Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film[3][4] directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and Rowling. The story continues to follow Harry Potter's quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively.
Principal photography began on 19 February 2009, and was completed on 11 June 2010,[5] with the final day of reshoots taking place on 21 December 2010, marking the series' closure of ten years of filming.[6] Part 2 was released in 2D, 3D and IMAX cinemas worldwide from 13–15 July 2011, and is the only Harry Potter film to be released entirely in 3D.
The film opened to universal critical acclaim, and is among the best reviewed films of 2011.[7][8] At the box office, Part 2 claimed the worldwide opening weekend record, earning $483.2 million, as well as setting opening day and opening weekend records in various countries. The film is currently the third highest grossing film of all time,[9] the highest grossing film of 2011, the highest grossing film in the Harry Potter series, and the ninth film to gross over $1 billion.[10] The Blu-ray and DVD sets are scheduled to be released on 11 November 2011 in the United States,[11] and in the United Kingdom on 2 December 2011.[12]

Contents

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Part 2


Theatrical poster
Directed by David Yates
Produced by David Heyman
David Barron
J. K. Rowling
Screenplay by Steve Kloves
Based on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by
J. K. Rowling
Starring Daniel Radcliffe
Rupert Grint
Emma Watson
(See below)
Music by Alexandre Desplat
Themes:
John Williams
Nicholas Hooper
Cinematography Eduardo Serra
Editing by Mark Day
Studio Warner Bros. Pictures
Heyday Films
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date(s) 13 July 2011 (2011-07-13) (International)
15 July 2011 (2011-07-15) (United Kingdom &
United States)
Running time 130 minutes[1]
Country United Kingdom
United States
Language English
Budget $250 million
(Shared with Part 1)[2]
Box office $1,325,524,316[3]

 

Plot

Further information: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
See also: Plot of Part 1
As Lord Voldemort retrieves the Elder Wand from Albus Dumbledore's tomb, Severus Snape has become Hogwarts' headmaster. Meanwhile, after burying Dobby, Harry Potter speaks with the goblin Griphook about breaking into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault at Gringotts bank, suspecting that a Horcrux may be hidden there. Griphook agrees to take Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the vault in exchange for the Sword of Gryffindor. Harry asks Ollivander, the wandmaker, to identify two wands they took from Malfoy Manor. Ollivander says they belonged to Bellatrix and Draco Malfoy, but Malfoy's wand has changed its allegiance to Harry.
In Bellatrix's vault, Harry discovers that the Horcrux is Helga Hufflepuff's Cup. He obtains the cup but Griphook takes the sword and abandons the trio, leaving them cornered by the alerted security. However, the three release the dragon guardian and flee. Harry has a vision of Voldemort furiously killing goblins, including Griphook, and learns that he has discovered the theft. Harry also learns there is a Horcrux at Hogwarts, that is in some way related to Rowena Ravenclaw. The trio apparate into Hogsmeade, which sets off caterwauling alarms. They are rescued by Aberforth Dumbledore, who instructs a portrait of his younger sister, Ariana, to fetch Neville Longbottom, who leads the trio through a secret passageway into Hogwarts. In the Room of Requirement, the trio are reunited with Dumbledore's Army and request their help to find Rowena Ravenclaw's diadem.
Snape hears of Harry's return and informs staff and students of the severe punishment for aiding Harry. Harry confronts Snape about Dumbledore's death, and Minerva McGonagall challenges Snape to a duel. Snape flees and McGonagall gathers the community of Hogwarts to prepare for battle. At Luna Lovegood's insistence, Harry speaks to Helena Ravenclaw's ghost. She reveals that Voldemort performed "dark magic" on her mother's diadem, which is in the Room of Requirement. Ron and Hermione go to the Chamber of Secrets, where Hermione destroys Helga Hufflepuff's Cup with a Basilisk fang, after which Ron and Hermione share their first kiss. In the Room of Requirement, Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle and Blaise Zabini attack Harry, but Ron and Hermione intervene. Goyle casts a Fiendfyre curse but falls to his death, however, Malfoy and Blaise are saved by the trio before destroying the Ravenclaw diadem. As the school is attacked by Voldemort's forces, Harry, again looks into Voldemort's mind, to locate him and his snake, Nagini, which he knows as the final Horcrux. After entering the boathouse, the trio witness Voldemort telling Snape that the Elder Wand cannot properly serve him until Snape dies, and has Nagini murder Snape. Before dying, Snape tells Harry to take his memories to the Pensieve. Fred, Lupin, Tonks and Lavender Brown are killed in the battle.
From watching Snape's memories in the Pensieve, Harry learns that Snape was a childhood friend of his mother Lily at a young age, and that he had loved her his whole life. Following her death, Snape agreed with Dumbledore to protect Harry from Voldemort out of his love for Lily. Harry also learns that Dumbledore's death at Snape's hands was planned between them. Harry became a Horcrux when Voldemort originally failed to kill him and he must die in order to destroy the piece of Voldemort's soul within him.
Harry goes to die at the hands of Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest, after being comforted by the appearance of his parents, Sirius, and Remus from the Resurrection Stone which was hidden in the Golden Snitch. Voldemort casts the Killing Curse upon Harry, who finds himself in a strange limbo where Dumbledore's spirit meets him and explains that the part of Voldemort within Harry was killed by Voldemort's own curse and that "Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who deserve it." Harry decides to return to his body to face Voldemort for the final time.
Voldemort announces Harry's death to everyone at Hogwarts, and that anyone who defies him will be killed. As Neville gives a speech, Harry reveals that he is alive. Neville draws forth the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat, and as Harry and Voldemort duel in the courtyard, Neville decapitates Nagini, rendering Voldemort mortal. Molly Weasley kills Bellatrix in the Great Hall after Bellatrix attempts to kill Ginny Weasley. Voldemort casts his final Killing Curse at Harry, but his curse rebounds and kills Voldemort once and for all. Harry is joined by Hermione and Ron, and Harry explains that the Elder Wand had recognised him as its master because he had disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor, who in turn had disarmed its previous owner, Dumbledore. Harry snaps the Elder Wand, rejecting its power.
Nineteen years later, Harry and Ginny Potter, along with Ron and Hermione Weasley, watch proudly as their children leave for Hogwarts.

