Harry Potter 7.2: When Light Stands before Darkness

In just three days Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two has raked in over $162 million dollars, largely in part to enormous amount of people who viewed the midnight release. Once again, the beloved franchise breaks its own records and makes a few new ones, including the worldwide opening weekend record according to Box Office Mojo.

The film begins where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One ended: Voldemort is in possession of the Elder Wand and our heroes Harry, Ron and Hermione have just buried Dobby, the House Elf who helped them escape the clutches of Bellatrix LeStrange. In many ways the situation is grim and the odds are overwhelming, but Harry and his two friends know that there are only three of the cursed items left. With their goal to stop Voldemort still in sight the trio carry’s on; determined to see it through to the end.

This time the search takes them to Gringott’s bank and Hogwart’s. When the three of them return to the school, they learn that Sevurus Snape is the new Headmaster. Harry does not hesitate to confront the man responsible for Albus Dumbeldore’s death. After a brief altercation between Snape and Professor McGonnagle, the new Headmaster flees the school. By then however, Voldemort has gathered an army and comes knocking at the doorstep of the castle in search of Harry, completely aware of where Harry’s search for the horcruxes will take the young man. Thus, Hogwart’s becomes the final battlefield in this war between good and evil.

With little time to spare, Harry, Ron and Hermione race to destroy the final horcruxes so that they may end Voldemort’s campaign of terror. Amidst the battle, new heroes emerge while others meet their end. Yet even amongst death and destruction, love is reaffirmed and in one case, finally requited.

Harry learns that he will need to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save everyone else. As he bravely goes on alone to face the very man who seeks his destruction, Harry finds that in addition to his love for Ginny, his two best friends and schoolmates and their love of him; the love of his departed family members has always been with him. Armored with the strength he draws from this knowledge, Harry takes a stand against evil though it may cost him his life.

A magnificent end to what has been one of the most popular franchises since Star Wars. Stellar performances by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman. Surely the Harry Potter movies will be loved for generations to come. Those generations will learn the message that the rest of the world has been shown these past ten years: Love is the most powerful of all magic and they will also come to know that when light stands before darkness, it is light that prevails.