Harry Potter...flawed film entertains! Door open for sequels!

There was very little humor, a lot of dark high drama, and a dollop of gratuitous flesh.

But. when the curtain finally rang down at the 11th hour - "Deathly Hallows" - the latest (last?) installment of the successful Harry Potter franchise ended with a whimper.

Not surprisingly, there were a slew of spectacular special effects (the star of the big-budget flick?) that kept ticket-holders on the edges of their seat, throughout the overly-long feature.

On occasion, for the first 1/3 of the slick endeavour, the J.K. Rowling magical tale dragged a tad, though.

A bit of judicious editing would have succeeded in - yawn - moving the high-stakes drama along at a faster (much-appreciated) clip.

Uh-huh!

Judging by what ended up on the silver screen - it was evident to moi - that Ms. Rowling's creative well has run dry.

Subsequently, it was easy to fathom why the once-talented writer lamented far-and-wide that "Deathly Hallows" would be the last wizard project to grace theatre screens ever again.

In spite of the fact the thought of a Harry Potter screening still triggers a frenzied rush (even at the midnight hour) for coveted tickets in - what had become - a regular pop culture event each outing.

The truth?

Although the ending is "flat", the producers have clearly left the door wide open for a younger generation of wizards to take the helm, I dare say.

The producers have given Harry Potter a proper send-off, though, by focusing mainly on all the loose ends in his intriguing mystical life.

In order to do so, for the most part, the roles of the supporting players were cut back.

Occasionally - Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, and Alan Rickman - steal a bit of Daniel Radcliffe's thunder, though.

In the uneven splashy release, my main criticism falls on the scene that focuses on a "near death" experience of one of the characters.

Although Rowling and the producers had a smattering of state-of-the-art tools capable of real "magical wizardry" at their disposal, the scene failed to strike a glorious chord or even rustle up any wow factor where it was essential most!

It was all downhill after that!

Judging by the ticket sales reported in the media overnight, I expect that audiences will continue to flock to the theatre, and push the numbers into the stratosphere.

I wonder how the audiences are responding about the calibre of the Deathly Hallows once polled outside the theatre doors?

News at 11!

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Keira Knightley...actress hob-nobs at the Toronto International Film Festival!

As Kiera Knightley hob-nobs with the show-business elite at the Toronto International Film Festival this week, fans anxiously await the much-anticipated opening of her new theatrical release at the end of the week.

"The Duchess" is a lush period piece.

And, judging by the previews, it's going to do boffo box office!

The stunning actress - who turns heads when she saunters into a room - is pretty much down-to-earth.

If you're to believe the press clips, that is.

She's apparently quick-witted.

And, according to reports, swears like a sailor!

"Keira has great clarity as a person (and is) amazingly open for her age," her co-star Ralph Fiennes assures the curious.

Knightley has no qualms about revealing to an interviewer, for instance, that she may have forgotten to shave her legs that day.

She doesn't make any bones about the fact she may be a bit sloppy, too.

For example, it is wholly possible that when she gobbles down a plate of scrumptuous food, a handful of it may spill all over her designer duds.

Ah, my kind of gal!

Needless to say, the delightful actress probably kept the fussy wardrobe designer on the set of the "The Duchess", on pins and needles the whole duration.

The rising young star plays the intriguing - "Georgiana Spencer".

The Duchess of Devonshire was a sort-of 18th-century "it girl" who languished in an unhappy marriage.



In the historical drama, Knightley dons eye-popping headgear and a myriad of spectacular silky frocks.

"High heels are bad enough. I don't think you need a corset and wigs, as well," she says.


"The wigs were the problem. They were big like birdcages. The hats were sewn onto the tops of them. And the whole thing was glued to my head, pinned in. I had neck aches. I literally couldn't hold the thing up. So they built me a stand so I could rest the whole lot on."

"The costumes, I saw them more like an armor than anything else," Knightley says.

"She creates the person she wants to be. As it gets worse and worse and worse, the (costumes) get bigger and the wigs get wider."

Ralph Fiennes plays the Duke who complicates her life with demands for a male heir her unhealthy organs are unable to produce.

In spite of this plot line, Kiera and Ralph are not featured in any intimate love-making scenes on the silver screen.

Sorry 'bout that, Ralph!

Allegedly, Kiera draws a line between business and her own real life, too.

For instance, she rarely discusses her boyfriend (Rupert Friend) and won't even confirm she has one.

Knightley - headlining in the big-budget epic - earned a best-actress Oscar nomination for her riveting characterization of "Elizabeth Bennet" in the feature film - "Pride & Prejudice".

To many, Kiera is best-known for kicking up her skirts in three of the hilarious "Pirates of the Caribbean" features she co-starred in, with charismatic Johnny Depp and sexy newcomer Orlando Bloom.

Film buffs have also raved about her magnetic performance in more serious films, such as "Atonement", for instance.

Upcoming releases to look forward to include a Dylan Thomas drama - "Edge of Love" - which was scripted by her real-life mother Sharman Macdonald.