For the first time, I got to be the guy who saw the big movie before all my friends. And I loved it. So I'm gonna write a little bit about it. Though I don't know who'd read this; it's not like anybody needs convincing to see the movie.
Anyway.
This movie was magnificent. But I think that's to be expected. After all, it is the epic conclusion to a decade long movie franchise that has only become more magnificent, among other valuable aesthetic qualities. The final installment is the artistic culmination of the series; having begun gleefully, grown into the "darker" episodes, and maturing into the artistic achievements that have been the Deathly Hallows films.
What really resonated with me in this film was specific moments. Director David Yates slowed down many moments so that we may fully appreciate the pain, hardship, and chaos that would normally fly by without an honest chance to comprehend its severity. Not only did he slow them down for us, but shot and edited them in a way which would stop your heart. Or he would do the exact opposite and make your heart race and pound as hard as it could. There were a lot of intense moments, and not one was missed. Yates focused the strength of his cast, his photographers, and his post production team to hit as hard as he could.
On that note, the shots used old photography tricks like, depth of field, filters, and composition to convey the story through a visual medium. It sacrificed the crystal clear blockbusting IMAX 3Dness is so popular nowadays to produce spectacle that resonates on a different level. There was only one scene where the 3D made me "feel like I was really there," with all its roller-coaster-ride fun. The rest of the movie made me feel like someone was about to die, or the end was at hand,or triumph was at hand, or any number of feelings that shook me to the core. To me, it makes for a better picture to make me cry, or gasp, or applaud, rather than to make me say "wow, that was cool." (I have a good analogy for what I’m talking about, but I don’t wanna spoil a single thing.)
I got choked up. I held my breath for the characters time and time again. And I have never heard of an audience applaud for characters often as they did this morning. Granted I was watching the movie with fans, but as I said earlier, there were so many moments! Every character we've grown to love had their moment in the light. Some more than others. Even some we don't root for. There was an incredible amount of respect given to these character and their actions, which makes this closing chapter impossible to love.
Everyone loved it. The final moments were ones of joy. Not excitement or whimsy, but pure contentment. When the credits rolled, people didn't seem to cheer and woo like most people do after a totally awesome movie. They just clapped, like after a masterpiece concerto. At least that's how I remember it
So, I know you're going to enjoy the movie, but I have to wrap this up into a nice package: Enjoy the moments. Celebrate them. Enjoy the silence, celebrate the actions. Go so far as to enjoy the credits and nostalgically triumphant score that accompanies it! And celebrate the perfect end of a magnificent, outstanding series. Point your wand at the screen when the WB logo comes up at the end and say "Mischief managed!" I can't believe I was the only one to do that.
