Three Horcruxes down and long past the point of no return, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) – alongside best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) – are busy planning their next assault on Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) divided soul. With Gringots Wizarding Bank and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry both harbouring Horcruxes, the trio must draw on their six years of education, their combined ingenuity and a number of assorted peers and allies if they are to destroy He Who Must Not Be Named and liberate the wizarding world once and for all.

Film: Eight movies in A Nightmare On Elm Street had spilled over onto Camp Crystal Lake, James Bond was on its third 007 and The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze was languishing at the bottom of bargain bins on home video. Harry Potter, meanwhile, has acheived a feat of which there has been no precedent: it has continued to grow both in scale and quality, maturing in tandem with an ever-increasing ensemble of returning characters and cast-members. Whether the latest – and last – instalment in Hollywood’s most lucrative franchise was a good film in its own right or not, it was already ear-marked as a movie-making (and story-telling) achievement of truly staggering proportions.

Apparently despite the so-called law of diminishing returns, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is one of the most exciting, moving and spectacular films of not only the franchise itself, but the year so far. Boasting a truly breathtaking array of explosive set-pieces, one of the most organic and tender romances of all time and a final confrontation which pays dividends to just about everything that came before, returning director David Yates has crafted what is simultaneously the perfect conclusion to a much loved cinematic series and a truly astonishing film in its own right.

While the film, importantly the second instalment in a two-parter, might resume with somewhat of a muted introduction, the audience is efficiently and effectively brought up to speed at Shell Cottage before they – along with Harry, Ron and Hermione – are thrust back into the action with a spell-binding assault on Gringotts. Such issues as needless tension (why do they cause a scene at the bank when they could just present Bellatrix’s wand and progress unnoticed?), incongruous mispronunciations (can Alan Rickman really not pronounce pensieve? Sirius?) and unfortunate deviations from the book (am I the only one who wanted to see Sybil Trelawney bombard werewolves with her crystal balls?) are easily forgivable, however, as the rest of the film proves so thoroughly entertaining. Even the epilogue – a scene which most fans would have quite happily seen lost in translation – is wonderfully realised.

There are quite simply too many memorable moments to note: The Battle of Hogwarts is flawlessly executed, Ron and Hermione’s embrace in the Chamber of Secrets is utterly charming and our brief insight into Severus Snape’s enigmatic past proves hugely rewarding. Radcliffe too impresses with an unexpectedly astute and nuanced performance, his reaction to a last-act revelation reminding you just how complex a character Harry Potter actually is. While a few deaths and character beats may fall unfortunately by the wayside, it is to Steve Kloves’ credit that so few characters fall victim to the equally impressive but potentially overwhelming stunt-work and special effects. Whether it’s Seamus Finnigan (Devon Murray), Professor Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) or Molly Weasley (Julie Walters), each of Rowling’s creations gets at least a line or scene in which to shine.

Boasting assured and franchise-best performances from the central cast, welcome and carefully woven references to the extant series, a truly magisterial score from composer Alexandre Desplat and a core relationship that roots the action and adventure in very human territory, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is one of very few films that lives up to the hype. Beautifully sold – and incidentally reviewed – by its advertising campaign, this really is the motion picture event of a generation.

Extras: While the culmination of thirteen years’ solid investment – as stated by J.K. Rowling in a welcome introduction – alone should be enough to make this DVD nothing short of essential buying, the filmmakers have gone to great lengths to ensure that you remain entertained long after the credits have finally rolled. Perhaps most revealing is a documentary titled When Harry Left Hogwarts, an eight-part series chronicling production on the final movie. Set amidst the ruins of Hogwarts at Leavesden Studios, we pay witness to cast interviews, read-throughs and discussions with workmen who are just looking to finish up and get home for the night.

Also nestled among the special features are focus points which cover everything from an introduction to Aberforth Dumbledore, to costume changes and the creation of Hogwarts’ magical shield, a heartfelt and insightful spotlight on the women of Harry Potter, the usual deleted scenes and a set of adverts for both the Pottermore website and the tour in London. With an indelibly misty-eyed atmosphere, if you thought the première footage was devastatingly nostalgic and unexpectedly upsetting, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

***** (5/5)

The final film in the epic Harry Potter saga,  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 swept across the world this summer and brought to an end the story of the Boy who Lived and his snake nosed nemesis.

Of course the story isn’t quite over with the home entertainment release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows due in just under a month and we’ve got our hands on a clip from one of the extras that will be available on the Blu-ray to share with you today.

The battle of Hogwarts was a striking finale and the effects team, who have done some excellent work in the previous films, had a mammoth task in bringing this final fight to the screen. The clip which follows breaks down some of the shots for us along with a commentary from director David Yates.

Here’s your clip and once you’ve watched it, click here to check out our interviews with some of the cast that we conducted earlier at the brand new Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour London. You’re going to love it!

To see the clip in HD click here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 releases on Blu-ray, DVD and Triple Play December 2nd and we can’t wait. Click here to pre-order your copy and here to rent it from LOVEFiLM.

