Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review
Ok, I'm going to do a sort of review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where I basically skip around and say what I thought. Its totally spoilery so I'm hiding all of it. Its quite long as well and a lot of it is random. A lot of people have asked me "how can you see it three times in a week? won't you get bored?" but with Harry Potter there are so many details each time I watch it I see something new. Which is why this post is Epic. There's just so much to say!
The problem I had with seeing it for the third time was that my friend and I frequently went into hysterics. The bit where Ron says "pie?" I was laughing at for about 10 minutes, and the bit where Harry says "pincers" *pincer action* nearly had me crying with laughter. I know its not that funny, but it was amusing and then my friend was laughing and then I was laughing because it was so ridiculous that I was still laughing...it was very embarrassing! There were actually many more moments that sent me into giggles.
The Tom Riddles were absolutely fantastic, especially the teenage Tom. His voice dripped with malice and manipulation and when he said "horcruxes" I got shivers. He was so good I could just watch his scenes over and over again.
Draco Malfoy wears suits all the time and even carries a briefcase. The bit where Harry and Luna come through the Hogwarts gates and Filch is searching Draco's bags, he pulls out what must be Lucius's pimp cane, which I find hilarious. Actually, I thought that Tom Felton was brilliant. I wasn't expecting much because they hadn't exactly given him much to do in the previous films but he definitely rose to the occasion. Even in scenes that weren't about him you could see how it was affecting him (like in the Potions scene where his head raises a little after Slughorn talks about Liquid Luck). I love how Draco both wants to get the cabinet working and doesn't. The look on his face after Bellatrix destroyed the great hall was heartbreaking. I loved the mirroring between Harry and Draco. While the film started with Harry and Dumbledore facing the cameras, in the papers you see a picture of Draco and his mother, and its the exact same sort of thing happening. I love the little touches.
I've read a lot of reviews about this film and a lot have criticised it for focusing on the romance too much. I disagree because I think that the romance was balanced brilliantly with Draco's story. The contrast between all these kids falling in love with Draco basically fighting for his life showed the dark undercurrent beautifully. The shot where the camera zooms up the tower and we see Ron and Lavender, and then up to Draco looking out at the grounds is exactly what I mean. Draco's story is there to remind the viewer that all is not ok.
I really liked how they built Harry and Hermione's friendship (while making it clear that it is just friendship). In a way, it sort of sets the scene for Ron getting jealous of them in the seventh film. And, needless to say, the Hermione and Ron relationship was lovely. Ron's such an idiot, but even though he's oblivious, he still sort of knows. Lavender was nuts. I'm still not sure about the Harry/Ginny relationship. I really liked Ginny in the books and film Ginny isn't the same- she seems more passive. But they did have some nice moments and it was more of a gentle evolution from slight-friendship to more. I still prefer Ginny in the books though.
Slughorn was wonderful. He was so full of pathos, I actually cried during certain bits with him (even on third viewing), especially the bit where Harry finally gets the memory from him and he talks about Lily giving him the fish. So sad and wonderful. However, he was also hilarious. His Aragog speech cracks me up every time and I'm not sure why.
The music in this film was so wonderful. The third time round I listened to the music more and its just beautiful and poignant. I especially liked the combination of music with the action when Dumbledore and Harry have just apparated to the rock in the middle of the sea and the camera swoops over the waves and the music soars...everytime I see that I get a funny feeling in my stomach that sort of says "oh, here we go!"
Speaking of the cave scene...it was so wonderful. Pretty much spot-on from the book. Perfect. I know some people have had issues with Michael Gambon's Dumbledore in previous films, but in this film he was Dumbledore, which is completely fitting as its his film.
A friend of mine was extremely disappointed with the Tower scene, but I loved it. I didn't mind that they cut out the battle scene because I understand that they don't want to step on the toes of the battle at Hogwarts in the final film, which, undoubtably, is going to be epic. The end of the HBP film brings together all the characters that have been focused upon: Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, and Draco. If Bill Weasley and the Aurors had got dragged into it, it would've just complicated the matter. Everything essential to the plot and character development happened in that scene. And, while Dumbledore didn't petrificus totallus Harry like in the book (so he could move in the film), it actually makes it worse, I think, because Harry actively trusts Snape and so the betrayal is worse, because he's also betraying Harry. Added to this is the fact that now Harry is going to blame himself even more.
RANDOM:
Did anyone else notice how the Amortensia potion changed colours when Hermione said "grass (green)...parchment (purple)...(then it turned orange)...spearmint toothpaste (blue)" Loved that.
