A REVIEW: HARRY POTTER & THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE
REVIEW: Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
As a Potter addict, I’ve been waiting for this movie since 2007. And it did not disappoint. Although, I must admit I’ve always surmised that it will be the, “Best movie with the worst adaptation.”
I’m glad I was proven wrong. Steve Kloves & David Yates were able to adapt it very well, well enough that you can look at Half Blood Prince as an entirely different movie; part of but can stand alone from its five predecessors.
Opening the movie with Harry in the Department of Mysteries, with speculations of Harry being the “Chosen One”, effectively connected Order of the Phoenix with the sixth movie, allowing the audience to remember where and how the fifth movie ended.
Thereafter, scenes change swiftly that if one were not paying attention you’d find yourself asking someone, “What happened? Why are we here?”
PREPARING FOR DEATHLY HALLOWS:
Half the time, I felt it I was being equipped for something bigger than what was being shown. There were scenes where information were so scant I found myself thinking, “…and…” only to remember that much like the book, and as Jo Rowling said, Half Blood Prince is the groundwork for the ending.
Defenses are strained. Relationships are being formed; the clear lines of good and evil ever more present. What I really appreciated in this film is the development of the major characters and relationships that will figure enormously in the last two movies: Draco & Snape, Ron & Hermione, Harry & Ginny, the significance of Lily Potter (and her sacrifices), and Dumbledore’s mission for Harry. The Harry Potter movies, as much as the special effects are necessary, is all about characters, and my goodness, Yates finally got all of these characters right.
Sure, not all of them were dealt with as¬ much as they were in the books. But considering that David Yates had to realign and correct the character, plot & relationship mistakes and loopholes from the first four movies, I’d say he did really well. Setting Neville aside, Yates was able to situate all important characters for their roles in Deathly Hallows.
Yates left just enough room for conversation for the trio during the Horcrux hunt so that we won’t have two hours of boring camping scenes; little tokens, pictures and trinkets were shattered throughout the film that I’m betting we’ll see more of during Deathly Hallows; he filmed just enough back story for Lily Potter, enough for the audience to understand her importance to Harry & Snape and, overall, to the outcome of Harry’s final confrontation with Lord Voldemort.
FRIENDSHIP, LOVE & ROCK N’ ROLL:
Of equal importance, Yates foreshadowed the couples that would figure in the last scene of this entire franchise: Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger and Harry Potter & Ginny Weasley.
If there are still people, book and movie fan alike, who are still confused of who ends up with whom after this movie, then you are probably one of the most pea-sized person in the planet.
Half Blood Prince not only delves into the mystery of how Tom Riddle became who he became, but it forays into teenage relationships - from platonic to otherwise - and the temptations of teen romances. This movie defines, bluntly more so than the previous ones, what Harry & Hermione’s relationship is, how Hermione truly feels for Ron and Harry’s blooming affections for Ginny.
Part of the reason why the Harry Potter fanbase grew into what it is, is because of the way Jo Rowling interplayed the serious, nefarious elements with the everyday, mundane events of teenage life. The same could be said with how Yates treated romance in the movie: there was enough of it, but not too much; it’s not in-your-face-yucky-love-stuff. During some scenes, you’re somehow taken back to the time of first kisses, shy glances and unrequited infatuations.
But as most teenage romances go, love doesn’t run a smooth line. From OoTP to HBP, Harry, Ginny, Ron & Hermione were all seen to be with people who were not right for them but by the end of Half Blood Prince, they all know who they fancy, enough for the events of the epilogue to take place.
BRITAIN’S BEST
By far, his is by the best acted Harry Potter movie.
I didn’t even notice Emma’s eyebrow acting. As I said in my Twitter update, “Harry on Felix Felicis, Ron on Love Potion and a drunken Hermione: best cinematic moments EVER!”
I was nearly laughing my arse off when Dan said, “SIR!?”
And I just have to say, it’s really nice to see Bonnie Wright and Tom Felton being given the chance to be on the acting forefront, and delivering really well.
The adult cast: speechless.
If anything, these kids are so privileged to have worked with whom they have worked with: Jim Boardbent as Slughorn was a delight to watch; I was tearing up when Maggie Smith raised her wand as Michael Gambon lay dead on the school ground; it was so heart wrenching to see Julie Walters watch her home being burned down; Alan Rickman, amazing.
NEARING THE END
That final shot of Harry, Ron & Hermione atop the Astronomy Tower, with a phoenix flying up ahead, is a fitting homage for their stay at Hogwarts.
They will not be coming back; technically, they will, but only to see their beloved school in the middle of the biggest battle of their universe.
As Harry aptly stated, “I never realized how beautiful this place was.”