Believe it or not, but there are still some people out there who haven’t seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2! I know this for a fact because my wife is desperate to see it and was thwarted in our attempt to go along to our local multiplex three weeks after our first son was born! She is however excited for this weekend, Potter mayhem strikes back as many cinemas across the UK are still showing it.

As a special treat, those of you who go and watch Potter 7.2 this weekend (Friday 30th September – Sunday 2nd October) will be entitled to come home with your very own limited edition animated poster. I’ve been sent one and I have to say it is rather awesome with the hologram flitting between Voldemort and Harry Potter.

I’ve placed a gif (remember those!) of the poster below and below that is a list of participating cinemas. You’ll be entitled to the poster while stocks last so make sure you get in there early.

As far as our Potter coverage goes, you can keep track of it all here and we have some very very exciting news which we’ll hopefully be able to share with you next week so keep your eyes peeled!

You can pre-order your DVD / Blu-ray box set here.

The following is a list of cinemas are participating (scroll down for more):

Warner Bros. have released the first clip / featurette from the Blu-ray release of their eight and final movie in the Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. In the short clip, we get to see Director, David Yates narrate the kiss that Rupert Grint (Ron) and Emma Watson (Hermione) have to share in the depths of Hogwarts. He describes them as being like brother and sister and how Watson wanted to nail it in one take. It’s quite funny when you watch their faces before and after the scene.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates, stars Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is set for home entertainment release 2nd December. You can pre-order your copy here.

The epic ends, the magic lasts.

Harry Potter may have had its final bow on the big screen this summer, but that doesn’t mean the magic has to end too. The final instalment of the film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Blu-Ray 3D on 2nd December, and is available for pre-order from today, just in time for you to take it home for Christmas, whether it be for a loved one or a treat for yourself.

Judging by the film’s record-breaking box office takings of more than $1.3bn. across the globe, there can’t be a large number of people who haven’t seen the film already, directed by David Yates and written by Steve Kloves. Nonetheless, here’s a quick synopsis for the few that haven’t.

“In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.”

Embedded below is a lovely five-minute video entitled, A Look Back, that is a collection of the trailers for all eight films in the Harry Potter series, which really makes you feel a little bit nostalgic, reminding you of moments you’d forgotten, moments you love, and reminding you that these films have been with us for, literally, a decade.

““Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” will be available on Blu-ray 3D Pack; featuring the film on a Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray in hi-definition and on DVD in standard definition as well as a standard definition digital copy of the 2D main feature. It will also be available on Blu-ray Triple Play; featuring a hi-definition, a standard definition, and a digital copy of the film and on 2 Disc Special Edition DVD in widescreen format.

Also available on 2nd December is “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” on Blu-ray 3D. Additionally, for the first time “Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection” featuring the complete Harry Potter film series will be available on Blu-ray and DVD and also as a Limited Edition, individually numbered, featuring a 48-page collectable photo album.”

It’s interesting to note that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, which was released in cinemas only in 2D, will be re-released on the same day in 3D. The film was originally to be released in cinemas in 3D as well, just like Part 2 was, but when the 3D conversion couldn’t be completed in time for its theatrical release, Warner Bros. decided to release it only in 2D instead, now completing the 3D version for fans of the series.

As always, Part 2 will come with a fantastic array of special features to feast your eyes on, including,

• The Goblins of Gringotts – Hosted by Warwick Davis, you’ll see the entire process of becoming a goblin” in a Harry Potter film, from auditions and casting to makeup and prosthetic tests as well as filming the final scenes.

• The Women of Harry Potter – A look at the remarkable women in Harry Potter’s life and the critical role they play in the films.

• When Harry Left Hogwarts – BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Morgan Matthews has been given unprecedented access to the creative decision-making processes that have been kept as a closely guarded secret – until now.  Hear the personal stories of the faces we know, and those we don’t, as we come to the end of one of the most successful eras in cinema history.

• WB Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

• Deleted Scenes

And exclusive to Blu-Ray:

• Maximum Movie Mode hosted by Matthew Long (Neville Longbottom) and other cast members (80 minutes) – As the epic showdown between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort approaches, don’t miss a single detail as the forces of Good and Evil clash one final time throughout the grounds of Hogwarts.

• A Conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe – Join J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe for an exclusive conversation about bringing the character of Harry Potter to life, the last decade of films and how their lives have changed by the fame that they’ve both experienced.

The Blu-Ray exclusive of the conversation with JK Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe sounds like it has quite a bit of potential to be an interesting extra, and could definitely be worth the upgrade to hi-definition, if the improved picture quality isn’t already enough to sway you. And for PS3 users, there should also be a game demo of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 when you download the film.

To commemorate Part 2’s final release,

“The release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” will also be marked by a special celebration at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, where the Harry Potter stories live on.  The Harry Potter Home Entertainment Celebration will consist of a series of special events to be attended by cast and filmmakers from the Harry Potter films.  The three-day celebration will take place from Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13.”

So if you’re fortunate enough to be going to Orlando in November over that weekend, you may well find yourself bumping into the stars of a film series that has truly taken the world by storm in the last ten years, with its all-star cast of adult actors and actresses including Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright.

