I Loved Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 When It Came Out, But It’s Hard To Celebrate 15 Years Later

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was originally one of my favorite films in the franchise, but it’s incredibly hard to celebrate it after 15 years. I was a fan of the Harry Potter books when I was a growing up. I was excited about each book release and even briefly attended a massive midnight launch for The Deathly Hallows back in 2007.

However, the films based on the series were one of my fondest memories because of how they allowed me to connect with my mother. We made an effort to attend every movie in theaters, followed by adding it to our DVD collection months later.

Given how much Harry Potter played a role in my younger years, the long-awaited release of the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, was the end of an era for me. I was getting closer to leaving for college, so this movie was fittingly the end of a massive part of my childhood.

When I finally sat in my seat and the lights dimmed, I was enthralled at how incredible the film was. It was packed with the emotion and heart that many fans were hoping for after ten years of movie magic. As the credits rolled, it became one of my favorite films in the franchise. However, after 15 years, it’s hard to feel the same way about it.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 Was A Once-In-A-Lifetime Phenomenon

When it comes to the movie itself, The Deathly Hallows Part 2 is still exactly as I remember it. David Yates’ darker direction for the series made this final chapter so much more dire and serious than any Wizarding World film that came before it. There’s a non-stop sense of urgency as Voldemort closes in and tries to kill Harry once and for all.

The Battle of Hogwarts is even grander as the entire school unites to protect Harry as he seeks to find the remaining Horcruxes. The scale of the final confrontation is unforgettable. Harry Potter characters die left and right. Hogwarts is depicted as more dangerous than it’s ever been. This is the ultimate payoff to ten years of buildup, and it handles this well in execution.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is still a good movie that doubles as a perfect ending to the series. However, it’s what came after the film and the legacy of the Wizarding World that has made it so hard to come back to it after all these years.

Harry Potter’s Author Controversy Makes It Hard To Celebrate Deathly Hallows Part 2’s 15th Anniversary

The main reason why I can’t truly enjoy Harry Potter and celebrate the anniversary of one of my favorite films in the series is because of the infamous backlash J.K. Rowling has accumulated since the film’s release.

Throughout the past decade, Rowling has become very vocal about standing against Trans rights. She’s taken many actions against the Trans community, using the money she earns from residuals to fund political movements to restrict the rights of Trans people. The fact that Rowling has been so adamant about her views and deems Harry Potter‘s success as validation is why I can’t go back to the series, having come out as Trans myself years after seeing the final film.

Many of the actors from the films, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, have spoken out against her views and shown support for the Trans community. However, the damage has already been done. This franchise has been tied too closely to the controversy that stems from Rowling. As such, I haven’t touched anything relating to Harry Potter since, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

I’ll always be grateful for how much this series played a role in my life growing up. However, after all these years, I’ve hung up my Hogwarts cloak for good and have no interest in ever looking back.

Release Date

July 12, 2011

Runtime

130 minutes

Director

David Yates