Cast

Further information: List of Harry Potter cast members
The roles of several minor characters were recast or replaced for this film. Ciarán Hinds assumes the role of Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore's brother and bartender of the Hog's Head inn. Hinds replaced Jim McManus, who portrayed the character in a brief cameo in the fifth film. The role of Helena Ravenclaw, the ghost of Ravenclaw House, is played by Kelly Macdonald, who replaced Nina Young, the actress that portrayed the character in the first film. Furthermore, Joshua Herdman announced on 9 August 2009 (2009-08-09) that Jamie Waylett would not be reprising his role as Vincent Crabbe. Waylett's character would instead be written out and his role in the plot taken over by Herdman's character, Gregory Goyle. Waylett's absence also led to the appearance of Slytherin student Blaise Zabini, portrayed by Louis Cordice, in the Room of Requirement scene instead.[13]
In the book, a significant number of characters who have not appeared since some of the earlier novels, reappear to fight to defend Hogwarts in the large, final battle.[14] Director David Yates said, "I want to get them all back", referring to his desire to bring back as many actors who have appeared in the franchise as possible for the climactic battle sequence in the film.
For the final scene in the film which is set nineteen years after the film's main story, the actors playing the main characters were made to look older through the use of makeup and special effects.[15]

Production

Main article: Production of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Part 2 was filmed back-to-back with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 from 19 February 2009 to 12 June 2010, with reshoots for the Epilogue scene taking place at Leavesden Film Studios on 21 December 2010. Director David Yates, who shot the film with director of photography Eduardo Serra, described Part 2 as "operatic, colourful and fantasy-oriented", a "big opera with huge battles."[16][17]

Sets

In an interview with Architectural Digest, production designer Stuart Craig remarked on creating sets for Part 2. Of the Gringotts Wizarding Bank, he said, "our banking hall, like any other, is made of marble and big marble columns. And it has great strength. The fact that the goblins are the bankers and tellers at the counter helps that feeling of grandeur and solidity and the big proportions. That was part of the fun of the set: we exaggerated the size of it, we exaggerated the weight of it, and we even exaggerated the shine of the marble." About the multiplication of treasure in one of the bank's vaults, he noted, "We made literally thousands of pieces for it and vacuum metalised them to be shiny gold and silver. John Richardson, the special effects supervisor, made a floor that was capable of rising on different levels, so there was kind of a physical swelling of the treasure on it."[18]
Craig spoke about the Battle of Hogwarts to Art Insights Magazine, saying that "the great challenge is the destruction of Hogwarts. The sun rising behind the smoke ... the massive remains of destroyed walls, the entrance hall, the entrance of the Great Hall, part of the roof of the Great Hall completely gone, so yeah. A big challenge there and an enjoyable one really – maybe it helped me and the guys in the art department sort of prepare for the end ... we demolished it before we had to strike it completely." When asked about the King's Cross scene near the end of the film, Craig said, "We experimented a lot, quite honestly. I mean it was quite a protracted process really but we did experiment the sense of it being very burnt out very very kind of white – so we experimented with underlit floors, we experimented with different kind of white covering everything: white paint, white fabric, and the cameraman was involved in how much to expose it, and a series of camera tests were done, so we got there but with a great deal of preparation and research."[19]