And of course, we cannot forget how the series has made a name for Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Their faces are well recognised the world over as those of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, and they went from anonymity to global success all but overnight. For now, I shall leave you with the look back at all of the Harry Potter films, in which you can see these three growing up over the years. Enjoy.

Bloody Hell, as Ron Weasley might have said. Ten years, eight movies, four directors and a worldwide box-office gross of over six billion dollars and look where it’s taken us: full circle.

We already have a Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II review, and a ruddy good one at that, but having spent the last week (never mind the last decade) watching The Boy Who Lived defeat mountain trolls, destroy Horcruxes and snog the face off of Ginny Weasley I couldn’t pack up and depart Hogwarts just yet. So, without further ado, now the conclusion…

I never wanted any of you to die for me. 

Do I even need a spoiler alert? With three Horcruxes down (the diary, the ring and the locket) and just four to go, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) must pick up where he left off if he is to defeat Lord Voldermort (Ralph Fiennes) once and for all. Bartering with the goblin Griphook (Warwick Davis) – entry into Bellatrix Lestrange’s (Helena Bonham Carter) vault at Gringotts for the sword of Griffindor – Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) must utilise all they have learned in order to make it past the extensive security. Recognising Voldermort’s presence in the cup of Hufflepuff, the trio are betrayed and left to make their own way out of the wizarding bank – swordless. Cue: dragon.

Parting ways with the Ukrainian Ironbelly, Harry’s connection with Voldermort indicates that the next Horcrux lies within the walls of Hogwarts. Assisted by Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth, Harry, Ron and Hermione are shown the way back into the castle, lead through the secret passageway by none other than Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis). Identifying the remaining two Horcruxes as Rowena Ravenclaw’s Diadem and the Dark Lord’s pet snake Nagini, the trio split up in search of both the diadem and a means to destroy it while the school’s staff, students and the Order of the Phoenix prepare Hogwarts for battle.

There will be some, the odd soul as yet uninitiated with J. K. Rowling’s celebrated source material, to whom the above might might as well be written in Parseltongue. To them all this talk of Horcruxes and Hogwarts, Hallows and Hufflepuff, must read like utter Gobbledegook. Should that be the case, and it is certainly no fault of mine or director David Yates’, I offer this series of retrospectives, links to the rentable film series and the novels before them. One decade on this is our world; just as you wouldn’t tune into the last episode of Lost and expect it to play like the first, this is aimed at one audience, and largely one audience alone: the fans.

If you’ve stuck with the series, literary or cinematic, endured the duff notes on and off the big screen and embraced the wizarding world for all that it is worth, this is the movie you’ve been waiting for. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I did all the leg work, getting us just where we needed to be. My reservations regarding the previous film’s end-point proved premature, a quick session of plot 101 and we’re good to go, the momentum left to build until we’re veritably hurtling towards the jaw-dropping finale. This is the shortest Potter movie of the lot and it certainly feels it, with little water left to tread we all too soon find ourselves back in Hogwarts, the end achingly nigh.

To say I cried at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II would be an understatement of towering proportions. The biggest compliment I can bestow on this final chapter is that it hit me like a bat-bogey hex. It is testament to not only the work of Yates and his team of filmmakers - Alexandre Desplat, I love you – but the underestimated talents of Radcliffe, Watson and Grint that a story so high on silly should deliver an emotional punch of such ruthless affect. Both in its epic grandiosity and its treatment of reconciliation and tragedy, the film positively brims with emotional resonance.

Whether you are devastated at the sight of death, touched by the respect afforded to what came before – CORNISH PIXIES! – or simply humoured by the richness of character (Helena Bonham Carter was born to do Emma Watson impressions), it is unlikely you will enjoy a more fulfilling experience this year. Already likable presences, Harry, Ron and Hermione now have complete dominion over your affections, whether you have read the books and are aware of their fates or have simply followed the actors this far; the bond of their friendship is one of the most powerful, vibrant and moving fictional relationships imaginable. While some characters might not achieve the life – or death – that they deserve, the treatment of the central trio is nothing short of perfection.

This is ultimately Harry’s story, however, and while a certain kiss might warm the cockles of your heart it is Radcliffe’s journey that will set them on fire. The depth of character is simply astounding, Rowling’s creation brought to life by an actor who – once upon a time – could barely rub his scarred forehead with much conviction. That he even survives the appallingly misjudged prologue – every bit as cringeworthy as it is in the novel – with his dignity intact just goes to show what majesty Radcliffe has over his character.

That this much nuance and character development is achieved in the shadow of a bombastic pyrotechnic or rampaging giant just serves to illustrate the richness of texture. This is a war movie and it delivers incredible bang for its buck. As a camera tracks our heroes’ movements around the castle, in and out of crumbling corridors and over bloodied corpses, the background detail truly astonishes. The escape from Gringotts – already a impressive spectacle in its own right – pales in comparison to the battle of Hogwarts, so awash is it with familiar faces, breathtaking action and proclivity for surprise. While J. K. Rowling’s blueprints serve the story well, Yates’ eye for an arresting set piece works the material beautifully, finding a new – but forever faithful – alchemy of his own.

