As some of you may know, I edit the Arts & Entertainment section for the University of Portsmouth's student rag, Pugwash News, duly plugged. Anywho, when the seventh and penultimate Harry Potter film came out, my deputy editor submitted a review giving it 10 out of 10 saying "Jesus would bow down to this movie."
Now for some context, at the beginning of the year, we (by which I mean the A&E team) agreed that only the Second Coming would get a 10/10 review. However, I could see where my deputy was coming from with this rating.
Harry Potter has been such a huge part of the lives of our generation for so long. From the first book to this, the second from last film, it has been the defining cultural product of the past decade. It has guided us through all of the pitfalls of growing up, first day at a new school, first kiss, first fights with friends, first relationships, first break ups. It has covered everything for us, except sex of course, despite the fact wizard sex would be absolutely awesome, no "well-that's-never-happened-before" situations with wizard sex I'll bet.
So, going in to this film, expectations were as high as a stoner atop a skyscraper and we all know the equation that expectation=disappointment. Thankfully, however, once in a while expectations can be met. This film is very good.
Of course, to anyone who has read the book, the dark plot will be familiar. This is the darkest book of the lot with our three heroes abandoning Hogwarts to go, essentially on the run. This has given the film series a much needed change of scenery as the corridors of Hogwarts are replaced with some truly stunning British landscapes, from forests to lakes to coastlines.
From the beautiful locations used to shoot the out-and-about scenes to the perfectly lighted indoor scenes, in terms of directorship, this film is just perfect. Reflecting the generally dark aspect of the book, a lot of the film is shot darkly.
The issue with many of the past films has been the acting. Not the overall cast, that has always been exception with the best of the best British acting talent being utilised. Bill Nighy is the latest big name to be cast and naturally, he is super, as Rufus Scrimgeour, under-fire Minister of Magic. Elsewhere, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham-Carter put in customary excellent turns as Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange. No, the issue of acting in the past has been the younger actors. This is no longer an issue.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have all come of age as acting talents, particularly Grint. The increasing tension, both emotionally and indeed sexually, between the trio is portrayed perfectly. Yes some lines over acted but that's to be expected in a film branding itself 'the most important film event of this generation'.
This Potter film combines some many different elements of filmmaking just perfectly. Witness the tender moments, such as Harry and Hermione's dance together. Witness the funny moments, the seven Harrys. Witness the action moments, from the flight from the Dursley's house to the climactic scene at Malfoy's mansion. Witness the emotional moments, Dobby's death. All effortlessly put together in a single two and a half hour package.
It says a lot when my one issue with the film is that it doesn't follow the plot line of the book to the letter but that is impossible to achieve as otherwise the film would be about ten hours long. And yes, the plot of the film still works so that is not too big of a problem.
Overall, this latest film in the series just left me incapable of waiting until July for the final chapter when not just the film, but an era really, comes to an end.
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