Хари Потър и Даровете на смъртта: Част 2 / Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 - Let me say something straight - this is a review reserved for Harry Potter fans. Both book and film ones. If you've been somehow immune to the charm of the greatest franchise (with more than three parts) in the cinema history so far, you don't need to read any further. Just remove three stars off the rating and go and do whatever you do in your non-magical world. But if you are among the millions who have eagerly waited for every single of the eight instalments and have been onboard this more-than-wonderful adventure from year one, this is the film for you. The film to put the definite end and it does it with style and a magnitude of powerful emotions...
After the first part of The Deathly Hallows slightly disappointed me, and not because of its slow development but due to the omission of favourite moments from the book (the movie, however, has (of course) grown on me on further viewings), I feared that this could happen with part II. Nevertheless, the moment the first trailer arrived and the critics (you know how difficult to please they are) started saying it's the best from the franchise, I already knew that I'm in for something big here... And I was right...
The first shots of the film - dialogue-free and full of dead calmness crowning over Hogwarts with only Severus Snape watching over the school's innocent pupils - will grab you and never let you go. Speaking of Snape (who has been recently selected by the readership of two film magazines as the best character in the entire saga) - if you've read the books, you'd know that this is his hour, the moment of the great revelations. And if you asked for more Alan Rickman in films one to seven, you'll finally get what you really deserve. Without revealing any spoilers, I'd only say that the Moment is truly emotional... The Internet has already launched a campaign for the great actor to get an Oscar nod, so be sure to join the league as well.
Regarding the remaining characters, all of your favourite teachers or students appear. Many have a real stand-out moment - Minerva McGonagall is truly terrific (as if Maggie Smith has waited for ten years to release her real power), Molly Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange say the B word, while even Filius Flitwick and Horace Slughorn have a moment, albeit considerably short, to shine. Of course others, such as Sybil Trelawney or Percy Weasley have entered the category "blink and you'll miss them", but the fans of the books will know why they are there. This leads to my observation that the Potter series are made and targeted mainly to the book aficionados and that in somewhat curious way books and films are interrelated. If you know the book by heart, the movie is just like a puzzle with million pieces - it doesn't matter if a character or a thing appears for just seconds, you'll enjoy the only glimpse of it. But be warned, the Dumbledore backstory has more-or-less ended on the editing room floor. And you'll not miss it.
Among the main players, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and most importantly Neville (you'll be surprised by the real focus on him, even compared to the book), feel perfectly at home during the movie. However, we all know that it is, and should be the Harry vs. Voldermort show. And the two, helped by the cast and crew, have prepared an outstanding face-off for you. Ralph Fiennes has enormous fun being the bad and twisted guy, while Daniel Radcliffe will finally convince all naysayers why he is the real and only Potter.
Speaking of the story, perhaps this film has the most linear structure, there are a few grand moments in the dungeons of Gringotts and then it's the battle for Hogwarts all over the place. Furthermore, it's one of the most faithful adaptations, with crisps of dialogue taken directly from the source novel. This time around the movie is not only extremely dark, but it's also brutal - there will be blood, skeletons, dead people, grotesque bodies and a really dangerous snake... The wand duels are supreme, the set pieces, albeit destroyed during the film, need an Oscar, and though the 3D is unnecessary, it doesn't annoy. It's obvious that David Yates, who has started taking care of the franchise since movie number five, has either deliberately saved his best skills for last or has just grown into a real craftsman. A special mentioning for the soundtrack too - though I really regretted that legendary composer John Williams will not return for the last part, his music has come back and when the end arrives with the notes from his Hedwig's Theme, your hearts would be filled with joy... Bring on the memories from part 1! And this is just one of the several nice touches that put a strong end to the franchise and really wrap up the story. (To his credit composer Alexander Desplat has done a magnificent job as the music for the film will enchant you from the very beginning).
But it's not only the excellent cast, or the amazing production designs, or the sublime effects that matter, it's the fact that J.K. Rowling has made a really thrilling story, spanning over seven books, a story pulsing with universal themes such as sacrifice, the price of friendship and utmost - with the power of love. It's the love of the thousands crew members who brought the entire world to life, and it's the love of the fans, who have grown with these characters, laughed with them, cared for them and invested in them. And fortunately they were not betrayed. At the end, as a famous rock star puts it - there'll be no dry eye in the house.... (Alexandra) *****
Дори дъжда / Tambien la lluvia (Spain, France, Mexico) (Limited) - Two movies of Van Kris are released in a limited distribution this weekend, and of course there have been no advance screenings. Hence no reviews and better for it, as the HP one has become really really long...
Смяна на местата / De l'autre côté du lit (France) (Limited) - Van Kris
The ratings:
***** Perfect
**** Unmissable
*** Fine
** So-so
* Stay away
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