I honestly couldn’t have asked for more – well, I suppose I could have done, but that would have just been ungrateful – Yates delivering a movie which honours the past, respects the Rowling’s books and finally gives Alan Rickman something to do other than excrete elocution lessons.  As we leave Hogwarts for the last time – awash with rubble and barely recognisable – it is with the utmost closure on what has truly been the motion picture event of a generation.

Lumos: Most of the events of the film, starting with the raid of Gringotts, take place over the course of a single – super productive – day.

Homenum Revelio: I’m not being ungrateful or anything, but WHERE THE HELL WAS GRAWP???

Check up with the other films so far in the Harry Potter Retrospective here.

On the fifteenth of July, 2011, the highest grossing film franchise ever will finally come to an end. Spanning ten years, eight movies, four directors and a worldwide box-office gross of over six billion dollars – the Harry Potter film franchise will draw to a close with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, as Harry faces off against He Who Must Not Be Named for the very last time.

Billed as The Motion Picture Event of a Generation, we at HeyUGuys wouldn’t want anybody to miss out. As such, here’s our recap of seventh book in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I. So, without further ado, previously on Harry Potter…

What a beautiful place… to be with friends.

Having watched just about every father figure he has ever had unceremoniously Avada Kedavra’d, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is eager to complete the rest of his imperative mission alone; to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes (shards of He Who Must Not Be Named’s soul). With Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) resolute in their loyalty, however, the trio are soon wandering the streets of muggle London bereft of any safe place to hide. Securing a Horcrux from the Ministry of Magic, our heroes’ progress is stunted when it quickly proves immune to normal magic.

Injured in the escape from the Ministry and buckling under the influence of the locket Horcrux, Ron struggles to cope with trio’s lack of direction, fleeing the camp after having grown increasingly jealous of Harry and Hermione’s apparent closeness. In his absence, Harry and a distraught Hermione visit Harry’s birthplace in a desperate search for answers, hoping that the Sword of Gryffindor – a weapon capable of felling Horcruxes – might be hidden there.

Leaving Godric’s Hollow with another tidbit of information and eventually regrouping with a repentant Ron (who helps Harry retrieve the sword from an icy lake before destroying using it to destroy the locket), the three of them visit Xenophilius Lovegood (Rhys Ifans) regarding a strange symbol he was sporting at the wedding of Bill (Domhnall Gleeson) and Fleur (Clémence Poésy), one which has since cropped up in a book left to Hermione in Dumbledore’s (Michael Gambon) last will and testament, the headmaster’s old letters and the graveyard where Harry’s parents were burried. Introduced to the story of the Deathly Hallows, three items which give the bearer dominion over death, the trio are soon on the run again when it turns out Lovegood has been compromised. Certain that Voldermort (Ralph Fiennes) is after one of the Hallows – the near-omnipotent Elder Wand – Harry realises that he is runnig out of time, a certainty that jars with their capture and imprisonment at the hand of the Malfoys’.

Having vowed at the end of the last movie not to return to Hogwarts for their final year, but to instead track down each of Voldermort’s remaining Horcruxes, it was clear that this would be no ordinary slice of Potter. Though we may begin – as is custom – with a stint at the Dursleys’, the usual hijinks are replaced with a sombre tone as the muggles are shipped off for their own protection. Intercut with scenes showing Hermione and Ron saying one last farewell to their home comforts, composer Alexandre Desplat intricately unites these pre-title sequences with an ominous score which foreshadows the trials ahead and the cumulative gravity of the trio’s plight.

And what a plight it is. Opening with a daring rescue from Privet Drive, one that costs two lives and a Weasley’s ear, the scene is barely set when Harry and Hagrid are thrust into the thick of it atop Sirius Black’s enchanted motorcycle – last seen in the very first movie, almost exactly a decade before (sniff). This is followed by an escape from a Burrow-set wedding and an escape from the Ministry of Magic, a series of accomplished set pieces which shock as much as they impress. Lying in the middle of an autumnal forest, soaked through with blood, it really is harrowing stuff watching Harry choke and Hermione calm a wounded Ron.

Split in two to accommodate the sizable plot of J. K. Rowling’s final tome, this first instalment of the finale doesn’t suffer to the same extent as its predecessors from the transition from page to screen. While it is undoubtedly a welcome change to view the whole story rather than just an abridged, time and money-sensitive interpretation, what’s more of a relief is David Yates’ quieter and less invasive innovation. Gone are the fan-baiting omissions and needless additions, replaced instead with a series of timely and well observed character beats which – if anything – improve on Rowling’s own take on the story.

Each of the central three characters get their own moment to shine, with Ron charmingly lost in a world of Shaftesbury Avenues and cappuccinos, Hermione delighted with her own brilliance (if less than impressed at her hair-dressing skills) and Harry stepping up to the plate to console his heartbroken friend in dance. These are small moments, but they conspire to flesh each character out in the face of the cacophony of loss and destruction awaiting them in Part II. That we don’t see Hogwarts once lends proceedings a freshness and freedom that sets it apart from its predecessors not least in terms of setting but in terms of palpable jeopardy and suffocating dread as well.

