Filmonic reviewer/reporter Joe Belcastro covers the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 release event live at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

On the weekend of the home video release (11/11/11) of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, an assortment of the cast and crew from the Harry Potter realm all gathered at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, to yap with the worldwide press and mingle with fans in attendance throughout the three-day event.

Friday was the press conference as everyone from actor Rupert Grint to director David Yates – who helmed the last four Potter flicks – all descended upon the theme park that was inspired by J. K. Rowling’s literary gems in conjunction with the vision of the respective filmmakers, which was brought to life these last eleven years.

Saturday saw a massive red-carpet spectacle that ran through the entire re-created world, with the cast all going up on stage at the base of Hogwarts, while a firework display went off celebrating all they have accomplished.

So without any further ado, yours truly chatted with just about everyone at the presser and the red carpet.  Read some quotes and take a listen to a portion of the press conference below:

On whether the cast is sad that it is all officially wrapping up…

“I don’t whether sad is quite the right word,” says Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick & Griphook).

“I mean, it’s sad the paychecks aren’t coming through anymore,” he says with a grin.  “I suppose the thing that might be sad is not seeing everybody so often.  We are all used to going to work and hanging out; certainly with members of the cast together, and also the fantastic crew we had at the studios.  Going to that place every day felt secure.”

The animated Mark Williams (Mr. Weasley) added, “People ask us that question and we hesitate to reply and I think the reason is that this has never been done before.  And we are kind of struggling to understand what’s being achieved.  But I think celebration is a good word, I’d go with that one.”

Also reflecting on the moment was director David Yates; who in his gentle voice chimed in with this…

“It was always a very family atmosphere when we made these movies.  A real sense of community.  And I think that what we all will carry that forward with us, as well as the pride in the work.  It’s hard to get an angle on it; we’re so close to it.  It was such an extraordinary amount of work that we did together.  It’s hard to really contextualize it at the moment.  I think Rupert used the word surreal; it feels a little surreal at this point because we are that close to it.  But I think we’ll see each other whenever we pass and we’ll always be grateful for the experience and they will be relationships that will continue.”

The family theme came up a lot in all of their response.  Mainly because they all realized that this was going to be special.  As Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) succinctly put it…

“We all felt like we were privileged to work there.”

Isaacs also had an interesting response when people come up to him and say they are the biggest Harry Potter fans…

“The biggest fans of Harry Potter that I have ever met are at this table and the table before,” (referencing all the cast & crew that took part in the press conference).

A prime example of that is Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood); who admittedly came from the fan world and she is still in awe of being a part of something she loved so much.

Stanislav Ianevski (Viktor Krum), also a fan, gave a deep response to what’s going on in his mind…

“To be honest, it’s very difficult for me to take in the moment that it’s come to an end.  I’d rather believe that it’s never going to come to an end, because Harry Potter and everything that’s done – for over eleven years now – you know, I think is going to live on forever in people’s hearts.  I’d rather think that, we are going to live in their hearts forever.”

That thoughtful answer put Domhnall Gleeson (Bill Weasley) in an interesting spot (for he was next to answer), as in: how do I follow that?

“Yeah, what he said (smiling).  It’s amazing.  So good to see everyone again, he says laughing.”

Focus shifted to David Yates and he revealed what his personal goals were when taking over the franchise…

“I think we had to absolutely get the last film right in its totality; because there was so much pressure riding on that story,” says Yates.  ”People had followed that story for ten years and there was a huge expectation about the finale.  So we carried that pressure with us for some time.  It was tricky of getting that balance of comedy, adventure, action sort of coordinated in the right way.”

And his most memorable directing achievements while working on the films…

“One of the scenes I’m proudest of, which I adore, is the kiss between Ron and Hermione in Hallows Part 2, just because of its charm.”

“I still remember the scene very fondly with Rupert and Emma; it was a delicate scene to get right because Rupert and Emma know each other really, really well.  And it’s quite a challenging thing to snog someone you know really well.”

