This is it: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 Review

July 14 was an anxious day.  I was watching earlier Harry Potter films all day and doing what I could to look for a job.  I was excited because that night I would get to see the final Harry Potter film at midnight with my wife.  It all started in 6th grade (2000) when I read the first four Potter books in under two weeks.  I never really got into reading until then.  Then the films started that next year.  I was there the day the first one came out.  I was first in line with my friend.  I was there for the first (or second) day or midnight showing for all 8 Harry Potter films.  This is a big deal for me.

Enough about me, what about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 (say that 5 times fast)?  Being the most talked about film this year, HP7.2 lived up and exceeded the hype.  The acting was free from hiccups that has riddled the young actors for years.  The older actors (Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and more) were great.  All the actors delivered the action and emotion that was necessary to make this film near-perfect.

One element of the film-making that really impressed me for the second time in a row was the pacing.  Part 1 was meant to be a slower, anxious feeling film.  Part 2 was almost the opposite: a fast-paced action film loaded with emotion, well-placed humor, and answers to questions building since the first installment.

This film stays true to the book and will please both fans of the just the films or both films and books.  The film wasn't perfect, but I'm not going to complain.  How can you complain when [spoiler] Molly Weasley calls Bellatrix Lestrange a bitch and then kills her?  It's just awesome.  Ron and Hermione's kiss also did not disappoint.  The years of built up emotion released in the amazing on screen kiss.  I got shivers.  The feeling I got when this film was finished is still lingering: joy.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is rated PG-13 and runs 130 minutes.  This film is a lot of action, death, and scary scenes and a little language.  Just know this before you show your kids or kid siblings this flick.  I gave Part 1 ten ramheads out of 10.  This one was better even than that.  I give Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 10 ramheads out of 10.

Rhodey looks different...

This afternoon I had the pleasure of seeing Iron Man 2. Let me tell you, I was very entertained. Although some other reviewers didn't like it, I definitely did. This film had a lot of action, a lot of humor, and a lot of content. Whereas some critics say it had too many subplots, I think all the necessary pieces were there and in place, the pieces just happened to be bigger ones.

Tony Stark is as cocky as ever, doing what he wants publicly, while still defending the people and being brilliant. He also had to defend the Iron Man suit from the government and a competitor in the weapons making business, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). Underneath all the cockiness and arrogance, Stark is vulnerable and has issues. Issues that I won't tell you about. You'll see as soon as you see the film.

Hammer hires Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), a Russian physicist who is out to get the Stark family because he believes his father got screwed over by Howard Stark (Tony's father), to help replicate the Iron Man suit. Rourke does an amazing job acting. Period. Interesting things happen. Stark and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) develop their relationship a little, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is back and a new assistant to Stark shows up (Scarlett Johansson). Rhody (Don Cheadle) is back, but isn't Terrance Howard anymore.

Lots of big names. Lots of action. Lots of humor. Good music. Extremely entertaining. Also, make sure you stay after the credits because there is an extra scene just like the first Iron Man.

The highly entertaining Iron Man 2 runs 124 minutes and is rated PG-13. I really enjoyed this film and give it 7 ramheads out of 10. (The first was better.)

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