While the saga’s cinematography has drawn some attention before, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is without a doubt the best-shot instalment in the series (courtesy of Eduardo Serra), if not one of the best-shot films of last year. Whether framing massive action set pieces, establishing shots or fleeting character nuances, the film is an absolute wonder to behold. Panning across a room-full of Harrys at different stages of Polyjuice transformation and detouring into the horror genre for an inspired snake attack and Horcrux…thing, the diversity on show is simply astounding. This is never truer than in the animated sequence illustrating the story of the Three Brothers, a breathtaking excursion from the main narrative that radiates true artistry.

Making no allowances for Harry Potter laymanism, it really does feel as though the end is nigh. The story has reached a critical mass, bringing together plot and characters from each of the preceding instalments so that they might advise, inform or die in the name of narrative. Ollivander (John Hurt) is plucked from his wand shop in Philosopher’s Stone, Dobby (Toby Jones) returns for the first time (in the films, anyway) since Chamber of Secrets, Lupin (David Thewlis) crops up from Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire‘s Fleur Delacour is marrying Bill Weasley, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton. Boo!! Hiss!!) apparently survived the Order of the Phoenix and our very own Half-Blood Prince (Alan Rickman) nearly steals the show with an expository cameo towards the beginning.

With Part II looming this cumulative character base will only grow, the prospect of the titanic Battle of Hogwarts promising to juxtapose the contemplative nature (amid explosions, obviously) of this opening chapter with the wall-to-wall action of the next. Having grown up exquisitely, the Harry Potter franchise has outgrown its standing as a mere adaptation, it is – without a doubt – a phenomenon in its own right, uniting national acting treasures with a standard of storytelling and post-production unmatched by the rest of the summer season. Spanning ten years, eight movies, four directors and a worldwide box-office gross of over six billion dollars, the Harry Potter franchise is unmatched in its ambition, like the Sword of Gryffindor only taking in that which makes it stronger.

This is it then, it all ends here. While Part I can only truly be judged in conjunction with Part II it nevertheless justifies the decision to split the final book into two films through its sheer magnificence, a near – heck, whole – masterpiece of family genre entertainment in its own right. Moving, engaging and utterly inspiring, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is a high watermark and tough act to follow. With the trailers and TV spots for Part II promising dragons, giants and lashings of resolution, this really, genuinely promises to be the motion picture event of a generation. Not bad for a story about one boy and his lightening shaped scar.

Lumos: Both of the key torture sequences had to be trimmed in order to obtain a 12A rating, with Ron and Hermione getting away lightly at the hands of Scabior (Nick Moran) and Bellatrix LeStrange (Helena Bonham Carter) respectively.

Homenum Revelio: Despite the filmmakers’ best intentions, not every character that is set to appear actually turns up onscreen. Among the MIA is Stanislav Ianevski’s Victor Krum. Although the scenes were shot, they failed to materialise as part of the final edit.

Check up with the other films so far in the Harry Potter Retrospective here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows^TM – Part 2 is in cinemas now

Harry Potter Years 1-7: Part 1 Box Set is available on Blu-ray and DVD now

This week sees the eighth and final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 hit UK and US cinemas. To mark its release Warner Bros. have sent us this brand new featurette called Gringotts and Goblins which takes a closer look at the Wizarding Bank that is the scene of just one of the film’s breathtaking set pieces.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort . It all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates , stars Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter , Jim Broadbent , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis, Tom Felton , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt , Jason Isaacs , Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith , David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is released 15th July in the US and UK.

If you’ve missed all our coverage of the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 then you can catch up on it all right here and let me warn you, it’s rather extensive!  Our review of the film can be read here and our World Premiere report is live for all the world to see here.

On the fifteenth of July, 2011, the highest grossing film franchise ever will finally come to an end. Spanning ten years, eight movies, four directors and a worldwide box-office gross of over six billion dollars – the Harry Potter film franchise will draw to a close with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, as Harry faces off against He Who Must Not Be Named for the very last time.

Billed as The Motion Picture Event of a Generation, we at HeyUGuys wouldn’t want anybody to miss out. As such, here’s our recap of sixth book in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. So, without further ado, previously on Harry Potter…

All hands on deck, Granger!

Voldermort is making his presence felt, not only in the wizarding world but with the violent destruction on London’s Millennium Bridge. Returning to Hogwarts, even Professor Dumbledore’s (Michael Gambon) ability to protect his students is drawn into question when a series of attempt on the headmaster’s life backfire on the school’s student body. Convinced that it is Malfoy (Tom Felton) who is behind the attacks, having seen him  inspecting a vanishing cabinet at Borgin and Burkes, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has a hard time convincing his friends that Malfoy might be given such an important assignment by Voldermort. Dumbledore, meanwhile, is far more concerned with teaching Harry a proper subject for once: history.

