Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, finally clears the dark mark

“No story lives until someone wants to listen” – J K Rowling

The Harry Potter series has had half the globe gripped before this book released and now before its finale movie, as this is where "it all ends."

David Yates (director of the last 3 books), steered this movie to a whole new fantasy experience with his movie making skills. Finer details were taken care off so well, the trip to Ministry to get started on the Horcrux hunting, to amazing and actually breathtaking visuals of the tale of the 3 brothers who got the Deathly Hallows, cheating death itself, and to exploring the depths of Gringotts with Griphook the Goblin on a roller coaster ride. Excellent screenplay and the characterisation of Dobby who makes you shed a tear, Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter) who makes you hate her.

The trip to Godric’s Hollow, Harry’s birthplace and the village that saw Voldemort’s downfall, sends a chill down your spine. Nagini playing Bathilda Bagshot keeps you on the edge of the seat and you might let out a mild scream. The memory of Snape (Alan Rickman) was such a brilliant scene, a perfect performance teamed with a perfect edit, revealing his regret of joining the dark side and his true love for Lily potter, his trust in Dumbledore and how he endured Harry despite hating him. Some of the characters though matured well, didn’t come so strong in the movie like Ginny (Bonnie Wright)

Part 2 of the movie captures the story from Harry and friends breaking into the Gringotts Wizarding Bank, to the downfall and end of The Dark Lord in one night. But for me, the film lacked the epic feeling that I expected and hoped for. While exclusions from the book were acceptable, some essentials were really missed. The final duel between Harry Potter and Voldemort was supposed to be a spectacle that would leave everyone in awe, situated in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

But the duel here was fought between the two with no spectators and there was no sense of rejoicing and peace among the magical lot. Voldemort was to look foolish and deceived, unable to comprehend the alliance between Snape and Dumbledore. Why the Elder wand never worked for him, how love is always a stronger form of power that Lily Potter left behind, the need to have something to live for – friends. That is not to say that David Yates did not get it right. The action scenes were fun to watch and the background score was apt. There are light humorous moments that dip the pressure that has engulfed ones mind.

Some of the other doable scenes were, the Elder wand was to be returned to its true owner (Dumbledore) and Harry was to get back his old wand, fixed by the most powerful wand itself, instead of breaking it into two. The Third hallow didn’t make its appearance during the fight with the Dark Lord, which was disappointing. The epilogue could have simply been avoided.

But, it’s still worth a watch in 3D as it makes the story come alive and completes the decade long Potter era perfectly.

Rating - 8/10

Delhi Belly is a crass entertainer

If you have the belly for a crass entertainer which is designed to have a shock value, this is the movie for you this season. Most of the scenes are disgusting and yet funny to make you laugh your guts out. When you come out of the cinema hall after 90 mins (no interval), you don't feel like you did not take a break and are entertained by the end of it. Of course, some of us were more entertained than the others.

Delhi belly is not a very new story nor its is complicated, it won't leave you 'wowed' but it would leave you in splits. I call it the reverse parental guidance (PG) - DO NOT watch it with your parents ;)

The movie is about 3 friends who are struggling to pay the rent and live in disgusting condition mainly due to the laziness of the 3 characters. Tashi, played by Imran Khan, is a journalist with a nagging fiancée Sonia (played by Shenaz Treasurywala). An airhostess, Sonia unknowingly picks up a smuggled parcel she's promised to deliver as a favor for a friend. It all starts to go terribly wrong when the package is mistakenly swapped by Arup (played by Vir Das). The real "shit" hits the fan when the gangster, played wonderfully by Vijay Raaz, receives a stool sample instead, belonging to Nitin.

Nitin's "Delhi Belly" becomes the prime character of the movie as this upset stomach is what provides the constant twists to an otherwise simple storyline. Its disgusting and "in your face" (all puns intended) but also very funny. The other angle in the story is provided by Tashi's colleague played by Poorna Jagannathan, who is constantly trying to lossen up Tashi. All the characters in the movie fit like hand to glove and kudos to the casting director for a job well done. All actors shine on screen with superb performances but the silent scorchers of scenes were provided by Maneka and Tashi who's portrayal of physical tension/attraction was hard to miss.

The music of the movie is already topping the charts but it comes alive even more in the movie, Ram sampath's background score can be called another character in the movie. Claps and whistles were a plenty each time the audience anticipated the song. Although the showstopper was the funny spoof dance by aamir Khan at the end of the movie.

Delhi belly may disgust you but will entertain you enough to overlook that


Rating: 7.5/10