The story picks up where Part I left off. If you really need to know, you can always rewatch the last movie (Heaven help you), but I’m a casual fan and had no trouble jumping right in. Harry and co are holed up in the Weasley family safehouse with Mr. Ollivander (John Hurt) and one of the goblin bankers of the Wizard World’s enormous vault Gringott’s. The group needs him to break into the vault and destroy a chalice that holds part of the soul of Lord Voldemort (or “Horcruxes” for the Potter fans)—and break in (and escape) they do. I’m pretty sure the entire sequence is the most accurate movie representation of the US’s financial collapse we’re likely to see.

From there they travel back to the wizarding school Hogwarts to destroy another Horcrux and oust Snape as the acting Headmaster. At the same time, Voldemort’s army (why was the wizarding world so scared of him before? It appears the whole of them were his allies?) prepares to march on Hogwarts while Harry scrambles to finish up the tasks that will ensure Voldemort’s total destruction. I won’t dwell on recapping because 1) it’s not particularly necessary and 2) anyone reading this will likely already know, so we may as well just get right into the review.

For all the complaints that were and could be (justifiably) leveled against Part I, Part II is a rather wonderful return to form, evoking the grandeur of the previous Potter films but furthering it with higher stakes and a more serious tone. Many have lauded the later Potter films for their “darkness,” and while I didn’t quite agree with them then, the credit is now well deserved.

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.

As this weekend marks the start of one of the biggest blockbuster years the domestic box office has seen in years, one movie will hands down be in the top five when it comes to financial pull. That film, of course, is Warner Bros’ final film in the Harry Potter franchise.

Set to hit theaters in the US on July 15th, this is said to be (by those who read the book) the most action-packed of the Harry Potter films. Here’s the official synopsis.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts.

In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort.

It all ends here.

Intense enough for you? If not, you will certainly be blown away after checking out the very first trailer after the jump. It all begins there.

The final flick from the long-running Harry Potter series hits theaters this summer and the official Facebook page is abuzz following the release of the official movie poster. The 7th movie in the ‘Potter’ series wraps up the events contained in the final novel by J.K. Rowling entitled Deathly Hallows, having been split into two parts to better do justice to the dark and dangerous tale.

The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione go back to Hogwarts to find and destroy Voldemort’s final horcruxes, but when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the biggest battle begins and life as they know it will never be the same again.

Directed by British filmmaker David Yates (Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince) and with a script written by Steve Kloves (Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Half-Blood Prince), Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 arrives in theaters everywhere on July 15th.

Be sure to hit the jump for the full-sized official movie poster!

Speaking at the Time Warner investor day, Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Barry Meyer announced that  Sherlock Holmes 2 is slated for a December 16 2011 release. If that wasn’t enough to make your day, Meyer also revealed that the studio is getting close to giving the go-ahead for a movie about beloved DC Comics superhero Flash.

Based on reports from Meyer, 2011 is shaping up to be a huge year for Warner Bros., with roughly 25 movies slated for release. Among the biggest and most anticipated releases are:

— Red Riding Hood: April 22, 2011
— The Hangover 2: May 26
— Green Lantern (3D): June 17
— Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (3D): July 15
— Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 (3D): Sept. 23
— Happy Feet 2 (3D): Nov. 18
— New Year’s Eve: Dec. 9

Meyer also made an important note that DC Comics characters are key parts of Warner’s future, teasing a July 20, 2012 release date for the Christopher Nolan’s latest Batman film, as well as a holiday season 2012 Superman film. Films featuring Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Mad magazine characters also in development.