The overall tone of the press conference was celebratory and that stemmed from the questions being asked.  They all talked about the little souvenirs they “took” from the set while filming.  Producer David Barron gave a funny story how passionate (or rabid) the fans are, when one approached him for an autograph.  Rupert Grint briefly told one that happened at one of the premieres…

“Yeah, I had kind of an encounter with an interesting character,” says Grint.  ”It was actually at one of the premieres, the fourth film maybe, in New York, and we were just about to be put away in the limo, and this man in a wheelchair grabbed onto the back bumper.  And we towed him along for a few yards.”

Grint also elaborated on how he and his now infamous “Ron” persona coexist…

“I kind of feel we merged into the same person in a weird way.  I always could relate to Ron, and not just cause we’re both ginger.”

With the home video release (DVD, Blu-ray, Download & Ultra Violet Digital Copy) producers David Barron and David Heyman said those expecting extended or a bunch of deleted scenes will be surprised that there are not that many on the disc.  Just about all the the footage that they shot was used in the film (Good!)

The inevitable chance of another movie had to be asked.  Artistically, there is no need to ever try to add on to this amazing achievement in filmmaking.  Well, unless J.K. Rowlings decides to conjure up another phonebook sized novel.  But with the business of Hollywood and how nothing is sacred, David Yates and David Barron answered with this…

“You could only do something additional to the eight films we have if it originated from Jo herself (Rowlings),” says Barron.  ”We would have to have the integrity she would give it.  And I can’t see what it would be, because she told a singular story over seven volumes that we took eight films to tell that same story.  And we reached the end of that story.  I can’t really imagine what it would be.  We know what happens to Harry – he got married, he had kids, he rebuilt the school, it’s no big mystery.  I think she did that on purpose really, so it was not left open”

“And there’s a sort of a time and a place for a story such as this,” added Yates.  And it seems wonderful to leave it where it is somehow.  I think that will gain value in time.  And I think it would be a real shame to continue.”

“But we’d like a part,” says the quick-witted Mark Williams.  And David Barron appropriately followed that up with, “And we would like to work on it, too.”

Finally, we come to the A-Ha moments.  The moment when they all personally realized that this Harry Potter phenomenon was bigger than they thought.  And they were a part of it.  A few of them – including Rupert Grint, James and Oliver Phelps (Weasley Twins), producer David Heyman, Jason Isaacs, Evanna Lynch, George Harris (Kingsley Shacklebolt), Nick Moran (Scabior), David Bradley (Argus Filch) and Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan) – specifically recalled what they were doing and/or where they were when it more-or-less “hit” them that they played a role in the biggest movie franchise of all-time…

Below are a few audio interviews containing their ‘A-Ha’ moments:

In order: Nick Moran (Scabior), David Bradley (Filch), David Heyman (producer), George Harris (Kingsley), Phelps Twins (Weasley Twins), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy) and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)

Rupert Grint

Devon Murray

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Until about three weeks ago, I had no relationship with the Harry Potter franchise. Never read the books, never saw any of the movies. So I decided to catch up with all of the older movies and see the final film in theaters. And though some of those earlier films are hit-and-miss, I don’t regret my decision at all; the entire experience was unquestionably worth it just to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 wrap up this series in such an impressive way. People (myself included) throw around the word “epic” fairly often, but this movie is deserving of that description, instantly becoming my favorite of this franchise.

[It's nearly impossible to review this movie - or the entire Potter series, for that matter - without at least acknowledging the similarities to Lord of the Rings, another wildly successful franchise with a "hero's journey" story at its core. To list every similarity would be counterproductive for the purposes of this review, but suffice it to say there are many.]

Deathly Hallows: Part 2 picks up immediately where Part 1 left off, and thankfully has far more action and importance than its neutered predecessor. To the cynical outsider looking in, it would appear that Warner Bros. split the last book into two movies for no other reason than to make more money (a task at which Part 2 has excelled so far). But I’m actually glad they went down that path, considering how Part 2 feels like it’s stuffed to the brim as it is; audiences surely would have been cheated out of this film’s awesomeness if the writer had to cram the dullness of Part 1 into the same film. As long as Part 2 delivers – and trust me, it does – then I think it’s justifiable that we suffered through the spinning wheels of Part 1 as a pure setup for this finale.

