“It all ends.” As if we needed reminding, the posters have been inescapable. Today, the final film installment of the Harry Potter series comes to theatres.
 |
| Image Source |
The fourth floor was invited by Warner Brothers Canada to attend the Toronto premiere earlier this week at the Scotiabank Theatre, as well as the after-party at Casa Loma. Not a bad job perk! We’ll try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, but if you haven’t read the books and want to be totally surprised then we suggest you stop reading – now (also: avoid Twitter, blogs and anyone dressed in a cape you run into on the street).
The last chapter of the Harry Potter film franchise does not disappoint. The Deathly Hallows, Part 1 was slow-paced, conveying the sense of hopelessness that our heroes – Harry, Ron and Hermione – felt. The second film starts off right where the first ended: Voldemort stealing the Elder Wand from Dumbledore’s grave and Harry burying Dobby (Ack! This part destroyed us in Part 1). From this point on, the action does not stop for two hours.
 |
| Image Source |
While Harry is undoubtedly the hero of the film, both Neville Longbottom and Severus Snape reveal aspects of their characters the audience may not see coming. Snape’s story, especially, is handled with such respect and is so touching that if you aren’t crying, well, your soul may be as empty as You-Know-Who’s.
 |
| Image Source |
One of the things we love best about the Harry Potter series is the importance that J.K. Rowling gives the tertiary characters. She realizes that all the students at Hogwarts have impacted Harry’s life in some way, and that the stories are richer because of it. You’ll smile when Seamus Finnigan has to blow something up, because you know he’s a bit of a firebug. Your blood will boil when Pansy Parkinson tries to turn people against Harry, but you know she’s a Slytherin and that’s what they do.
 |
| Image Source |
If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you will not be disappointed. This movie will make you cry, laugh, weep, cheer and sob. As the Prophecy said, “… for neither can live while the other survives.” It all ends, but that’s okay. If you find yourself missing Harry and the gang, you can always visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
RIB 2 