Using a Pensieve to share a series of memories with Harry, Dumbledore is troubled by a memory sourced from the new Defence of the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent). Tasked with retrieving the unedited memory from Slughorn, Harry uses his fame to infiltrate his teacher’s self-important Slug Club. Discovering that Tom Riddle was looking to split his soul across seven items – and certain that he may have succeeded – Dumbledore takes Harry to the alleged site of one of these Horcuxes with the intention of destroying it like Harry destroyed the diary and he himself had destroyed the ring. Escaping with it to Hogwarts, Harry is shown to have been right as Malfoy ambushes Dumbledore with a series of Death Eaters, killing him.

David Yates, only the second director to return for another glass of Polyjuice Potion, picks up where he left off with the celebratory cries of Bellatrix LeStrange (Helena Bonham Carter) ringing through the opening sequence, having just murdered her cousin. Haunting and evocative, the echoes of Order of the Phoenix immediately invoke the oppressive atmosphere invoked by the end of the previous movie. From this point on, Yates does his best to balance the impending darkness with a cavalier portrayal of teenage life – namely through his focus on “sex, potions and rock and roll”. It is a winning duality, providing our best insight yet into the central trio’s core relationship.

The soap operatics work beautifully, as Grint and Watson are finally given more to do that mug and scowl respectively. Their growing jealousy of one another provides a nice escape from the impending sense of doom, each student allowed to mature into young adults in a way that feels remarkably organic and within character. Radcliffe is exceptional in a role that finally allows him to stretch his funny bone, the scene in which he mourns the death of Hagrid’s (Robbie Coltrane) pet acromantula while high on liquid luck really endears the character in a much more engaging way than previously attempted. It is the scenes set across The Tree Broomsticks and Slug Club gatherings that really impress, however, with the sexual politics and maturing inter-relationships fleshing out the friendship in a way that expertly ups the stakes for the coming war. You really start to fear for the characters.

It isn’t just Radcliffe, Watson and Grint that impress, however, with the franchise continuing to introduce interesting new characters even at this late stage in the game. Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) and Cormac McLaggen (Freddie Stroma) both provide winning comic relief as differentially successful love interests for Ron and Hermione respectively. Jim Broadbent, meanwhile, is marvelously mistrustful as the new potions master (Snape has finally claimed the Defence Against the Dark Arts position), Professor Slughorn. With the exception of a few early duff notes from Michael Gambon’s Albus Dumbledore (come on Professor, try!), it is quite amazing just how solid the performances have become.

David Yates’ relatively gung-ho approach to the script does begin to grate, however, with a number of key scenes dropped in favour of a needless, invented-just-for-the-movie scene in which The Burrow is inexplicably destroyed by Death Eaters. Citing a concern for repetitiveness, Yates even went so far as to remove the final battle – quite despite the fact that the decision to split the final film in two would end the next film on a different note entirely. Whether because of my general disregard of the sixth book (goodbye and good riddance to Harry’s belly-monster) or the wealth of consolation on offer, however, I’m more forgiving of Half-Blood Prince than I am of Order of the Phoenix. Subjective, yes, but this is a retrospective.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, then, is the perfect quasi-penultimate instalment. The calm before the storm, it really is an absolute pleasure to spend some quality time with Rowling’s extraordinary creations before they depart on their crusade against Voldermort’s scattershot soul. With Nicholas Hooper returning to score the film – his enchanting Dumbledore’s Army theme thankfully in tow – and boasting the awesome cinematography of one Bruno Delbonnel (the pensieve-set scenes are a work of art), this really is family entertainment at its best.

Lumos: Dumbledore was famously outed by J. K. Rowling after she noticed a reference to a past love in Steve Kloves’ script. A relationship with childhood frenemy Gellert Grindelwald would later be hinted at during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Homenum Revelio: The book opens with the introduction of the muggle Prime Minister, who is informed of the return of Voldermort by Cornelius Fudge. Although absent from this film, Fudge’s replacement would turn up in the next film as played by Bill Nighy.

Check up with the other films so far in the Harry Potter Retrospective here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows^TM – Part 2 is in cinemas now

Harry Potter Years 1-7: Part 1 Box Set is available on Blu-ray and DVD now

This week sees the eighth and final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 hit UK and US cinemas. To mark its release Warner Bros. have released this five minute featurette looking back at all the movies over the past 10 years.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort . It all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates , stars Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter , Jim Broadbent , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis, Tom Felton , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt , Jason Isaacs , Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith , David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is released 15th July in the US and UK.

If you’ve missed all our coverage of the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 then you can catch up on it all right here and let me warn you, it’s rather extensive!  Our review of the film can be read here and our World Premiere report is live for all the world to see here.

Check out the featurette below.

At the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One, we weren’t left with a cliff hanger, so much as half a movie. After 146 minutes of wizarding action the story finished at what’s often termed ‘the mid-point low’, the moment where all seems lost, and the audience, as well as the hero are emotionally deflated.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 picks up moments after that, with a quick reminder that You Know Who got hold of That Wand, and a shot of a very small gravestone, then we’re back with Harry, Hermione and Ron, in a house, on a beach. Even when compared to other ‘part twos’ like Kill Bill Part 2 and the second Matrix sequel this is a bold move, as it essentially renders the film unwatchable as a movie in its own right – although it would be utterly baffling if anyone did choose this as their one and only Potter experience, and frankly anyone who does so is either an idiot or some sort of masochist.

