Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2: 10 things to watch for...

1.     The Prince's Tale

Snape’s character took a major turn at the end of the sixth book and fans all over discussed, debated and fought over his loyalties for over two years before the truth was finally out. Alan Rickman’s “Always” is going to kick ass and is rumoured to be the best part of the final instalment.

2.    The good and, well,  the ugly

Harry made Avada Kedavra history even before he could speak or know what the word meant. Voldemort has failed at least 4 times to kill Harry Potter. Now, with the Elder Wand in his possession, the Dark Lord believes he is very close but what he doesn’t know is that his horcruxes’ secrets are no longer hidden from Harry and his trusted Ron and Hermione.

                                       

3.     A prankster dies

Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Nigel are some of the prominent causalities in the final battle. A Weasley was expected by many to snuff it in the end but when it turned out to be the lovable prankster, it was indeed a shock for the readers. Lupin and Tonks falling after the couple had just had a baby is another tragic end.

4.     Ron Hermione kiss and get together

This one’s brewing for so long even a ten year old can figure out that these two are deeply in love with each other.

Eagerly awaited by thousands, personally, I am hoping for this one to be spectacular and generate some major fireworks on screen.

Hope Yates is listening..

 5.     Gringotts - The wagon and the dragon?

The wagon ride is set to turn into one helluva roller coaster ride as the trio goes deep into the lairs of Gringotts to retrieve the hidden horcux.. And it just doesn’t stop there, as a breathtaking ..sorry.. fire-breathing Dragon awaits. I’m sure none of the trio have heard of “How to train your dragon”

6.     Not My Daughter, You Bitch!!

The ever sweet Molly Weasley turns bad—ass and her delivery of this line while killing off the menacing Bellatrix is rumoured to be epic. Another highly anticipated scene involves Professor McGonagall summoning the statue soldiers to protect Hogwarts.

7.     Voldemort killing Snape

No one can imagine the limits Voldemort can go to serve his interest. Snape stood in his way of being the master of the Elder wand and Voldemort coldly slits his throat. “I regret it “ is all he said in the book.

8.      Harry and Dumbledore at King's Cross

“It’s all in your head but that doesn’t stop it from being true.” Dumbledore from beyond the grave in a Gandalfish avatar.

9.     Nagini sequences

This one is just for the thrill. This snake gets a lot of screen time in this instalment and why not feel the movie makers. The audience is paying for the 3D right?

 

10.  The bittersweet epilogue

10 years and definitely more than 7 billion$ at the box office, the golden trio and the franchise says goodbye. This scene is expected to sum up the journey perfectly when life comes a full circle for Mr. Harry Potter, Mrs. Ginny Potter, Mr Ron Weasley and Mrs. Hermione Weasley.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

                After a journey of close to 1.5 hours, we reached the only IMAX screen in the city. The intent was clear- have the best screen with the best 3D effects to catch the latest in the Johnny Depp’s moolah-earning Pirates series. CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow returns with his old sidekick Mr. Gibbs and the foe-turned- ally-turned -it’s complicated partner in crime Hector Barbosa who has joined the English though it’s just a garb for his own motives.  Their love-hate relation still persists and is on the lines of mutual admiration in this one.  The cast replacements include Ian Mcshane as the fearsome Blackbeard and the Spanish pataka, Penelope Cruz as Angelica, Blackbeard’s daughter.

                The direction has changed hands from Gore Verbinski to Rob Marshall and the result was evident. The last 2 pirates’ movies had too many complications for the simple popcorn munching audience though the franchise lovers would have thoroughly enjoyed them. This one, au contraire, keeps it very simple (predictable would be more suited) and leaves it mainly upon the actors to keep the screen rolling.

                The plot is pretty straightforward. The English, the Spanish and Captain Blackbeard are on the hunt for a certain Fountain of Youth that provides the transfer of life from one person to another. While the English and the Spanish are occupied in the traditional European colonial rivalry, Blackbeard (menacing at start, not so much towards the end) needs the fountain to thwart the prophecy of his death. Jack and Angelica have had history and Jack still harbours “stirrings” for her. Angelica gets Jack onboard the Blackeard’s ship; Barbosa who has his personal vendetta against Blackbeard is joined by Mr. Gibbs and so begins the chase. The journey is peppered with a futile subplot of a tender relationship of a missionary and a mermaid which can be best described as a unsuccessful attempt to fill in the void of Will and Elizabeth’s characters from the previous movies.

                 As expected by many, it’s Jack’s odd ball eccentricities and odd-ball acts that keep the screen appealing though I sincerely missed  his trademark “You will always remember this as the day” line . Ian McShane’s Blackbeard is evil though it doesn’t top Bill Nighy’s Davy Jones. Keith Richards as Captain Teague provides a decent cameo. Penelope, visibly pregnant (though glowing) in many shots, has a likeable on screen chemistry with Depp and is quite the match for him like her character Angelica. The 3D hasn’t much to offer other than the mermaids sequence and little titbits here and there. Stay after the credits to watch what could be a possible sequel link. All in all, a good way to spend a weekend if you have nothing better to do.