Just a day now until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is released! That means it's time for my final Harry Potter book review and my review of part 1 of the movie.
Brief:
The last volume in the Harry Potter series was much anticipated, and it came as something of a disappointment to many fans. It was impossible for anything to live up to everyone's expectations, especially when many of these fans were busy writing their own fanfiction while they waited. Nevertheless, it was an excellent book that traced the final steps of Harry's journey.
The story breaks the mould set by all the previous Harry Potter books. It is not a Hogwarts-centered story. It follows Harry, Ron and Hermione as they set out on a mission that Dumbledore left to Harry at the end of the previous volume. This mission-centered atmosphere helps to highlight the growing danger of the world around them, and the urgency of their mission.
The loose ends are tied up as many anticipated revelations are made in this story. Various supporting characters get mentions and scenes, but the story focuses on Harry and his two best friends. Many of the more light-hearted elements of the previous books are absent here, which helps set the tone, and there are some very suspenseful and frightening moments in this book.
It does drag a little at some points, as Harry seems to have little idea of where to go next, but if you get yourself through the slightly tedious bits you will find some action packed scenes that are worth the wait.
If you've read or watched any of the Harry Potter books so far you should give this one a read to see all the loose ends tied up. The movie adaptation was split into two parts, and I noticed J.K Rowling listed as a co-producer in the credits of the first part. Both of these things seem to have contributed to making the movie one of the most accurate adaptations in the series. It was also a beautifully made film. A little late, perhaps, but at least they got it right for this last one.
BEYOND THIS POINT THERE BE SPOILERS
Book Regrets:
I usually don't mention these, because I didn't have big ones for the other books, but there were some issues with this one.
First of all, I probably don't even need to mention the Epilogue. I once saw an interview with the author on TV where she talked about how the ending was written way at the start of the series and she locked it up in some vault somewhere where it would be safe and then took it back out when it was time for the last book. To me, this explains the unsatisfactory nature of the ending, because if you've read all the books you know that Rowling's style improved and the books grew up with each new instalment – the ending, it seems, was not allowed to grow in the same way.
I don't think it would have been as bad if we had had a little bit more before the Epilogue. As it was, the story cut from right after the final battle to that horrible episode with everyone's children – and all of Harry's daughters were named after flowers. We were not allowed to see the many beloved characters struggle with their grief. There was no rebuilding after the battle. No burial for the dead, and no one went to find Snape's body. No celebrations after everyone had recovered from the shock. No months of unease as people wondered if he really was gone for good this time. No closure to the House Elf rights thread. If we had been provided with all or most of these things I think we would have been less inclined to hate the Epilogue that came afterwards.
Harry's lack of direction and focus is another one for me. Maybe lack of focus isn't the right way of saying it, he was very focused, but he didn't do anything about it. There was no attempt to learn new defensive spells and enchantments, no attempt to arm himself for what he might face. Hermione pulled off a couple of new spells now and then but this was below the standard we would expect from previous books and certainly not in line with the nature of this book. The trio should have spent much more time practicing spells and planning a reasonable route to find the Horcruxes. Two thirds of the way through the book the only one they had managed to find and destroy was the locket!
Movie (part 1) Regrets:
My favourite part of the book was the part when they discover R.A.B. That whole scene, Regulus' unexpected story and the heartbreaking way in which we saw the contrast between his treatment of Kreacher and Voldemort's treatment was amazing. I was excited when I saw the movie and began to see that they had taken dialogue from the book word for word this time, because I wanted to see this scene in all its glory, I wanted to see the memory and see Regulus and Kreacher's journey through the cave, ending with Regulus being dragged down by the Inferi. But all we get is a five second scene where Kreacher says that Mundungus stole it. He doesn't even get to bring Mundungus back by himself, because they had to reinsert Dobby into the movies so that he wouldn't be coming out of nowhere when he died.
My second main regret is the stupid Harry/Hermione dance scene. I fail to understand why the movies have been building up the Harry/Hermione relationship… I ignored all the little looks and things in previous movies, but this was going too far.
Ron's behaviour in the cell at Malfoy manor while Hermione was being tortured was disappointing. He should have been screaming. He should have been beside himself with anger and fear for Hermione, but instead they only showed us a few second of his face as he said "help us".
Another cut scene was the scene with the conversation that the Trio overheard between Dean, Ted Tonks, Griphook and the others. It was a very important scene and it highlighted two key things: the Muggle-born persecution, and Ron's concern for his family. Dean has been consistently cut out of the movies and this one time when he actually gets a good scene in the book it was cut out completely.
Movie (part 1) Bonuses:
This movie had some awesome scenes that I was surprised, and glad, to see. First of all, the scene with Hermione Obliviating her parents at the start of the movie was haunting – amazingly done. It's one of those mentioned, but not shown in detail, in the books, but which made an awesome addition to the movie.
The animated sequence with the tale of the three brothers and the Deathly Hallows also came as a pleasant surprise. It looked amazing.
Other than that, the fact that they stuck so close to the scenes and dialogue in the book was a definite bonus. If anything, Deathly Hallows Part 1 proved that Rowling's stories can become amazing films as they are.
Deathly Hallows Part 2:
Judging by the trailers and posters that have come out it seems as if they've highlighted Neville's role. It looks like they're going to give the battle the time that it deserves, allowing the contributions of other characters some screen time. If this is the case it will make for an awesome film. I can't wait to see McGonagall and Neville and all the others in the movie.
There is this weird scene in the trailer with Harry practically hugging Voldemort and jumping off a tower with him. I honestly wouldn't have minded some changes to the way the final battle goes down, I would have expected them to stretch it out a bit and try to make it a little more complicated. The way it happens in the book is very simple and there's a lot of talking, which I can see them changing for the movies. Jumping off a tower, however, was not the best way to do this…
I will forgive them that scene, though, if we see enough of Neville, McGonagall, the other students, and the House Elves in the final battle.
World-Building Rating:
The book scores a Great for world-building. Not the best, especially when you compare it with Order of the Phoenix
Despite my regrets this movie deserves a world-building rating of Awesome. The scenes were very vivid, with many little details from the books providing a backdrop like the Lovegoods' Dirigible Plums and the Statue at the Ministry and so on. The inserted scenes also did a lot for the world-building, most notably the Tale of the Three Brothers animation and Hermione's opening scene.
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