Film File - Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallow, Part 2

And so it finally comes to an end - one of modern culture's most enduring characters finally faces his nemesis in a no-holds barred fight to the finish. A fight where the boy with those iconic roundy spectacles has now grown to early manhood, only to face his greatest challenge against a foe whose evil intent may be too much for even his magical powers. Yeah, right. "You're a wizard, Harry." Ten years ago, those words signified the beginning of the extraordinary cinematic journey of a boy whose name became synonymous with magic: Harry Potter. Over the next decade, the film franchise that bears his name changed movie history while also changing the lives of its multi-generational ensemble cast and the filmmakers who devoted themselves to bringing JK Rowling's seven-volume literary masterpiece to the screen. Commencing with 2001's 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' and culminating with the two-part adaptation of the final title, the films have become the top-grossing franchise of all time, capturing the imagination of audiences around the world. Additionally, both the books and the movies have been woven into our culture, adding words like Muggle, Quidditch, Hogwarts and even Expelliarmus! to the global lexicon. The characters of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were portrayed by three young actors who literally grew up on the screen: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. "I couldn't even attempt to sum up what the role of Harry Potter has meant to me, but I can say that I never took the opportunity to play him lightly," Radcliffe said. "It may have been the same character, but like anyone else, Harry changed a lot over the years so, as an actor, I looked at each film as an opportunity to do something fresh and to develop another set of skills." Having grown from gangly teen to vibrant young woman, Watson added: "I feel very privileged to have played Hermione, I think she's someone young girls can look up to because she's always true to herself. She's very smart and an incredibly courageous and loyal friend who keeps a cool head in extremely difficult situations." And Ron, the sidekick who brought a welcome dose of humanity to the stories: "I really liked the development of his character," Grint said. "He started out as a kid who was quite easily scared and it was nice to see him grow up to be brave and resourceful, particularly in this last movie where they are in such an unpredictable and dangerous place." Audiences have also watched all of the young characters in Harry Potter go from childhood to adulthood and, as they have matured, so have the stories. It's all there: good and evil, bravery, cowardice, greed, loyalty, and, of course, the unbreakable bonds of friendship. With each successive title, the stakes were raised and the dangers amplified as Lord Voldemort returned and now reigns. In 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2', the young wizards are now on the front lines of a world at war - the final battle for Hogwarts, the final conflict for the wizarding world and the ultimate showdown between Harry and Voldemort. Ending a decade of entertainment required an epic finale - a spectacle delivered in spades with battles, dragons, spiders and giants. "All of the characters, Harry included, are flawed," said creator, JK Rowling. "We don't have one wholly good or wholly bad person, with the exception of Voldemort who is wholly evil. There are no redeeming qualities there." So, how good is the final film? In a word, brilliant. Easily the best of the series, and a heck of a way to say goodbye. This is where many threads previously left hanging are woven neatly, and spectacularly, together, where sub-plots are wrapped into the culminating storyline with dramatic relish and technical aplomb that are occasionally breathless in their execution. The only other comparable finale is 'Lord Of The Rings', even though both films defy any kind of common similarity. Old characters are brought back for a final flourish, a number of enemies and friends are vanquished, and new heroes emerge from the chaos to mark their critical input in this final collision of grand proportions. One of cinema's greatest casts assembles one last time - Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, John Hurt, Helena Bonham Carter, Ciaran Hinds, Jim Broadbent, Miriam Margolyes, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane, as well as our own Devon Murray, Domhnall Gleeson and Evanna Lynch. Fittingly, screenwriter Steve Kloves, who wrote all but one of the films, is here for the final kill, along with director David Yates, who walks the delicate line between grand spectacle and emotional impact with masterful ease. Those critics who propounded the theory that splitting Rowling's final book into two parts was just a cynical moneygrabbing exercise are here answered with a resounding cinematic punch in the solar plexus - this is Harry's finest, and final, 130 minutes. It was a series that changed entertainment, and now goes out in a style better than even JK Rowling herself could have dared hope for. Adios, Harry, Hermoine and Ron - it's been a blast.