Steve Kloves, who wrote the screenplays for all of the movies except for Order of the Phoenix (my previous favorite of the series, coincidentally), did a great job wrapping everything up and bringing closure to a series that spanned such a lengthy amount of time. Even among the minor characters, no one felt shortchanged, and the Big Three of Harry, Ron, and Hermione were given the send-off they deserved. The flashback sequence was a particularly inspired bit of writing (taken, I’m sure, from Rowling’s original novel), allowing for the dramatic reveal of Snape’s past. And to avoid spoilers, I’ll simply say I really enjoyed the way the elbents of the Deathly Hallows were used in the story.

The younger cast members improved dramatically during their ten year run bringing these characters to life, and this was a high point for each of them. I can’t wait to watch the trajectories of the main casts’ careers move forward from here; Radcliffe, in particular, I can envision becoming a Ron Howard-type: someone raised in front of the camera, but evolving into a serviceable filmmaker in his own right. I also loved seeing lower-tier characters like Neville Longbottom make an impact here in Part 2, coming full circle from his introduction as the laughable loser back in The Sorcerer’s Stone. The arcs of the Malfoys – both young and old - were also fun to watch as the movies progressed. (Villains who are THAT dramatic are always awesome.) One thing is for sure: now that this franchise is finished, cinema has lost one of the finest ensemble casts ever committed to film. It’s hard to beat names like Gary Oldman, Jason Issacs, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Warwick Davis, and Emma Thompson when they join forces.

The visual effects in this movie were top notch, an unlike so many effects-heavy movies these days, these never elicited winces or scoffs from the audience. Director David Yates’ team worked wonders here, honing The Battle of Hogwarts into one of the best set pieces of the year. Yates’ vision has stayed consistent both with movies he’s helmed and the ones he hasn’t, recreating sets in Part 2 (the Chamber of Secrets, Gringotts, etc.) and in the process providing a great sense of geography and familiarity with the world of Harry Potter.

There’s not much else I can say without giving away massive plot points, but I think Tyler (my co-host on The Not Just New Movies Podcast) and I are planning some sort of retrospective discussion on the entire Harry Potter franchise sometime soon, so keep a lookout for that in the coming weeks. It’ll take a bit of reflection for me to be able to rank the Harry Potter films alongside my favorite movies, but as far as epic hero stories go, this saga is pretty damn impressive. Until next time…

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Emma Watson attended the 2011 MTV Movie Awards yesterday and presented a clip from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. I’m sure Warner Bros. had many available clips to show, but they decided to air Voldemort’s confrontation with Harry in the forest.

Watch below:

In the film, once again directed by David Yates, Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts after months on the run in the wilderness with the aim of finding, and destroying, Voldemorts final horcruxes. Voldemort finds out about their mission and the biggest battle of their lives begins as the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters descend upon Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will be released July 15th.

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Back in May the cast and crew of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II got a bit of attention as they were filming at Kings Cross station in London. Due to the public setting images of Daniel Radcliffe, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson looking much older appeared online, and fans worked out that they were shooting the final scenes of the Harry Potter saga.

It seems the chaos and limited time in which they had to shoot didn’t result in the best ending possible, so director David Yates and the gang will be re-shooting parts of scene in the comfort of Leavesden Studios.

From HitFix:

“We are re-shooting some parts of it,” Radcliffe confirms. “It was an interesting one. I think we made it very hard on ourselves because we shot it at King’s Cross for real. And this time we’ll be shooting it at Leavesden on set. To have to rush that sequence and it’s an important sequence, is not something any of us want to do.

Radcliffe continued and reiterated, “It’s a train station and people actually needed to use that platform. We made it very hard on ourselves and we really want a slightly slower, more measured pace next time.”

Co-star Emma Watson later confirmed how difficult it was to shoot the scenes in a real station, describing it as a “stressful one.”

“I mean, you can imagine, we stopped trains when they said we could do the scene. I mean, we are special – we are ‘Harry Potter,’” Watson says in an intentionally sarcastic and light-hearted tone. “We only had two days to shoot it and we needed so much more time than that. We have reshoots at Christmas.”

