One Last Time Through Hogwarts

Hollywood sees the Summer months as their opportunity to release the biggest of the big. If you're a fan of smaller independent films the summer months are likely not the ones you spend the most money on tickets. This summer is shaping up to be much the same with films like 'Thor", "Captain America", and "The Hangover: Part 2" among many others. For my money though, it's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" that is creating the most anticipation for me.

Throughout the cinematic adaptation of JK Rowling's seven-part literary epic the filmmakers involved have done their best to do the story justice. This started with the casting decisions. They made great decisions with the young children who became the students of Hogwarts, and made even better decisions with those adults who play their teachers and parents. Giving these kids the chance to act opposite of Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith I believe has given the younger actors' performances and the films a legitimacy and weight. This experience will surely pay off in this final film, as the showdown between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) fast approaches.

If the first half of the series' conclusion was any indication, audiences are in for a real treat with Part II. The emotional gravitas the first film carried lent a dark and sinister mood to that film; and it felt like the franchise's "Empire Strikes Back." Genuine chills and tears fell as that film came to an end. I left the theater absolutely ready for a 120 minute film to come right then and there. The decision on the part of Warner Brothers and the film's production team to split the final book into two parts was completely validated. There was an attention to detail that simply could not be afforded if they'd tried to squeeze everything into one film.

It is a bitter-sweet anticipation, knowing that this is indeed "it" for this franchise. Much with the final book's release, this film carries with it a tinge of sadness knowing that we won't again visit this world. A story this great is something you never want to end; and yet we know it must. Thanks to the efforts of many, many people this film franchise should wrap-up in beautiful fashion, and will give us all a feeling that Hollywood can still has some magic of its own.

What's your most anticipated movie of the summer? Drop me a comment and let me know!