Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark takes a look at the final instalment of the Harry Potter films, following Harry, Ron and Hermione as they attempt to destroy Voldemort once and for all.

[@92chillwill]

I'm assuming that his "Henry V moment" is the speech at the end where he basically explains to Voldemort every which way he was wrong? Because yes, that was a killer moment in the book. It allowed the reader to savor the victory, and finally confirmed that Harry was going to win without luck. It still works without it, but it would have given their final confrontation so much more meaning.

[@danjtitchener]

Harry Potter and the Glasses of Reduced Colour Saturation :)

[@leeprice133]

Actually loved this film - for me it was head and shoulders above every other faux documentary I've seen. The humour was good, the fantasy elements were interesting, and there were genuine moments of tension and suspense.

[@baishihua]

Ah the speech of course! I was so disappointed when they didn't include that. The other one which I was disappointed even more was the confession of Dumbledore toward Harry in the King's Cross dream sequence.

[@kaross29]

Can anyone tell me what speech (page number would be great!) that Mark refers to at 7:07??? Can't remember for the life of me!

[@monkeys50000]

I think he's referring to the scene where Harry is talking down to Voldemort, in front of everyone, right before Voldemort dies.

[@TheElixir007]

Maybe its that...

[@mattandersonfilms3816]

I really enjoyed the film and the majority of the previous films. Picking up on the 'speach' comment that Mark mentions; I have always had a massive problem with Steve Kloves' use of dialogue, It is one aspect of all the films that I consistently am let down by! He just seems to pick and choose very seemingly unimportant moments in his scripts to give a character inspiring words to perform and when we are expecting a moment of great gravitas and weight, we are given a lifeless and limp line.

[@123qwe82]

I sooooo agree on what he's saying here. The harry-voldemort-flying-while-fighting scene was just too annoying!

[@prigg88]

Actually, I don't think it was all luck though. Harry, understood the magic at the end of the book whereas Voldemort didn't. Harry understood the fact that the wand chooses the wizard and its not necessary to kill another wand to make it yours, whereas Voldy thought possessing it was enough. Harry, i think, got that whilst there was none of Voldy's soul in Harry, Lily's protection still remained in Harry.

[@xEliteGamerZ]

From the perspective of someone who has NOT read the books I thought it was a good film. Alan Rickmans death scene was extremely touching and moving.

[@Cpadolf0]

Is it perhaps the "This is why you suck" speech he gives to Voldemort in front of everyone in the great hall? Because it seems they skipped that. Other than that I can't remember any big speech he gave in the book towards the end. The kings cross section was more of a discussion, and the section with him going into the pensive, and then out to the forest, is mostly filled with his internal thoughts.

[@CoryTE]

I liked that Harry and Voldemort got a more extended fight, but still, in my opinion the omission of Harry and Voldemort's final conversation in the book is the worst decision the filmmakers made in adapting the books into movies. That conversation was, in my opinion, a perfect climactic moment, and my favorite scene in all the books. I liked the movie, but it is much the poorer film for not having included that.

[@HelvecioGomes]

I saw it in 2D and I don't give a damn. Great movie, amazing soundtrack.

[@ForViewingOnly]

What is Harry's "Henry the 5th" speech that they talk of? I haven't read the books.

[@prigg88]

@hanshotfirst1138 yes but its not a speech - it is a conversation. Its not a speech because Voldemort has some lines.

[@GreatVladimir]

Don't look at the camera Mark!

[@farshnuke]

just where is that speech. I'm not gonna slog through a whole book just to find one soliloquy

[@dayglowjoe]

it's not a soliloquy, it's a conversation with voldemort

[@Onmysheet]

Kermode says the movies started bad and later ones good, but for me it's the complete opposite. After Prisoner Of Azkaban, the movies don't have that extra spark. Goblet Of Fire was bland compared to it's predecessor, Order Of The Phoenix removed too much out from the book, Half Blood Prince was badly written with big plot holes, changing the beginning with Dumbledore (Which was unforgivable) Slughorn's description and the lighting is terrible where every scene is too dark, even in quidditch. Deathly Hallows 1 & 2 suffer from the same issues. It was like the producers were breaking the 4th wall by saying "Harry Potter is not for kids anymore" I know the later books got darker but they still had the magic in them, and it prevented people from buying the DVD's. It was all just too much.

[@nameless12345]

i watched it in 2D

[@ohthepeppers]

i find kermode harder to take seriously these days knowing he likes pap like this and twilight. . .

[@TheGroucho66]

What's Harry Potter?

[@taffwob]

@TheGroucho66 Something that has at last come to an end.

[@Jcolinsol]

Wizard People, Dear Reader.

[@anotoriousbug]

I hated this film for many reasons not least of which is the lack of "that speech".

[@ianhitman]

DOBBY DIED!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!

[@anotoriousbug]

The one where Harry and Voldemort circle each other in the great hall and Harry explains that Snape was against Voldemort all along and how the elder wand wasn't going to work for him because Harry was the rightful owner. Immensely epic and left out completely.

[@canismajoris6733]

Nah was kinda forced

[@Geidi174]

Flawlessly forced

[@BlueprintMarcus]

For me the best moment in the film was Snapes death, such a moving scene.

[@DamnFineCupOfCoffee]

I have a weird relationship with the Harry Potter movies. I love the world, the aesthetics, the characters, etc. It has sunk its teeth into me. But I can also so easily see what could have been improved: too much exposition yet unexplained plot points, way too much deus ex machina, etc, etc. So, I'm not sure if I look at these in a good light or a disappointed one. But....I still love them and always want to keep watching them.

