Theaters Will Flood with Memories -- and Tears -- During Final 'Potter' Flick

By Billy Nastyn, Contributing Writer

Ten years ago, magic took hold over theaters across the world as we watched a young boy enter the wizarding world. Here we are in 2011 arriving at the final chapter that seemed so far away when it all began. We’ve all grown up and so have these movies. Endless combined hours of being transported (and probably months-worth for true Potter fans) to a world enchanted by Cornish pixies, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Acromantulas and Quidditch have brought us to this final farewell.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is the much-hyped second of two full-length films concluding the eight film series (based on seven books by J.K. Rowling). We find ourselves back with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) as they continue to seek out and destroy the final Horcruxes in hopes of ending the dark reign of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). While the series as a whole has been a search for self-discovery, this final film is where the unveiling truly begins -- and ultimately ends.

The battle has been waging for quite some time, so this final film prefers to take the more emotional route over the spellbound action adventure that they allotted for last year’s Deathly Hollows -- Part 1. That doesn’t mean there is anything lacking, since there was considerable time spent filling scenes with cameos from Potter's past. While the final book definitely pulls memorable spells, magical objects and characters into play, it is much more noticeable in the shortened film format and helps to give the proper nod to not only the character’s past, but our own past growing up as viewers. All due nostalgia was paid in full and definitely brought on the waterworks. While tears were rampant in the theater, it’s the onscreen tears that only made it more overwhelmingly moving (just bottle them up and pour them into a penseive and make us cry more, why don’t ya?)

There is no better way to end a series than to experience the parellels of being a viewer coping with the end of an era and your beloved onscreen characters fighting against their own looming end. So, get ready to light a candle, or in this case cast a "Lumos" spell and say your goodbyes. But remember, nothing is truly ever over if you don’t want it to be, so now we can all hop a train at Platform 9 ¾ and make our way over to Pottermore.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is recommended for: