Before I start I just want to say how impressed I was with the film in general! For the first part I came out the cinema with literally one complaint where they missed a part out in the book. This part I had a few more complaints but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the film! The things they missed out or changed didn't make the film significantly worse. In the DH premiere, Daniel Radcliffe talks about the book and film comparisons. He says that the directors and even JK Rowling understand that the film can never do the book justice! The film must have its own spin on things, which this did.
So a little thing to begin with. I really enjoyed how the character of Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter - beautiful) truly acted and it felt like Hermoine was in her body. It was so convincing! She is a great actor and I couldn't help but admire her in this! It reminded me of when Harry Ron and Hermoine took the polyjuice potion to go through the Ministry in the first part. I also loved how the actors performed that too (as you can see if you read my review on the first part).
Something that wasn't in the books was that Harry could hear the horcurxes, but to be honest it didn't bother me much. It did help in the film and it creates a much more cinematic touch, where you don't really need it in the book. But yeah it worked really well.
I did like the kinda badass moment of Harry stepping out of the crowd in the hall when they were all gathered, and his line when all the Order came in, it did make me happy :') But I couldn't help but notice how did Snape not notice him, how did anyone not notice him..? I did like the bit in the book in the Ravenclaw common room alot, but this works still. Voldermort's voices in people's heads was so brilliantly executed too.
Now I'm not gonna lie, I really don't like the couple Ron and Hermoine, but I did like the kiss down in the Chamber of Secrets. In the book it was alot more.. passionate? How they like leap into each other's arms, and the humour with Harry being there like 'is this the time'? But t'was good. Their relationship throughout the film too, how Ron remembers things Hermoine says. Yah, cute.
To add to them, in the room of requirement Ron running after Draco Goyle and *random black dude who I can't remember name of* like 'THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND' and then he runs back screaming being chased by the fire. He just grabs her hand and runs.
So something that disappointed me was the pacing of this film. As I just said, it was too fast! Comparing it to the first part again. The first part was long and dragging out, whereas this one was too fast I barely had time to keep up. I understand that this one was meant to be the epic conclusion and everything, but that doesn't mean that they should miss out all the talking! For example, Harry and Voldermort's talk in the Great Hall that was meant to happen before they casted their spells at each other?
I suppose the writer's of this film didn't want to bore us like the first one may have. But it being too fast got rid of some of the emotion that should have been there in this finale! Many of the deaths for example were only on screen for a maximum of 2 minutes, before they were forgotten, as if it had never happened.
I would have really liked to have seen Fred's death, and the fact that the whole Percy storyline was cut makes it more complicated. But I understand that this would've slowed the film down alot if they included that scene that was so beautifully written in the book. This film was so quick, there wasn't time to slow things down.
Speaking of the deaths, Snape. His death to begin was so horrific in a way, and just dark. I really liked Snape's tears being the memories too. I really loved the ways his memories were on the screen - exactly as in my head. I found it extremely touching, like in the book, and it really hit home how all along he was protecting Harry. As well as me crying, I could hear two of my friends either side of me, and the noise around the theatre too! The bit with Snape holding Lily made me gasp, it was just.. urgh. So well done, so good.
Alan Rickman (Snape) really won this film for me. If he doesn't get nominated for some award for this movie I will be so disappointed. He is such a talented actor and the scene with his memories was one of the most heartbreaking but also my favourite part of this film.
The bit with the Malfoy's looking for Draco I liked in the book. The way JK Rowling worded it like they weren't paying attention to the battle, all they cared about was them being a family. I didn't like them just walking out, it took away that powerful feeling that they didn't care about being death eaters anymore, just being a family.
I loved the chapter when Harry and Voldemort are circling each other talking about everything and explaining, and in the film I didn't get what I wanted at all. I hated the falling of the side of the castle, flying through the air trying to strangle each other bit. Such a pointless bit of 'action'. That annoyed me! But they had the sun breaking through when he died, and it meant alot to me that they included that part!
I didn't understand why Harry just broke the wand without even fixing his own wand in the film at the end.. Literally I said 'he broke the wand.. kay..' under my breath. Now you're left without a wand - nice one Harry!
But that last scene on the platform, Christ I was a mess. The aging was a little funny though. Harry for example, give me a shirt, shirt jacket and stubble and he looks 20 years older.. but it's fine, it would be hard to age anyone like that. I liked it. It was a nice ending and it was the end of my childhood.
So to wrap things up, I don't think I've ever felt that many emotions in the space of 2 hours. When I went to watch it on the Friday it came out, I couldn't stop thinking about it all weekend. A fantastic end to my childhood, I think it did it justice. That's all I can ask for really :)