The scene, which catches up with the trio many years after the events of Deathly Hallows, will most likely be the final scene of the whole franchise so they obviously want to get it right, and they will be able to do that back in a controlled environment.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 will be released in less than a weeks time, on November 19th, and Part 2 will be released July 2011.

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Yahoo! has released what will likely be the first of many behind the scenes featurettes for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. This video is called ‘Epic Finale’ and begins with a montage of footage from the previous films, followed by a closer look at Part I.

We get to see a few new shots including more of Hagrid and Harry trying to escape from the Death Eaters, and we also get our first (blink and you’ll miss it) look at Neville on-board the Hogwarts Express.

Watch below:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is released on November 19th.

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Even though we’ve had a number of trailers and TV spots Warner Bros. has so far only released one poster, that of Hogwarts in ruins. As the November 19th release date for Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows: Part I draws near the studio decided they better release some character posters of Harry, Ron and Hermione for the fans.

Check out the blood-splattered posters below, from Yahoo:

Here’s the most recent trailer:

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Warner Bros. has released a new batch of stills from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I to keep us entertained until the release of the next trailer sometime this month (most likely with Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole on Sept. 24th).

In the image above we see Harry, Ron and Hermione on their travels as they try to avoid Voldemort and his Death Eaters. This trailer park scene (or caravan park as they’re in England) wasn’t in the book but has been added by David Yates and writer Steve Kloves to emphasize the danger the trio are in. As you can tell from the image the site is pretty much destroyed, which comes courtesy of the Death Eaters who are having a hard time finding the trio because of Hermione’s protection spells, but they are still lurking close by.

Harry in Bathilda Bagshot's home

Lupin checks to see if Harry is actually Harry and not a Death Eater

Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour giving the trio gifts from Dumbledore

In the latest issue of Empire magazine Emma Watson spoke about a scene they have included which was only hinted at in the book: (Spoilers)

“The film opens with Hermione wiping her parents’ memories [of her] and leaving their house. You don’t read that in the book; you just know she does it. That’s a scene that Steve Kloves and David Yates wrote for the film, which I was happy about because you see the sacrifice that Harry and Ron make to be Harry’s friend.”

“You never really get a sense of Hermione’s life outside Hogwarts, outside that friendship, and it’s important. You’re choosing between family and friends; it’s pretty brutal. They offer her a cup of tea, completely unaware that anything is about happen, and then I cast a spell that wipes their memory of me. There are photos all around the room, actual childhood pictures of me, and they just dissolve. It’s horrible. And then I have to shut the door and walk out alone.”

This, again, was added to show that nobody is safe and Hermione is forced to do this to prevent her parents being hunted down and forced/tortured to give information. I can’t wait to see this scene when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I hits screens on November 19th.

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A third behind the scenes clip from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has appeared online. This video, which was shown during ABC Family’s Harry Potter weekend, follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they flee through a wooded area from Snatchers. This scene will probably feature towards the end of Part I so we will be able to see the end result in November.

Warner Bros has announced that new footage from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be screened during the 2010 Comic Con, which will take place from July 22-25th in San Diego. The cast along with director David Yates will not be attending however, as they have work commitments.

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A second behind the scenes video of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from ABC Family’s Harry Potter weekend has appeared online. This one focuses on Harry, Ron and Hermione and their adventures on the run from Voldemort and his Death Eaters. We see more footage of the trio in the English countryside, and we also see more of the battle between the trio and Death Eaters in the cafe.

Watch below:

Expect a few more behind the scenes videos to pop up over the weekend, and click here to see the first video which focuses on ‘The Story’.

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ABC Family are having a Harry Potter weekend which involves showing the first 5 Potter films from Thursday through till Sunday. Throughout the weekend new exclusive footage and interviews from the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be shown, the first which debuted during the showing of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and focuses on the story.

In the video Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, David Heyman and director David Yates talk about the final film, with new footage and behind the scenes clips shown in-between.

Watch below:

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