For the rest of us, the started-where-it-left-off opening is something of a mixed blessing, as from the opening conversation, the film recalls events from the previous picture as if we have just seen them. This meant that, in spite of my being reasonably familiar with the franchise, and having seen Deathly Hallows Part One on several occasions, I still found myself struggling to keep track of who was where, what they wanted, and at times what was going on.

Worse than this though, the cold-start creates a massive pacing issue, as we jump very quickly into the action without any build up: Within minutes of the house on the beach, our three heroes have to break into Gringotts bank, in  what amounts to a magical version of Ocean’s Eleven (or rather, Potter’s Three and a half). This sequence should be full of tension and excitement, but because the film’s director, David Yates is relying upon the emotions we are feeling from a different movie to carry this scene, it feels almost mechanical. Indeed this is the film’s biggest flaw – because all of the setup is contained in a separate movie, it becomes very hard to invest emotionally in what is happening on screen.

The ultimate result of this is that the final stand-off between Harry’s Hogwarts Horde, and Voldemort’s forces of evil falls a little flat. The stakes are simply too low, and no amount of mad dashes through ornate corridors, energy blasts from wands, or even character deaths, no matter how well handled, can up them to a level where we feel truly engaged. That’s not to say the film isn’t without engaging moments, some sequences work very well, and peppered throughout are nice exchanges between extraordinarily well developed characters, but as a film it fails to maintain that throughout.

But of course it isn’t a film. It’s HALF a film. Consequently every issue identified in this review is a factor of how recently you watched Part One. If, like me it’s been several months, this it’s going to feel somewhat emotionless. If you only watched it recently then any, and possibly all of these criticisms should be only minor niggles for you at the very worst. That said, rather than risk feeling let down, find a cinema showing them both as a double bill, and enjoy one whole evening of Pottermania. Let’s face it; it’s your last chance.

  If seen on it’s own ***~~ (3/5)

But I strongly suspect after watching it as part of a double bill  ****~ (4/5)

Last night after the press conference and just before the World Premiere, Warner Bros. have released four new character banners for their new movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. These new banners show Harry Potter (Daniel Racliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

We were at the press conference yesterday and are very much looking forward to the premiere this afternoon in Leicester Sq. we’ll be there so if you have any questions, make sure you send them our way on Twitter or using the comments section below.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort . It all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates , stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter , Jim Broadbent , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis, Tom Felton , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt , Jason Isaacs , Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith , David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is released 15th July in the US and UK.

Check out the posters below which you can click to enlarge.

Source: Facebook

Evanna Lynch puts in an appearance as Luna Lovegood in this new clip from the final film in the Harry Potter saga, and with the World Premiere in London tomorrow night (and with the fans already camped out) this really is the end for the whirligig of Pottermania.

We’ll be covering the premiere with red carpet interviews and a live stream of events in London and you can follow our ongoing retrospective on the Potter films on the site over the next week.

This new clip sees Hogwarts in a tailspin as the army of Lord Voldermort approaches for the final showdown. Here’s hoping the last film will live up to the unpresedented hype with which it arrives.

Clipicus Followium,

Cheers Yahoo.

This week is all about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and to celebrate, Warner Bros. have released what I believe to be the final batch of images from the movie. This week, we’ll be at the world premiere in Leicester Square along with hopefully hanging out with some of the cast so keep your eyes peeled for our review of all the events that we have coming up.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort . It all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates , stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter , Jim Broadbent , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Tom Felton , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt , Jason Isaacs , Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith , David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is released 15th July in the US and UK.

Source: CinemaBlend

More clippage from the last of the Harry Potter films, and this sees Ron and Hermione returning to an old haunt.

These clips are coming thick and fast and serve to tease fans of the series, and it’s fair to say that the next few weeks will all be about the boy wizard.

There’s not too long now until the game is up and the Battle of Hogwarts begins. Next week sees the world premiere of the film here in London and it’s sure to be the biggest Potterfest yet, we’ll be there to bring you all the interviews and footage from the event.

Here’s your clip,

Fandango had the goods.

I’m sincerely not trying to be terribly witty, cynical or controversial here, rather I simply wanted to share an “outsider’s” perspective on the Harry Potter series, the reflections of someone who doesn’t necessarily dislike the HP films, but who instead wonders quite what all of the fuss is about. I don’t hate the films (honestly, what is there about them to dislike that strongly?), but I do find myself coolly indifferent to them.

In the interests of placing my cards on the table, I have not read any of the books, nor have I in fact seen all of the films. I suppose that is sort of part of my point. Whilst it would be easy to dismiss my observations on the basis that I haven’t formed a wholly informed opinion, or haven’t given the franchise a decent chance to affect me, surely the fact that I can’t be bothered to see Half Blood Prince or Deathly Hallows Part 1 means something? No, not that I have poor taste in films, rather that for some people the franchise just is not that engaging.