Visual effects

Visual effects companies that worked on Part 1 (including Framestore, Moving Picture Company and Double Negative) also worked on the visuals for Part 2. Visual Effects Supervisor Tim Burke said that "It was such a major job to stage the Battle of Hogwarts, and we had to do it in different stages of production. We had shots with complex linking camera moves from wide overviews, to flying into windows and interior spaces. So, we took the plunge at the end of 2008, and started rebuilding the school digitally with Double Negative." He went on to say that "It's taken two years – getting renders out, texturing every facet of the building, constructing interiors to see through windows, building a destruction version of the school. We can design shots with the knowledge that we have this brilliant digital miniature that we can do anything with. With a practical Hogwarts, we would have shot it last summer and been so tied down. Instead, as David Yates finds the flow and structure, we are able to handle new concepts and ideas."[20]
On the quality of 3-D in film, Burke told Los Angeles Times, "I think it's good, actually. I think people are going to be really pleased. I know everyone's a little nervous and sceptical of 3-D these days, but the work has been done very, very well. We've done over 200 shots in 3-D and in the visual effects as well, because so much of it is CG, so the results are very, very good. I think everyone's going to be really impressed with it, actually." Producer David Heyman spoke to SFX magazine about the 3-D conversion, saying that "The way David Yates is approaching 3-D is he's trying to approach it from a character and story point of view. Trying to use the sense of isolation, of separation that sometimes 3-D gives you, to heighten that at appropriate moments. So we're approaching it in a storytelling way."[21][22]

Soundtrack

Main article: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (soundtrack)
See also: Music of the Harry Potter films
The composer of the first three films, John Williams, expressed interest in returning for Deathly Hallows – Part 2 if it fit his schedule. Director David Yates stated that he was eager to work with Williams on the score, but it was not possible due to their conflicting schedules.[23] It was confirmed via the Warner Bros. website that Part 1 composer, Alexandre Desplat, was set to return for Part 2.[24][25] In an interview with Film Music Magazine, Desplat stated that scoring Part 2 is "a great challenge" and that he has "a lot of expectations to fulfill and a great deal of work" ahead of him.[26] Desplat started writing the music in early 2011, and finished recording with orchestrator Conrad Pope and the London Symphony Orchestra on 27 May 2011, at Abbey Road Studios.[27][28]

Marketing

In March 2011, the first preview for Deathly Hallows – Part 2 was released revealing new footage and new interviews from the starring cast.[29] The first US poster was released on 28 March 2011 with the caption "It All Ends 7.15" (referring to its international release date).[30] On 27 April 2011, the first theatrical trailer for Part 2 was released. The trailer revealed a range of new and old footage.[31] A month later, a set of many posters were released each illustrating a different character with the caption "It All Ends" and a background depicting the Battle of Hogwarts.[32] The IMAX trailer for the film was released with IMAX screenings of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides on 20 May 2011. During the MTV Movie Awards on 5 June 2011, Emma Watson presented a sneak peek of the film.[33]

Release

On 2 April 2011, a test screening of the film was held in Chicago. Director David Yates, producers David Heyman and David Barron and the film's editor Mark Day were in attendance.[34] The film had its world premiere on 7 July 2011 (2011-07-07) in Trafalgar Square in London. The US premiere was held in New York City at Lincoln Center on 11 July 2011 (2011-07-11).[35] The film was released on 12 July in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates; on 13 July in Greece, Australia, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, South Africa and several other countries; on 14 July in the UK and Puerto Rico and on 15 July in the US, Canada, Japan, Brazil and Bulgaria. Although filmed in 2-D, the film was converted into 3-D in post-production and was released in both RealD 3D and IMAX 3D.
The film was originally scheduled to open in Indonesia on 13 July 2011.[36] However, the Indonesian government levied a new value added tax tax on royalties from foreign films in February 2011 causing three film studios, including Warner Brothers, to halt the importation of their films, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 into the country.[36][37] Theater owners hope to have Harry Potter on their screens by the end of July, barring a continuation of the dispute.[37][38]
The film was not released to theaters in the Kingdom of Jordan due to recently enforced taxes on films. It has not been premiered in the Kingdom as of 13 August 2011.[39][40]
On 10 June, one month before the film's release, tickets went on sale.[41]
On 16 June 2011, Part 2 received a 12A certificate from the British Board of Film Classification, who note that the film "contains moderate threat, injury detail and language", becoming the only Harry Potter film to receive a warning for "injury detail".
At midnight 15 July, Part 2 screened in 3,800 theatres. In the United States, it played in 4,375 theatres, 3,100 3D theaters, and 274 IMAX theatres, the widest release for an IMAX, 3D and a Potter film.

