Wow! One of the very best! I love all of the Harry Potter books and movies, having started reading them to grandson Patrick when he was very small. I had to read the last two books all by myself (sniff) because he was way too grown up by then – much older than his grandmother, in fact!
I’m glad they broke the last book, The Deathly Hallows, into two films, since the wandering in the wilderness does separate the tone very much from the rest of the books. This is really the 40 days in the desert, the dark night of the soul, of Harry’s journey, and he emerges in a stronger, more calm, more committed place.
This is also the story of Harry and Hermione and Ron, their intertwined relationships and the love among them. We can see it clearly when they’re out on the moors, or by a lake in the hills. Ron’s tantrum while wearing the horcrux separates him from his two soulmates, and he must wrestle the truth of that in his solitariness. The beautiful and tender dance scene with Hermione and Harry illustrates the love and support they give to each other.
There is humor and magic and chase scenes aplenty, but the overall color is dark, somber. Even the wedding doesn’t brighten it up much. This is preparation for the final battle, which is to come next July.
This is an outstanding film on many levels, and definitely one of the best of the Harry stories.