The penultimate installment in the Harry Potter saga starts out with a grisly scene that expertly sets the dark tone for the rest of the film. With his mentor and dear friend, Dumbledore, brutally killed at the conclusion of the sixth film, Harry is left to take on a nearly impossible mission: find and destroy the last of the Horcruxes - pieces of Voldemort's black soul preserving his immortality. Carrying out this task will not be easy, even with Harry's best friends, Ron and Hermione, there to help him. And as they face grave peril, their mettle and friendships are put to the test as the race against the clock to defeat Voldemort once and for all nears its end. As the series draws to a close, the awe and magnitude of our beloved hero's journey is that much more palpable. I found myself barely breathing at times, so enraptured was I at the scenes unfolding before me on screen. The stakes are that much higher now for our magical trio, so we are that much more committed to these characters that we've watched grow up in front of our very eyes. Harry - duly played with resolute loyalty and valor by Daniel Radcliffe - must become a man and abandon his life at Hogwarts, the only place where he ever felt truly happy. The childish reverie of goofing off in potions class or celebrating a Quidditch match victory are now a thing of the past, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione must tighten their jaws as they leave their friends, family, and studies behind. Hermione - played by the beautiful and graceful Emma Watson - is a powerful witch who can solve almost any problem, except for telling the boy she loves how she feels. And Ron - played with just the right blend of teenage boy angst and cheekiness by Rupert Grint - is torn by his loyalty for his best mate and his feelings for Hermione, which are buried so deep that they are apparent to everyone except himself. The cinematography of the film also perfectly encompasses the tone of the story: desolate landscapes shot in gray hues mirror the troubled melancholy and uncertainty that our heroes are feeling. While the journey into adulthood and unknown danger weighs heavily on Harry, Ron, and Hermione, one thing is certain: these friends have an unbreakable bond that gives them the strength and courage to overcome any obstacle. That is a magic that no spell can break. So to Voldemort and his Death Eaters, as we approach the final end of this amazing story, I say to you: Bring. It. On.
5 out of 5 stars
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