Ornament Review: Harry Potter - The Final Battle - 2012 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Magically captures the climatic battle from the Harry Potter series

Cons: Serious balance issues

The Bottom Line: 

Imperfect balance

Is only flaw made up by

The cool light and sound

Harry Potter's Climatic Battle - Now in Christmas Tree Size

While they don't make up quite the size of my Disney or Peanuts ornaments, I've enjoyed adding the Harry Potter ornaments from Hallmark's line over the last few years.  I've actually know about the 2012 release for about a year now, and I couldn't wait to add The Final Battle to my collection.  It's live up to its promise.

As you would expect, the ornament depicts the climatic battle between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.  They are standing on uneven, rocky ground.  Harry is standing on the left, and he's dressed in jeans and a shirt and jacket.  Voldemort is on the right, and he's got long, flowing black robes.  In fact, the robes are flowing out in the wind, making him appear to take up more than half the ornament, although really he's not that much over the line.  It's the robes that make him bigger overall.  Both of their likenesses are very well carved and look like they do in the movies.  They have wands in their hands (and Voldemort is left handed?  He is for this ornament anyway).  And there are long, colored lines coming from their wands and meeting in the middle in a giant white blast.

What makes this ornament more fun is that it is a magic ornament, meaning it includes light and sound.  When the three button batteries are installed, pressing the button, almost completely disguised as a rock, activates this feature.  You get about 15 seconds of the sounds of the magic blasts as the white part in the middle lights up in red and green blasts.  Yes, the geek in me loves it and grinned uncontrollably the first time I turned it on.  Even now, I still enjoy watching the light show.  And yet, the color scene completely fits with Christmas.

While the bottom of the ornament is flat, it actually sits on four round feet.  This is so the sound can get out of the speaker on the bottom if you are displaying it on a table or desk.  After all, you really could leave this one out year round.  Fortunately, those feet are all the same size, so if you chose to display it this way, it will sit level.

Need to hang this on your tree?  You'll find the hook on Voldemort's right robe sleeve.  Based on the placement (in the back of the ornament), you might expect the ornament to tip forward some.  Unfortunately, you'd be right.  It is noticeable, although good placement on your tree should be able to disguise it.  It's disappointing, but not so bad it completely ruins the ornament.  And really, I'm not sure where they could have book the ring to avoid the problem.  The good news is it is balanced from side to side, which lends credence to my earlier thought that Voldemort is more substantial on the ornament than Harry is.

The balance issue is enough to knock one star off the ornament, but I can't help but smile when I see it even so.  Any Harry Potter fan will be proud to hang The Final Battle on their Christmas tree.

Original Price: $24.95