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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, a review by Dragonfire

I went to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 this morning.  I was briefly tempted by the midnight showings, but I decided that would be too crazy.  After seeing people lined up 6 hours ahead of time Thursday evening and finding out that some of them had been there all day, I'm glad I didn't go then.  That would have been just a bit too crazy even for me.  It was bad enough today.  The theater was pretty full, though not completely sold out.  There were a lot of kids in the theater, but they were well behaved who actually sat and watched the movie without running up and down the aisles or playing with cell phones.  People weren't talking either.  Seeing this one and the last Potter movie has been a bit of a different experience from seeing other recent movies with large crowds. 

There are a few small things - changes or omissions - that I'm not happy about, but overall, I loved the movie.  It is one of the best of the series and one of the best of the year.  It is a great ending to a great series - though I still have issues with certain things in the previous movies.  While I will still have the books and movies to read and watch again as often as I want, it is still a little depressing that there aren't any more Potter movies to look forward to.  Even when I've been worried something wouldn't be done right, I still looked forward to the movies.

This movie picks up right where the last one ended.  It, along with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 are based on the final book in the Harry Potter series.  These two movies are a bit more connected than some of the previous ones have been.  This is not the movie to jump into the Potter world with.  Start at the beginning.  The plot is entertaining and things are resolved by the end, though a few things get worked out slightly differently because of changes that have been made somewhere along the way.  I like that the movie uses the epilogue from the book, though I've already seen some people complaining about that.  I liked that ending to the book and I liked it here.  Honestly, I would have liked even more details in that part.

Things are changed here and there throughout the movie, which I expected before seeing the movie.  The changes really didn't bother me too much this time.  They weren't as extreme as some of the ones done in previous movies, though once again, some of the explanations suffer.  The movie, like the last one, is depending on the audience having read the books and being able to fill in the missing pieces.  Certain things were left out of earlier movies and pop up with no introduction in this one, which could cause a little confusion for some viewers.  The special effects were done well and things look good overall.  There is more action in this one, though it is broken up by a few things, much like it was in the book.  There is violence, though not too extreme.  I still don't like the snake and it still freaks me out a bit.  Unfortunately for me, the snake is in more scenes in this movie.  I knew that was going to happen, but I still didn't like it.

Since the horcruxes were not properly set up in the sixth movies - that was one of the things that really bugged me about that movie - Harry lacked some important information he needed to try to find them.  I did wonder how Harry would manage without that knowledge.  This movie comes up with an explanation that works, though I don't really like it.  It is sort of a copout to cover up the crappy set up, but it works.  It would have been much better if the horcrux explanation had done properly to begin with in the sixth movie.

The characters are wonderful.  Some that haven't had much to do in the last few movies get some really nice moments.  McGonagall goes into badass mode, but she still takes the time to be giddy over doing a certain spell.  She is just awesome in this movie.  Neville is pretty badass too and he finally gets to shine.  I was worried he would get messed up.  Some things are a little different, but it is good.  Snape is around a bit more, and Alan Rickman is absolutely wonderful in the part.  Bellatrix is still twisted and crazy.  A lot of characters are only briefly seen unfortunately, but that has been an issue in all the movies since there are just so many characters.  The Weasleys are mostly missing, but Molly does get her moment that got applause in the theater I was in.  Voldemort is still one of the most evil villain characters. 

Harry, Ron, and Hermione get the most to do and they have changed the most over the series.  The actors are great in the parts.

The movie does end the series on a high note.  It is definitely one to see, but see the previous movies first.  And read the books.



I did get a review posted on Epinions.  It is a bit longer, but I didn't include spoilers.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

(From Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on July 16th, 2011)

Never Say Never Again, a review by Rich

Never Say Never Again



In this remake and updated version of the 1965 THUNDERBALL, James Bond (Sean Connery), who has been primarily teaching for the last few years, is quite happily yanked out of semiretirement to deal with the deadly SPECTRE organization's newest plan for the destruction of the planet. (The Bond story line mimics Connery's semiretirement from the role, which he had last played in 1971's DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.) Agent Number 2, also known as Maximilian Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), has managed to steal two cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads, and Agent Number 1, Blofeld (Max von Sydow), has threatened to explode them in areas with large populations if a huge, and almost impossible, ransom demand from the NATO countries is not met. The film features an excellent gaming battle between Largo and Bond, as well as stunning turns by Barbara Carrera and Kim Basinger. Technically not an offical Bond movie, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN was released around the same time as OCTOPUSSY, starring Roger Moore.

Looks like a Bond, smells like a Bond, sounds like a Bond, but it isn't a Bond!
Despite the ingredients being similar, they could not quite replicate the winning formula that is 007. Connery does his best to pull the film through, Bassinger was a convincing Bond girl, and the sexy Barbara Carrera raised temperatures especially when dressed as a nurse with long leather boots. There were exotic locations, plenty of action and fights, and I am sure a fairly hefty budget.
But now the negatives and why it cannot be considered in the same breath as the 007 series. The theme tune is weak, the opening titles (minus the sexist girls) are run of the mill, M is a disaster with Edward Fox, Q is basically absent, lack of flirting with Moneypenny, 007's glib remarks lack the typical punch and cheesiness, the action is below par, the effects disappointed several times (notably the missile scenes), distinct lack of gadgets, and a different and inferior feel to the whole production compared to the mainstream Bonds.
Close - but no cigar
 


(From Riches Random Reviews on April 30th, 2009)

Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom

Home Improvement: Season One (1991/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (Canada) Length: 566 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

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Plot:
An immediate hit with both fans and critics, this classic family comedy earned an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series in its very first season and soon found its place among the most popular and acclaimed sitcoms in television history.

Tim Allen ratchets up the laughs as Tim "The Toolman" Taylor in Home Improvement's landmark first season. Relive every hilarious moment with the accident-prone TV show host and the original "Tool Time" girl, Pamela Anderson, in this comprehensive 3-disc set, including all 24 episodes and exclusive bonus features. It's the show you love - with "more power" than ever!


Home Improvement
1.01 Pilot

This series is one of my favorite sitcoms of the 90s. And the first episode is a great introduction to the show. Sadly I don't have the urge to watch the show anymore. I started to watch my second season DVDs years ago and since then never finished it. I also own the rest of the series.

Rating:

(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on January 27th, 2012)