page to screen.
The acting was superb, the special effects incredible, and the emotion so high I’m impressed they got through filming it.

What did you think? Loved it? Hated it? Cried all the way through? Tell me what your thought below.