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Monday, July 18, 2011

Muggle Monday (15): Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie Review

It's time for Muggle Monday, in which I post a quote, a video, or a significant piece of news from the Harry Potter franchise. This is somewhat inspired by the Mundane Mondayposts by The Mundie Moms.

But let's be real as to why I made up this meme: I just want the opportunity to post something about Harry Potter.


This week, I'm posting my thoughts on the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I have to say, I don't think it's really sunk in yet that it's over. I'm still in shock and don't know what to think. I'll have to watch it a second time to get a full appreciation of what I saw on the screen because I was freaking out so much in the theatre the first time around.

In the meantime, here are a few frazzled and jumbled point-form-thoughts that I did manage to form after watching the movie for the first time:

  • The special effects in the Gringotts Dragon Escape scene were stellar. Though I didn't like that they made it Hermione's idea to jump on the dragon when it was Harry's in the book. I think Harry is the only one of the Trio who is stupidly brave enough to think up such a thing.
  • Out of my Top 10 Favourite Moments from the book that I hoped would make it into the movie, the only one that was axed was Dumbledore's backstory. So yay! that the majority made it in, but boo! that they left that out.
  • Professor McGonagall is my hero.
  • Ron and Hermione finally kissed and it was cute and satisfying.
  • The Grey Lady scene didn't make my Top 10 Favourite Moments from Deathly Hallows, the Book but it definitely does in Deathly Hallows, the Movie.
  • The Prince's Tale scene was my favourite of the movie. Lengthy and involved and crying-ugly-tears-sad.
  • Alan Rickman is an Acting God.
  • Harry's Walk of Sacrifice was also perfect and crying-ugly-tears-sad.
  • The piece of Voldemort's soul in the King's Cross scene was even more creepy looking than it was in my head.
  • Some of my favourite lines in the book including, "You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter," "After all this time? Always," "Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?" and "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" all made it in, so yay!
  • Neville Longbottom is my hero.
  • The only real WTF scene of the movie was Harry hugging Voldemort and then flinging themselves off the castle and then flying around and then at one point their faces merge together? and it was weird and confusing and didn't make any sense. W.T.F.
  • Scratch that: another WTF scene was when Voldemort's stringy robes reached out and wrapped around Harry as if they had a mind of their own. W.T.F.
  • All the little kids in this movie in flashbackwards/forwards scenes were super cute. I just wanted to squeeze them.
  • The aging process for the men in the Nineteen Years Later scene was well done, but the women looked like they had barely aged at all strangely.

Hmm, I've probably forgot many things worth mentioning. Overall, I am very much pleased with the movie. And I promise I will like it even more after a second viewing once I've calmed down and can absorb more and not be so critical. Have you seen the movie yet? What were your favourite and least favourite moments? Let me know in the comments!

28 comments :

  1. Okay.. I could totally just copy and paste this exact post and claim it as my own because I agree with everything you just said. I've decided not towrite a review for it though because to be honest, I don't think I am capable. I'd just be rambling on and on haha. Anyway, I was so in love with the movie because of the battle of Hogwarts and Snape's memory. They did ah--mazzing! I plan to watch it again possibly next week.

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  2. Yay Aylee!!! I just went to see it yesterday and loved it:) Definitely need to see it again though so I can catch all the little things I missed the first time. Loved the walk in the forest seen to meet V, I was balling like a baby even though I knew what happened. And I heart Snape. That is all:)

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  3. Agree about the Dumbledore back story. They had time...could have given it like ten minutes and tied up the package nicely.

    All in all, the movie was so well done, as were the others, but this one had a lot to live up to. I mean, ending the whole series...what tremendous pressure!

    And I, too am still in shock that it is all done.

    When I think about it, I get a little teary.

    Shelley

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  4. Whaaat, no backstory for Dumbledore? :(
    I'm waiting for the crowds to die down before seeing the movie, haha. Glad to hear it was awesome overall! :D

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  5. I totally agree!

    I wish they'd kept the invisibility cloak so there'd be more symbolism between Harry and the 3rd Peverell brother, but I can see why that would've taken up more screen time.

    I also didn't particularly like how little screen time Remus, Tonks, and Teddy had. Teddy was barely mentioned! I missed him in the epilogue too.

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  6. Great review, have to agree with them all. McGonagall... Neville... Mrs Weasley, all amazing. I did miss Fred's death though, shame that was barely touched on, but in a way that was a relief as it would have destroyed me. And Snape! Alan Rickman was perfect, just perfect in this film. Amazing actor, and amazing setting of his scenes. I've reviewed this at my blog.

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  7. Jillian: Heh, I would go for it if I were you because my review was pretty rambling as well!

    Jenny: I need to see it again too! Probably multiple times in theatres actually :)

    Shelley: I can kind of see that Dumbledore's back story might have slowed down the pacing and that's why they removed it. But still, I know fans would have appreciated it! I think they did very well considering all that pressure they were facing!

    Lauren: Yeah, I'll wait for the crowds to die down for when I go se the movie the second time.