Reception

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 opened to universal acclaim; as of August 2011 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an overall approval rating of 96% based on 264 reviews and an average score of 8.4/10. The site's consensus describes the film as "Thrilling, powerfully acted, and visually dazzling, Deathly Hallows Part II brings the Harry Potter franchise to a satisfying – and suitably magical – conclusion."[42] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 based on individual reviews, the film achieved an average of 87 based on 41 reviews, signifying "universal acclaim".[43] The film received a score of 93 from professional critics at the Broadcast Film Critics Association; it is their highest rated Harry Potter film.[44]
The first review of the film was released on 5 July 2011 by The Daily Telegraph. Philip Womack commented, "This is monumental cinema, awash with gorgeous tones, and carrying an ultimate message that will resonate with every viewer, young or old: there is darkness in all of us, but we can overcome it." He further expressed that David Yates "transmutes [the book] into a genuinely terrifying spectacle."[45] Another review was released on the same day, this time from Evening Standard, who rated the film 4/5 and stated "Millions of children, parents, and those who should know better won't need reminding what a Horcrux is – and director David Yates does not let them down. In fact, in some ways, he helps make up for the shortcomings of the final book."[46] The Daily Express remarked that the film showcases "a terrifying showdown that easily equals Lord of the Rings or Star Wars in terms of a dramatic and memorable battle between good and evil."[47] First Stop News gave the film a rating of 9.6/10 calling the film a "truly magical ending" to the series that "will become the most-discussed and praised film of the year."[48]
Roger Ebert gave the film 3 1/2 out of four stars and said that "The finale conjures up enough awe and solemnity to serve as an appropriate finale and a dramatic contrast to the lighthearted (relative) innocence of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone all those magical years ago."[49] Mark Kermode said that the film is a "pretty solid and ambitious adaptation of a very complex book", but he criticised the post-converted 3D.[50] Christy Lemire of the Associated Press gave 3 1/2 out of four stars and said "While Deathly Hallows: Part 2 offers long-promised answers, it also dares to pose some eternal questions, and it'll stay with you after the final chapter has closed."[51] Richard Roeper gave the film an A+ rating and said that "This is a masterful and worthy final chapter in one of the best franchises ever put to film."[52]

Box office

Main article: Theatrical run of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
The film has grossed an estimated $378,824,316 in the United States and Canada, as of 25 September 2011, along with $946,700,000 in international markets, as of 22 September 2011, for a worldwide total of $1,325,524,316. The film is currently the third highest-grossing one of all time worldwide behind Titanic and Avatar, the highest-grossing 2011 film,[10] the highest-grossing non-Cameron film worldwide, the highest-grossing film in the Harry Potter franchise and the highest-grossing novel adaptation both domestically and worldwide.[9]
Part 2 grossed a record $483.2 million worldwide on its opening weekend, breaking the previous record set by Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in 2009 ($394 million).[53] It also made the largest worldwide opening at IMAX theaters ($23.2 million),[54] surpassing the previous record held by Transformers: Dark of the Moon ($23.1 million).[55]
North America
The film set many records during its opening weekend in North America. It set new records in advance ticket sales,[56][57] in its midnight opening[58] and in its IMAX midnight opening.[59] It also scored the biggest opening day gross and the largest single day gross of all-time[60] as well as the biggest opening weekend in box office history.[61][62] In addition, it set an IMAX record during its opening weekend. Finally, it is the third highest grossing 3D film domestically and the highest grossing film of 2011 in North America.[63]
Markets outside of North America
On its first day at the foreign box office (13 July 2011), Deathly Hallows – Part 2 grossed $43.6 million in 26 countries.[64] From Wednesday until Sunday, on its 5-day opening weekend, it set a new overseas opening record by earning $314 million, a record previously held by Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides ($260.4 million).[53]
The film broke the record for the biggest opening day gross in history in the United Kingdom ($14.8 million), Mexico ($6.1 million), Australia ($7.5 million), France ($7.1 million), Italy ($4.6 million), Sweden ($2.1 million), Norway ($1.8 million), Denmark ($1.6 million), the Netherlands ($1.7 million), Belgium ($1.4 million), the Czech Republic ($2.0 million), Finland ($749,000) and Hong Kong ($808,000).[59][65][66] It also established new Harry Potter records in Japan ($5.7 million), Brazil ($4.4 million), Spain ($3.3 million) and Poland ($1.25 million).[67]
The film also set opening weekend records in the UK ($38.3 million), Australia ($19.6 million), New Zealand ($2,462,625), Brazil ($11,635,073), Scandinavia ($18.5 million), India (INR15 Crores), Mexico ($15,863,441) and many other Latin American and European countries.
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