Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 parents guide

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 Parent Guide

Amidst the darkness there are some shining moments. For the young ladies who shared my screening, the movie appeared to meet all their expectations.

Overall B+

In this final chapter of the Harry Potter franchise, the boy wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) put themselves in harm's way to stop Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) from gaining immortality.

Release date July 15, 2011

Violence C
Sexual Content A
Profanity B+
Substance Use A

Why is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 PG-13 for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.

Run Time: 130 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Don’t get sold out! Buy advance tickets to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

There has been great anticipation for the last half of this final chapter of the Harry Potter franchise. Ever since the release of the first film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s popular book series in November of 2001, avid fans have waited anxiously to see how the saga would unfold.

Sitting next to me in the screening are three young women—the epitome of Potter-mania. Dressed in Hogwart’s school uniforms, the girls giggle as they recall watching the first movie when they, like the main characters, were 11 years old. Having grown up simultaneously, the trio prepares to witness the end of a decade-long era, which also signals the end of both parties’ childhoods.

Screenwriters for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 have penned the script for just these sorts of viewers. They assume you are already familiar with the novels so they don’t need to fill in all the plot details, and that in preparation for this cinematic event you have recently watched the past movies (especially Deathly Hallows - Part 1), which you undoubtedly have sitting on your shelf at home. (If this doesn’t describe you, you may want to brush up on the previous films so you don’t feel at a complete loss when the story continues from where it left off in November 2010.)

Harry, Hermione and Ron (Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) are still searching for the missing horcruxes into which Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) divested his soul. They must find and destroy all that remain of these seven items before the Dark Lord gets his hands on the three Deathly Hallows (the Elder Wand, the Invisibility Cloak and the Resurrection Stone), which will make him the master of death, and therefore impossible to destroy.

Unfortunately, Voldemort gets possession of the Elder Wand before Harry’s scavenger hunt is complete. Using this powerful tool, he and his followers descend on Hogwarts School prepared to kill as many people as necessary (and perhaps a few more just for their sadistic nature’s sake) to root out and dispose of Harry Potter.

As the death toll mounts, the young wizard comes to understand that he alone has the ability to stop the senseless carnage and keep Voldemort from gaining immortality—but to do so will require the ultimate sacrifice.

Of course these battles between good and evil forces include magical weapons use, hand-to-hand conflict, fire-breathing creatures, explosions and falls from great heights. While most of these portrayals (bloody wounds, injuries, implied deaths and corpses) are not very explicit, there are two scenes that are. One shows a man walking through a room full of dead bodies, whose bare feet get covered in their blood. The other depicts a person attacked by a snake. The incident is obscured because it is seen through a dirty window, however the viewer does hear the brutality of the multiple strikes and see the blood that splatters on the glass pane as a result. The loss of several significant characters will also be grievous for readers who have come to know and love them.

Yet amidst the darkness there are some shining moments. Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), long assumed to be the cowardly type, displays true courage. The soft-spoken Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) finally gets heard. The power of love, family and friendship are personified through Lily and James (Geraldine Somerville and Adrian Rawlins), Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and surprisingly, Severus Snape (Alan Rickman). Mercy is also given to enemies. Our three heroes use their brains, as well as magic, in their quest to defeat oppression. And in the face of mortal danger, Harry is brave enough to look death in the eye without flinching.

For the young ladies who shared my screening, the movie appeared to meet all their expectations. They screamed during a railroad ride through the vaults of Gringotts, cheered when their favorite teen couples kissed, laughed when Mrs. Weasley (Julie Walters) swore at the witchy Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), and cried bittersweet tears as Harry, Hermione and Ron took their final curtain call.

Directed by David Yates. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint. Running time: 130 minutes. Theatrical release July 15, 2011. Updated

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
Rating & Content Info

Why is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 rated PG-13? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images.

Violence: The use of torture is discussed and some characters show bruises from acts of punishment. Characters are in danger from dragons, fires, drowning, explosion, falling from heights, ear-piercing voices, weapons and magic wands. Deaths are implied and shown. Bloody wounds and corpses are seen. Some character’s bodies break into tiny pieces when they are killed by magical power. A man’s feet are covered in blood as he walks through a room littered with dead bodies. A snake kills on demand and viciously attacks a character (obscurely shown) and splatters his blood. Many well-known characters die, and are grieved for.

Sexual Content: Teen boys are seen shirtless while changing out of wet clothes. Teen couples kiss.

Language: Infrequent mild and one moderate profanity are used.

Drug and Alcohol Use: A character drinks a magic potion.

Page last updated

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 Parents' Guide

In a moment of mortal danger, Neville Longbottom makes a speech where he says, “People die all the time.” What does he mean? How does this statement reflect his attitude towards death? What does he think is worth living for?

Many people put their lives on the line to protect Harry. Why? What is it they hope he will accomplish? What causes would you be willing to risk your life for?

Despite this movie’s occult setting, it presents some Christian themes. Which ones can you identify? What examples of real love does it offer? How does the movie depict death and life after death?

What do the art designers of this film borrow from the Nazi era? Why do you think they use them?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 movie is November 11, 2011. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

Release Date: 11 November 2011

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 releases to home video on November 8, 2011. The Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy edition includes:

- Deleted Scenes

- Maximum Movie Mode—hosted by Matthew Long (Includes 9 Featurettes)

- A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliffe

- The Goblins of Gringotts

- The Women of Harry Potter

- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

- Pottermore Preview

Also releasing on November 11, 2011: Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection (also known as Harry Potter- Years 1-7).

Related home video titles:

Based on the seventh book in J.K. Rowlings’ popular series, the film adaptation covers the novel in two parts. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 is the beginning of the tale.

Follow Harry Potter’s other adventures in:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Related news about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

Filming Begins for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Filming Begins for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

{parents:pull_quote}

What Movie Ratings Pay Off for Studios?

What Movie Ratings Pay Off for Studios?

{parents:pull_quote}

Dan Stevens to Take on the Role of the Beast in New Live Action Disney Film

Dan Stevens to Take on the Role of the Beast in New Live Action Disney Film

{parents:pull_quote}

A Dozen (Or So) Films to Celebrate Your Geekness

A Dozen (Or So) Films to Celebrate Your Geekness

{parents:pull_quote}

Cast Signs on for New Star Wars Movie

Cast Signs on for New Star Wars Movie

{parents:pull_quote}