    Laura: Hmm, good point. The invisibility cloak would have been good to use to indicate that Harry truly was the Master of Death. The Remus and Tonks storyline has always been pushed to the side in the movies unfortunately... tis a shame.

    Katie: Agreed about Fred's death. As another note, how amazing was Rupert's acting in that scene? He has really proved time and again that he is the best of the trio at acting in every movie. Of course, Rickman had the most powerful acting scenes though.

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  8. Great points all around!
    I loved Prof MaGonagall, when she cast the spell in the stone armors. It was amazing!
    It sort of made out for in movie 5 not having her talk to Peeve saying "It unscrews the other way".

    :D

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  9. WTF? They hug? Seriously? Why?

    Looks like you got a lot of heroes and your kiss and your favorite lines so that's awesome. ;)

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  10. Aaah, I need to watch this one but with working so much, I barely have time to do anything. I'm slacking off on reading too :(

    The WTF scenes sound funny. I'd be wondering too why Harry and Voldemort hug.

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  11. Alex: It sure did make up for it (that was one of my favourite lines from Order of the Phoenix)! So awesome.

    Missie: It wasn't a hug, per se. But it was weird and dumb in my opinion. I can't see Harry ever wanting to get that close to Voldemort, putting his arms around him like that.

    Zahida: Perhaps it's best if you wait for the crowds to die down anyways! The WTF scenes were more annoying than funny to me, heh.

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  12. The only scene I can think of that they should have added was him fixing his old wand not just doing what he does in the movie with the Elder Wand.

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  13. Yes! That was another one that I missed! It only would have taken a few more seconds of screen time to repair it.

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  14. Oh Harry...I cannot even write a review yet. I'm hoping after seeing it a second time, I'll be able to write something real. Great thoughts, Aylee :)

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  15. We are all hoping to go tomorrow as a family to see it. I will make sure I bring some kleenex!!

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  16. I'm with you on the Harry and Voldemort grabbing each other. I loved the Prince's Tale but it could have been a little longer for my taste. But it was good filmmaking. I'm planning on going to see it again in a few days. Who knew that Neville would turn into such a looker!

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  17. Melissa: Heh, yeah I'm sure my thoughts would have been more coherent after a second time as well.

    Tracy: Heh, you might need it!

    Alison: The entire movie could have stood to be a a bit longer in my opinion. It was the shortest out of the lot! Neville was amazing. I'm not sure how I felt about the Neville/Luna thing they introduced because it didn't exist in the books.

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  18. I'm watching this in a couple hours--I'm nervous!!

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  19. I loved the movie too! I was upset how they changed Neville's snake killing scene. He was supposed to do it in front of everyone while Harry was still supposedly dead! It was more heroic in the book to me, which I loved! All the other changes and things left out I didn't mind. I liked Harry old at the end hugging his son. A really sweet moment. I think Ron looked kinda funny old at the end, Hermione looked exactly the same, and Genny looked like a beauty queen which I liked.

    I also have a teen book blog. Check it out!
    http://cleanteenfiction.blogspot.com

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  20. I loved it when Professor McGonagall said, "I've always wanted to cast that spell." Oh, and I agree! I was so moved by Alan Rickman's acting as Snape, especially in all of those scenes with Lily. AMAZING!! The little kids were all adorable!! I saw the movie with my family and my sister kept laughing at all the wrong moments :p It's sad to think it's all over, but I can't wait for Pottermore :D

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  21. Laura: I hope you loved it!

    Kathryn: Hmm, yeah I liked Neville's scene in the book more as well. I thought it was strange that the girls seemingly did not age but the guys did.

    T.B.: McGonagall and Snape were indeed amazing! And yeah, they found the cutest kids possible to play those roles.

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  22. I loved this movie, but it killed me that they had Harry just roll out of Hagrid's arms and run away to reveal that he was still alive rather than how it was done in the book, when he reveals himself right before the final showdown. Sooo much better in the book, I am utterly mystified why they thought the Harry/Voldemort flight would work better.

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  23. Agreed. Book way is definitely better. I always need to remind myself that Jo does sign off on everything they do in the movie. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

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  24. McGonagall was SO AWESOME in this movie! Every time she said ANYthing I started crying.

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  25. I LOVE all those quotes you mentioned. So, so glad they're all included! Those WTF scenes sound weird. I was wondering about the hugging/throwing off the edge scene when I saw it in the trailer. I was hoping it fit better in the movie. Oh well, the rest sounds awesome! I can't wait to see it. I'm waiting for all the tall people to see it first.

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  26. Casey: Heh, that was like me too. I was tearing up at every possible moment.

    Small: I'd be interested in knowing how you feel the hugging scene plays out. It just didn't work for me. Heh, yeah I don't blame you for leaving it until the crowds have died down a bit.

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  27. They gave 'Older Ron' a pot belly, which made me laugh. I was a bit disappointed with the movie, but I am going to see it again, in a couple weeks to see if I'm really that disappointed with it. I loved this post. Thanks!

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