As sad as it may be the inevitable is about to happen. The final Harry Potter film adaptation of the phenomenally successful book series is set to arrive this week.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will mark the end of the saga and bring to a close one of the most successful film franchises in history. To commemorate that milestone, some talented folks have put together a little restrospective of the series and its characters.

In this video you get to see the progression of Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the characters as they go through all the films. It’s really pretty interesting to see how things have changed over the years.

Check out the video after the break. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Opens on Friday.

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Previously, we brought you a teaser for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One but sadly, that video has since disappeared. Guess it wasn’t ready for the light of day. But now, thanks to the magic of the Internets, we can bring you the new full trailer for the film in all of its glory.

In this trailer we get a look at what our favorite cast of characters has been up to. Harry, Ron, Hermone and the rest, including the “Big Bad” Voldemort, are all back for another go around. And this time, with Dumbledore no longer in the picture, the stakes for the young wizard and his pals are even higher.

In fact, it looks like we’ll finally see that big fight between Harry and Voldemort we’ve all been waiting for. What will happen and how will it all end? You’ll just have to wait until the movie comes out.

Until then, check out the new trailer after the break. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One hits theaters on November 19th. Part Two arrives in July 2011.

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Warning: This review CONTAINS SPOILERS. Seriously. Don’t read if you haven’t seen the movie or read the books.

I grew up with Harry Potter. Alongside him, is more appropriate actually. I picked up the first book from Barnes and Noble at the age of 9, and I remember the anticipation as each book came out. Each midnight release as my friend Emma’s mom, Ann, bought us root beers and cookies at the Barnes and Noble café while we trooped around in big rimmed glasses with lightning bolt scars drawn on our heads, awaiting 12 AM when the book would finally be in our hands.

As Harry grew and adventured and experienced, I did too. I felt the pangs of first love, the loss of old friends, the joys of new ones with a fictional character who was as real as anything to me. As I read the seventh and final book cover to cover last year, I felt like a piece of my childhood was gone. I was finally grown up.

The movie franchise, however I might feel about them, has been a bit backwards. As each film has been released I’ve been less and less excited. I thought they started out splendidly. I remember tearing up in the theater at the age of thirteen when I heard Sir Richard Harris mutter the line, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” I was terrified of the basilisk, and in love with Kenneth Branaugh as Gilderoy Lockhart. But as the kids grew up in the films and the CGI was relied on more and more, the magic was slowly lost for me. Especially in Movie 5, Order of the Phoenix.

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In honor of the upcoming film Blood The Last Vampire and its plaid skirt wearing protagonist, over at io9 they’ve put together a little gallery of other schoolgirls who kick considerable butt and look good in the process. Among the list of notables are the girls of D.E.B.S. (including Devon Aoki), the chicks from the schoolgirls versus zombies film Uniform Sabaigaru, Go Go from Kill Bill and Hermione Granger of Harry Potter fame.

Of course, as much as girls in schoolgirl uniforms are cool, I might expand the list to include other types of killer girls in uniform like cheerleaders and nurses. But that’s just me. Maybe that’s a topic for another gallery? Perhaps. In the meantime, check out some of the pics after the break.

For the full gallery, head over to io9.

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