Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2011
*****
Director: David Yates
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Warwick Davis, Julie Walters, Maggie Smith
Just about every episode in the Harry Potter series has struggled to compress the long and plot-heavy books to the screen. This adaptation of the second half of J.K. Rowling's last book has the advantage that at this point there is very little plot left. Harry, Ron and Hermione attempt to locate the remaining horcruxes (objects with fragments of Voldemort's soul) in order to defeat the Dark Lord for good. There are two major set pieces: a break-in to the Gringotts Vault and the final battle between good and evil in Hogwarts, and not much else, and the movie is all the better for it. This is an excitingly action-packed and emotionally satisfying finale, and the best of the eight films.
