Story
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 begins where Part 1 ended. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) are searching for the remaining three Horcruxes (objects that contain a part of Voldemort’s soul). With the help of the goblin Griphook (Warwick Davis), the friends enter Gringotts Bank, where they steal a cup that originally belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, one of Hogwarts’ founders. Harry also learns that a tiara belonging to Rowena Ravenclaw and Voldemort’s pet snake, Nagini, are the remaining two Horcruxes.
At Hogsmeade, Harry is befriended by Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth (Ciaran Hinds), who helps the friends get into Hogwarts Castle. After a confrontation with Professor Snape (Alan Rickman), Harry starts searching the castle for Ravenclaw’s tiara, assisted by the students of Hogwarts. But Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) gives the students and teachers of Hogwarts an ultimatum – give up Harry or suffer the consequences. He gives them one hour to hand over Harry, which also leaves Harry only one hour to find and destroy the tiara. At the same time, Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith) and the remaining Hogwarts teachers create magic barriers around the castle to fend off Voldemort’s army of Death Eaters.
Eventually the barriers fail, and the Death Eaters attack the castle. But Ron and Hermione destroy Hufflepuff’s cup and then locate Ravenclaw’s tiara. Despite being attacked by Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), they destroy it. The search for the final Horcrux leads to a showdown with Voldemort and some important discoveries for Harry.
Themes
The supernatural; self-sacrifice; death; loss of a loved one; immortality
Violence
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 contains intense action violence, battle scenes, killing, death and dead bodies, blood and gore, and emotional trauma. For example:
Sexual references
None of concern
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie has some use of substances. For example, Harry, Ron and Hermione drink butter beer.
Nudity and sexual activity
This movie has some sexual activity, including a brief but passionate kiss between Ron and Hermione.
Product placement
None of concern
Coarse language
This movie has some coarse language and put-downs.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is a fantasy adventure suited to an adolescent audience. You should note that this movie is very dark. A feeling of menace runs right through it, and it has many images that could scare or disturb younger children. The movie is also long, and its plot is rather confusing.
You should note that the Australian Classification Board has issued a media release highlighting the M classification of this movie. The media release reminds consumers that movies classified M aren’t recommended for people under 15 years of age although there are no legal restrictions on access.
The main message from this movie is that you must fight against evil, regardless of the personal cost or sacrifice.
Values in this movie that you might want to reinforce with your children include the following:
- Selflessness and self-sacrifice: many of the movie’s main characters are willing to sacrifice body and soul to protect others and fight against evil.
- Courage: Harry and many of his friends repeatedly show courage by standing up against evil and refusing to give in to Voldemort’s demands.
You could also talk about the way that Harry and his friends fight against prejudice and discrimination. You could discuss how the issues of prejudice in the Harry Potter movies and books are like situations in the real world.