This is it. It all led to this film, after seven films, the Harry Potter franchise comes to its close with this, the second part of the adaptation of the seventh and final novel. Picking up where the first film left off with Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) claiming the Elder Wand, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) prepare for the final confrontation, with the evil magician, as they search out the final horcruxes that house Voldemort’s splinter soul.

But it’s not all going to be easy, and the truth of the last horcrux may destroy Harry.

The film brings us back to Hogwarts, that magical school, which is set as a battlefield as familiar friends and foes square off for the final battle. All of the familiar faces through the series are there, making small appearances, paying their final goodbyes to the story and the viewing audience.

My only real complaint for this film is its length. The first part was a good two and half hours, whereas this one is just two hours, I wanted more.

As our trio hunts down horcruxes and the battle rages on at Hogwarts, the film gives Snape (Alan Rickman) his due in a poignant sequence that lets you see the entire story in a completely new way.

There are a number of great character beats, joyous and sad, throughout this film that makes it a powerful watch for Potter fans, there are payoffs, and reveals, twists and tears, but Snape’s moments are truly the highlight, and I love how it changes everything that went before it. It makes him such a powerful character.

The editing, the music (John Williams themes make appearances throughout), the production design, and just the level of continuity that the series has maintained make this film a worthy culmination, climax, and end to the series.

I love the way Yates shoots his films, the chase and capture that served as the climax of the previous film, the still moments in this one, the battles, the little nods to all the things that came before and led us here. He gets the universe, and he understands the characters, all of whom are brought to beautiful life by their performers.

I loved getting into these films again, I can’t believe that I hadn’t seen a few of them since they had come out, and just to lose myself in the world all over again. And it’s wonderful to see such talented actors, shepherding this new age of young actors, all of whom have grown in their performances.

The series is a powerful testament to the magic of friendship, striving to do the right thing, and fighting for what you know is right.