As an adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s novel, HP7.5 is wonderful, right in line with the 3 previous Yates films. My problems with the film largely extend from my problems with the novel itself, and the decision to break the novel into two films. In essence, director David Yates made one giant film based on the seventh book and split it into two pieces, exactly as the full title of the film indicates: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II. The result is a movie that struggles to build as a well-made movie should, culminating in a disappointing, largely predictable ending and an absolutely wretched and unnecessary epilogue.
The performances in the cast are wonderful, some of the best of the series. Looking back on the whole Harry Potter octalogy, it’s been an absolute pleasure to watch the young trio of actors, Daniel Radcliffe especially, grow alongside such celebrated actors, seemingly acting as mentors for the young actors. The visual effects are superb, as expected, with the visual feel to the movie right in line with the other Yates Potter films. The overall structure of the film is also a bit lacking, since the first half of the film is missing, as previously noted. It is tough to fully judge this film without the first part, but since the films were packaged as thus, that is how they are judged. It is truly disappointing, as this film could have been, and should have been, an epic finale to an epic series.
I’m including this in my Oscar Watch 2011 series not because of the quality of the film being worthy of inclusion, but because it is the finale of such a landmark film series. As discussed last year with Toy Story 3, the Academy likes to honor landmark finales, so this bears keeping an eye on. I only wish David Yates could go back and re-make the relatively lackluster first four films in the series....
