HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2

Ten years, eight films, a small country’s worth of merchandise, a mania to match the Beatles and an epic to match Shakespeare later, and yes, as the tagline suggests, it does all finally end here. Harry, Hermione, Ron and the gang are hanging up their wizard hats once and for all, and as sad as it seems for a generation of fans it’s true they wouldn’t stay cute for much longer. In the final instalment Harry has to come to terms with his uncomfortable legacy involving Voldemort (an increasingly wimpish Ralph Fiennes), Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and a sorely misunderstood Severus Snape (Alan Rickman). For those who bemoaned the lack of familiar environs in Part One rest assured because this time all the action takes place at Hogwarts, which gets a grand old beating. Where Part One was the twisted and challenging road to adulthood for the trio, Part Two finds them coming to terms with it: Ron and Hermione finally pash, Harry looks past his martyrdom, Draco finds his heart. It won’t work as a standalone film – don’t dip your wand  into the adventure at this point – but as a long awaited finale, it’s spellbinding. (AB) ****