Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Youth Talk columnist Sangeetha Alagappan, who describes herself as 'probably the most Harry Potter-obsessed fan on the island' - gives her verdict.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1. The Beginning of the End. The breath-taking phenomenon of a book that gripped readers worldwide. So, no pressure, huh?
Harry Potter movies have had the bad precedent of not living up to their name - understandable, seeing the incomparable magnificence of the books.
The daunting task of adapting a book for the big screen felt heavy on the shoulders of David Yates. He had to conceive a physical manifestation of a gloriously surreal imagination that knows no bounds. He had the responsibility of satisfying millions of fans worldwide.
As a 'Potterholic' myself, clad in a Gryffindor scarf, wand tucked into my front pocket, armed with the first and best tickets for the first showing, I waited impatiently for the movie to begin. I tend to expect a lot of Potter movies having read and 'lived' in the books for so many years now.
And the verdict? He did not disappoint. Yates, unlike other Potter directors before him, finally decided, to the euphoria of the ocean of cloak-wearing, wand-brandishing Potter aficionados, to stick to the Harry Potter Holy Grail - The actual book.
Given the freedom of time - following a rather controversial 'splitting into parts' decision - Yates remained true to the book and the characters. Following his characteristic patiently-paced style of direction, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the movie, is a beautiful narration of a soon-to-be classic tale.
The exquisite locations, soulful direction, amazing cinematography and photography, accurate screenplay, seamless musical score and choreography and mind-blowing graphics made this movie a contender for the best Potter film so far, and the best movie I've seen in a long time.
Brilliantly paced, fuelled by raw emotion and intricate detail that would delight any Potter fan, the movie has come close to living up to the expectations the book demands.
Furthermore, the movie showcases Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in their best light; they have finally shed the na•ve image of child actors and have matured into wholesome performers with the ability to hold the screen by themselves and explore and develop their characters extensively and accurately.
The cast, too many to mention, but on the whole, did a terrific job, 'upping' their games, performing at their best.
And, as for the newbies to the Potter stage? They snuggled in quite well and quite effortlessly.
As I sat, hardly daring to munch on my popcorn for fear of missing out on some Potter-rific conversation, I sat enthralled, watching the pages I've read so many times, taking physical form in a whole new perspective.
The perfect brew of humour, anger, grief, fear, adrenaline, love and friendship; I felt, satiated with euphoria, coming out of the theatre, having felt involved in the experience, having felt it come alive, the way it was meant to.
Out of all the jaw-dropping special effects, the stand-out scene for me was the narration of 'The Tale of the Three Brothers' - interpreted as a wonderfully artistic animation sequence.
It's true that the movie can never be as extraordinary as the book. But this movie is probably the closest anyone has ever gotten to the actual thing, so far.
The movie, obviously couldn't encompass every little bit of the book and had to try to avoid as much as exposition as possible, but apart from a few flaws, it was worth every minute.
So, promising to make you laugh out loud, violently jump out of your seat, feel fear grip your heart, cry hard and feel a deep seething need to wrench a knife into Bellatrix Lestrange, this film sets the stage for a climax to the worldwide phenomenon. A wonderful half to a brilliant, dramatic whole.
Even standing alone this is a great film, which could be watched over and over and over again.