[@lw3646]

I enjoyed the first two at the time for their fun and innocence, the 3 leads are a bit weak but their kids surrounded by amazing actors so not suprising, 3 and 4 were even better, very cinemamatic, a lovely balance of darkness and humour. 5 wasn't as good as 4 and then I'd lost interest by the end. The world was no longer fresh and interesting.

[@adamski182]

bring me the glasses of reduced colour saturation!

[@Goochbot]

The scene where Harry explains to Voldemort that he cannot kill Harry because Harry is the true owner of the Elder Wand.

[@zaftra]

And it was also done in front of the entire school in the great hall. Not just the two of them in the play ground.

[@bordarboy]

@ohthepeppers I thought the film was quite good actually, performances from great actors like Alan Rickman really made it a quality production.

[@JamesOhGoodie]

Honestly, I like how they changed the final battle for the movie. In the book, Harry almost literally talks Voldemort to death, which I found was terribly anti-climactic. In the movie, it's much more interesting to me and it's something audiences have been expecting. Plus, I like how they had the battle running parallel to Neville killing Voldemort's snake, making it arguable that Neville deserves just as much credit for defeating Voldemort as Harry does.

[@camydoger]

@Konve The one where Harry explains about the Elder wand just before killing Voldemort.

[@efcdk92]

I really didn't like this film, something bothered me about it all the way through. Seemed rushed as well.

[@KSRugby]

the ending was an anti climax and out of context in a lot of ways. Dumbledore said to Harry "Words are a powerful source of magic, capable of inflicting injury and remedying it" and then the end turns into a big fist fight, only with wands instead of fists. It left quite an empty feel in my stomach. I think that was thrown in for the big screen blockbuster entertainment, working on more an accountacy level than actually being a strength for the story. If they had done the end battle as in the book, it would have been awesome

[@jonaswtf1]

i think audiences would love to have the book showdown instead, but the studio was afraid it would be too little action to keep the attention of the audience or something, reallly quite sad

[@jodu626]

Although I agree I’d imagine they’d be far more backlash if there wasn’t a big battle at the end. Sometimes you can’t win

[@TheHappo]

Which speech is this that they're talking about towards the end of the review? I couldn't stand the last book but thought that the last two films solved pretty much all the issues I had with it, so no speech from it is really sticking out.

[@Goochbot]

@CPFCEAGLES25 I can't agree there. The first two were, at best, ok in my opinion, for a number of reasons: No style (Its Chris Columbus what do you expect), crappy cinematogrophy, overly intrusive score, and it seems the director/writer found it would be better to put absolutely everything from the book in the film because he clearly doesn't understand that books and movies are two different mediums, and theres no character development whatsoever.

[@prigg88]

@sulijoo out of interest - what HP film was it? Order of the Phoenix is good but they have a a lot of characters and a whole world to build in 8 films. I really don't think its a Lord of the Rings rip-off considering the films came out at the same time or at least Potter 1 came out in the same year as Lord of the Rings.

[@shaint456]

2 first films lacked???? has kermode even read the books? Those two films are the best book adaptations in the whole series!

[@camydoger]

@Cpadolf0 Yeah that's the one. Though they did make up for it somewhat by adding that "your security is shit" quip in the great hall.

[@Hargiwald]

@shaint456 No he hasn't, and he's reviewing them as films, as he should. And the first two weren't any good, especially not the first one.

[@prigg88]

@thememoryremains100 i agree with the films but the books are good.

[@ihazachi]

@Golem29 it diddn't hurt my eyes, actually. and commenting that i enjoyed a 3D movie was not an open invitation to whine at me, thankyou.

[@TheEraser92]

Only problem I had with the movie was that none of the deaths were climactic in any way, even voldemort's was too quick and undramatic.

[@GirlRepublican]

I loved DH Part 2, but I agree, it would have been SO MUCH better if they battled in the great hall with Harry daunting Voldemort.

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film is yet emotional, well crafted, well acted, strongly directed & is A terrific way to finish the series. (81%) (4/5 stars) (positive)

[@citizenhal]

Deathly*

[@simongrindell8483]

Benjamin Sniddlegrass and the Glasses of Reduced Colour Saturation. Still waiting...

[@Meursault1942]

@danielvago the book?

[@JackRabbitSlim]

It's been a while since I read the last book, can someone remind me what 'speach' Mark is referring to here, I don't remember Harry making a speach?

[@timsplanet2]

Speech

[@leeprice133]

And this comment was meant to be on the Troll Hunter video - this is what happens when you watch playlists on a phone..

[@ilikerice5208]

Ha ha I was so confused initially, but I kept scrolling through the comments and I saw this.

[@rywilk]

I totally agree about the speech. In the film, they basically just gave it to Neville.

[@orkavorn]

Kermode cries at anything!

[@TomBookbeard]

I usually go with the Doc's opinion but...has he been given a golden handshake for this review? The film was dire, incapable of delivering the emotion of the last book (which was also overrated IMO) and spent over two hours delivering the most annoying example of bathos in a film I have ever seen. Thankfully I only had to pay £4.30 to see it in 3D. I would've been pretty put out had I been charged more for that part of the experience.

[@rayway82]

damn, they revealed the unfortunate event...

[@liaantunes1109]

the people that are saying that this movie was bad are just 12 year old twilight fans that are frustrated because they know that harry potter has a much better fanbase and has much better movies than twilight saga, just because twilight sucks.

[@Frellyouall]

I saw it in 2D and it was sold out. Cineworld Cardiff.

[@ihazachi]

HP7B was my first 3D film and i actually like the 3D. like alot.

[@01rai01]

wats harry potter???

[@nevin540]

Absolutely despise this film and its lack of any emotional weight toward any of the excessive action

[@gibbi8]

Please stop talking about 3D. I have the same view on it as racism. The best way to get rid of it is to stop talking about it (and watching it for that matter).