That final shot, allowed us to see its beauty, probably, for the last time.
As a Potter addict, I’ve been waiting for this movie since 2007. And it did not disappoint. Although, I must admit I’ve always surmised that it will be the, “Best movie with the worst adaptation.”
I’m glad I was proven wrong. Steve Kloves & David Yates were able to adapt it very well, well enough that you can look at Half Blood Prince as an entirely different movie; part of but can stand alone from its five predecessors.
Opening the movie with Harry in the Department of Mysteries, with speculations of Harry being the “Chosen One”, effectively connected Order of the Phoenix with the sixth movie, allowing the audience to remember where and how the fifth movie ended.
Thereafter, scenes change swiftly that if one were not paying attention you’d find yourself asking someone, “What happened? Why are we here?”
PREPARING FOR DEATHLY HALLOWS:
Half the time, I felt it I was being equipped for something bigger than what was being shown. There were scenes where information were so scant I found myself thinking, “…and…” only to remember that much like the book, and as Jo Rowling said, Half Blood Prince is the groundwork for the ending.
Defenses are strained. Relationships are being formed; the clear lines of good and evil ever more present. What I really appreciated in this film is the development of the major characters and relationships that will figure enormously in the last two movies: Draco & Snape, Ron & Hermione, Harry & Ginny, the significance of Lily Potter (and her sacrifices), and Dumbledore’s mission for Harry. The Harry Potter movies, as much as the special effects are necessary, is all about characters, and my goodness, Yates finally got all of these characters right.
Sure, not all of them were dealt with as¬ much as they were in the books. But considering that David Yates had to realign and correct the character, plot & relationship mistakes and loopholes from the first four movies, I’d say he did really well. Setting Neville aside, Yates was able to situate all important characters for their roles in Deathly Hallows.
Yates left just enough room for conversation for the trio during the Horcrux hunt so that we won’t have two hours of boring camping scenes; little tokens, pictures and trinkets were shattered throughout the film that I’m betting we’ll see more of during Deathly Hallows; he filmed just enough back story for Lily Potter, enough for the audience to understand her importance to Harry & Snape and, overall, to the outcome of Harry’s final confrontation with Lord Voldemort.
FRIENDSHIP, LOVE & ROCK N’ ROLL:
Of equal importance, Yates foreshadowed the couples that would figure in the last scene of this entire franchise: Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger and Harry Potter & Ginny Weasley.
If there are still people, book and movie fan alike, who are still confused of who ends up with whom after this movie, then you are probably one of the most pea-sized person in the planet.
Half Blood Prince not only delves into the mystery of how Tom Riddle became who he became, but it forays into teenage relationships - from platonic to otherwise - and the temptations of teen romances. This movie defines, bluntly more so than the previous ones, what Harry & Hermione’s relationship is, how Hermione truly feels for Ron and Harry’s blooming affections for Ginny.
Part of the reason why the Harry Potter fanbase grew into what it is, is because of the way Jo Rowling interplayed the serious, nefarious elements with the everyday, mundane events of teenage life. The same could be said with how Yates treated romance in the movie: there was enough of it, but not too much; it’s not in-your-face-yucky-love-stuff. During some scenes, you’re somehow taken back to the time of first kisses, shy glances and unrequited infatuations.
But as most teenage romances go, love doesn’t run a smooth line. From OoTP to HBP, Harry, Ginny, Ron & Hermione were all seen to be with people who were not right for them but by the end of Half Blood Prince, they all know who they fancy, enough for the events of the epilogue to take place.
BRITAIN’S BEST
By far, his is by the best acted Harry Potter movie.
I didn’t even notice Emma’s eyebrow acting. As I said in my Twitter update, “Harry on Felix Felicis, Ron on Love Potion and a drunken Hermione: best cinematic moments EVER!”
I was nearly laughing my arse off when Dan said, “SIR!?”
And I just have to say, it’s really nice to see Bonnie Wright and Tom Felton being given the chance to be on the acting forefront, and delivering really well.
The adult cast: speechless.
If anything, these kids are so privileged to have worked with whom they have worked with: Jim Boardbent as Slughorn was a delight to watch; I was tearing up when Maggie Smith raised her wand as Michael Gambon lay dead on the school ground; it was so heart wrenching to see Julie Walters watch her home being burned down; Alan Rickman, amazing.
NEARING THE END
That final shot of Harry, Ron & Hermione atop the Astronomy Tower, with a phoenix flying up ahead, is a fitting homage for their stay at Hogwarts.
They will not be coming back; technically, they will, but only to see their beloved school in the middle of the biggest battle of their universe.
As Harry aptly stated, “I never realized how beautiful this place was.”
That final shot, allowed us to see its beauty, probably, for the last time.