HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HOLLOWS PART 2 is the best film of the franchise

Created by the imaginative mind of J.K. Rowling, the saga of the boy wizard known as Harry Potter was adapted into seven films that showcased the talents of four directors and featured the biggest British cast ensemble ever assembled for a franchise of this magnitude. Ten years and $6 billion of worldwide box office grosses later, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2” marks the end of this fantastic franchise with a movie that fans and non-fans of the novels will adore.   

This movie leaves off where the “Deathly Hollows Part 1” left off with Lord Voldermort (Ralph Fiennes) acquiring the Elder Wand from the cold, dead finger of the late Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Meanwhile, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) continue their quest to seek and destroy the last three remaining Horcruxes, which would help weaken Voldermort. All this will culminate in the ultimate battle of good-versus-evil which culminates with an all-out war at Hogwarts between the students and staff of the school against the invading forces of Voldermort and his Death Eaters.

The best was certainly for last as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2” is the epic finale to the franchise that will satisfy Harry Potter fans and moviegoers.

If action is want you want, then action is what you get with this movie. There are fire-breathing dragons, tons of wizard battles taking place within the walls of Hogwarts and the final showdown between Harry Potter and Lord Voldermort.

For a PG-13 rating, the film also features a high body count with many people and some familiar faces sacrificing themselves for the cause of good. The cinematography of Eduardo Serra is beautifully shot despite its dark and ominous atmosphere while Alexandre Desplat’s score is the best of the franchise, occasionally echoing  John Williams’ original themes from the earlier films.

The performances are great all around, especially those of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as they deliver their strongest performances of the entire series. Among the adult cast, Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman stand out among the rest.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2” opens in South Florida theaters on Friday.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2”: 5 stars out of 5