Each successive film has been trumpeted with the “this one’s much darker” fanfare, which is all well and good, but does not really make any difference to the fundamental appeal of the films. I remember sitting down to watch Prisoner of Azkaban, assured that a fresh pair of directorial hands (the acclaimed Alfonso Cuarón of Y Tu Mamá También and Children of Men fame) was going to inject some much needed flair into the franchise, after Chris Columbus’s workmanlike efforts. What I was left with at the end was 2+ hours of “someone has escaped prison and is after Harry, actually he’s a goody, let’s do a bit of time-travel”. I ask you. What an uneventful waste of time. Perhaps if I were of a different age and had been captivated and enchanted by the books, or wonder-struck by the world of Hogwarts as evocatively presented in the first film, it might have all been very different.

But alas it has not. We have had some of the very best of the world’s acting talent on show in the course of HP1-7 (Gary Oldman, Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Timothy Spall, Jason Isaacs, Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson, John Hurt) and some genuinely accomplished directors have held the reins too, but the three principals have never been up to scratch and the effect has been obvious and jarring. Long ago, a review of one of the earlier films rightly decried the inability of the screen-writers to turn JK Rowling’s three-term book structures into conventional, fluid three-act film structures. Too often the screenplays have simply progressed through the narratives of the books, covering the right ground, but failing (or refusing) to make difficult or daring decisions in the way the best novel adaptations have (LA Confidential, Lord of the Rings, anything based on the work of Raymond Chandler) and the results have been painfully ordinary.

I am sure multitudes out there will disagree. Heck, I can think of a couple of the writers for this site who are not going to agree with me at all, but there has just been nothing in this franchise that has remotely excited me. It’s all been very serviceable, very predictable, when the films ought to be scintillating, electrifying. Now admittedly, the trailer for HP7 PtII looks outstanding – epic, thrilling, barn-storming – maybe it will the darkest and best yet, but frankly we’ve all seen enough thrilling trailers for duff films to last us a lifetime. Remember Pt I looked ace, then most of the critics went “meh”.

I recognise of course that the world is full of films on which many sensible-thinking people have held wildly divergent opinions. What I find interesting is that the HP franchise is such a juggernaut, such a massive hit with so many and so fascinating for so many and yet, despite me being what I would consider to be a devoted and heart-felt film fan, I have remained utterly impervious to its charms. It’s clearly not to do with its genre, as I have deep, abiding love for the Lord of the Rings films, nor is it on account of the youthful cast. The Goonies and Bugsy Malone number among my favourite child-populated films, so I haven’t got it in for child stars. So what is it? Why don’t I care about HP?

All (polite and well-mannered) suggestions would be gratefully received below.

In a little over two weeks the end promised to us in the numerous trailers and posters for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be here, and I’m not sure if the recently announced Pottermore is going to fill the void.

But before the curtain finally falls let’s have another couple of featurettes shall we? One to prepare and another to travel behind the scenes of an important set piece early on in the book. The second video contains spoilers. It contains spoilers.

Directed by David Yates, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Maggie Smith, Matthew Lewis, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps. But then, I think you already knew that.

Here’s the first video, where the cast do their best to tell us all Where We Left Off,

And here’s the Making of clip – SPOILERS! RUN! SPOILERS ETC!

Sourceurous Linkious: Coming Soon and EW

Hot on the heels of all the other Potter posters that we’ve had recently lands this brand new one giving us a good look at the villains from the eighth and final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

This poster follows the action and character series that we had a couple of weeks ago, all of which you can see here.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort . It all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates , stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter , Jim Broadbent , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis, Tom Felton , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt , Jason Isaacs , Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith , David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is released 15th July in the US and UK.

Source: Twitter

With less than a month to go now before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 hits cinemas, Warner Bros. have released the very last trailer for the franchise which has given us 10 years of enjoyment!

This trailer follows the action and character series that we had a couple of weeks ago, all of which you can see here.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort . It all ends here.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is directed by David Yates , stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter , Jim Broadbent , Robbie Coltrane , Warwick Davis , Tom Felton , Ralph Fiennes , Michael Gambon , Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt , Jason Isaacs , Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman , Alan Rickman , Maggie Smith , David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright and is released 15th July in the US and UK.

Let us know what you think of this final trailer in the comments section below.

Click here to view the trailer on Apple in HD

With all the recent activity on the Potter franchise’s marketing front, it would be easy to believe all of the primary cast present and accounted for.

One character yet to receive his close up – until now, at least – is the sun-starved dragon diligently guarding Gringotts’ highest security vaults.

Warner Bros.’ (via LiveforFilms) have finally put this right, however, with a new banner depicting Harry, Ron and Hermione’s great escape from the wizard bank.

It really is an awesome image, as epic and momentous as any of the studios other pieces of publicity.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II arrives in theatres 15 July 2011. Just in case you missed the memo(s).