This is probably quite bad but my favourite moment in the entire film is the bit just after Ron has recovered from the love potion and Slughorn gives him the alcohol to drink, Ron drinks it and falls over. What I love is that the audience laughed really loudly until they saw him foaming at the mouth and twitching and everyone is like "oh...right...probably shouldn't've laughed at that bit..." LOL
Shout out to Regulus Black! Loved the foreshadowing!
Dumbledore reading Knitters Own=WIN
Luna wear shoes to bed! ;D
While Neville only had one line (I think), watch out for him. Every single scene he's in,
even if he's in the background, he's just hilarious, pulling faces. I could just watch the film Neville-spotting!
I love that they hire Timothy Spall, a great, well-known actor to be Wormtail. And he's in it to open a door (with no lines). What did they pay him? What's the going rate to open doors in films these days? ;D
END OF RANDOM
Overall, this film was drenched in emotion, more so than any of the other films, and I felt it all the way through. I've not commented on the acting that much because finally in this film there were no moments when I was thrown out of the action by false notes from the 'child' actors (like in all the previous movies). They're all completely convincing. The characterisation in this film was spot on. The action was thrilling. The pacing was excellent. I just absolutely loved it.
The problem I had with seeing it for the third time was that my friend and I frequently went into hysterics. The bit where Ron says "pie?" I was laughing at for about 10 minutes, and the bit where Harry says "pincers" *pincer action* nearly had me crying with laughter. I know its not that funny, but it was amusing and then my friend was laughing and then I was laughing because it was so ridiculous that I was still laughing...it was very embarrassing! There were actually many more moments that sent me into giggles.
The Tom Riddles were absolutely fantastic, especially the teenage Tom. His voice dripped with malice and manipulation and when he said "horcruxes" I got shivers. He was so good I could just watch his scenes over and over again.
Draco Malfoy wears suits all the time and even carries a briefcase. The bit where Harry and Luna come through the Hogwarts gates and Filch is searching Draco's bags, he pulls out what must be Lucius's pimp cane, which I find hilarious. Actually, I thought that Tom Felton was brilliant. I wasn't expecting much because they hadn't exactly given him much to do in the previous films but he definitely rose to the occasion. Even in scenes that weren't about him you could see how it was affecting him (like in the Potions scene where his head raises a little after Slughorn talks about Liquid Luck). I love how Draco both wants to get the cabinet working and doesn't. The look on his face after Bellatrix destroyed the great hall was heartbreaking. I loved the mirroring between Harry and Draco. While the film started with Harry and Dumbledore facing the cameras, in the papers you see a picture of Draco and his mother, and its the exact same sort of thing happening. I love the little touches.
I've read a lot of reviews about this film and a lot have criticised it for focusing on the romance too much. I disagree because I think that the romance was balanced brilliantly with Draco's story. The contrast between all these kids falling in love with Draco basically fighting for his life showed the dark undercurrent beautifully. The shot where the camera zooms up the tower and we see Ron and Lavender, and then up to Draco looking out at the grounds is exactly what I mean. Draco's story is there to remind the viewer that all is not ok.
I really liked how they built Harry and Hermione's friendship (while making it clear that it is just friendship). In a way, it sort of sets the scene for Ron getting jealous of them in the seventh film. And, needless to say, the Hermione and Ron relationship was lovely. Ron's such an idiot, but even though he's oblivious, he still sort of knows. Lavender was nuts. I'm still not sure about the Harry/Ginny relationship. I really liked Ginny in the books and film Ginny isn't the same- she seems more passive. But they did have some nice moments and it was more of a gentle evolution from slight-friendship to more. I still prefer Ginny in the books though.
Slughorn was wonderful. He was so full of pathos, I actually cried during certain bits with him (even on third viewing), especially the bit where Harry finally gets the memory from him and he talks about Lily giving him the fish. So sad and wonderful. However, he was also hilarious. His Aragog speech cracks me up every time and I'm not sure why.
The music in this film was so wonderful. The third time round I listened to the music more and its just beautiful and poignant. I especially liked the combination of music with the action when Dumbledore and Harry have just apparated to the rock in the middle of the sea and the camera swoops over the waves and the music soars...everytime I see that I get a funny feeling in my stomach that sort of says "oh, here we go!"
Speaking of the cave scene...it was so wonderful. Pretty much spot-on from the book. Perfect. I know some people have had issues with Michael Gambon's Dumbledore in previous films, but in this film he was Dumbledore, which is completely fitting as its his film.
A friend of mine was extremely disappointed with the Tower scene, but I loved it. I didn't mind that they cut out the battle scene because I understand that they don't want to step on the toes of the battle at Hogwarts in the final film, which, undoubtably, is going to be epic. The end of the HBP film brings together all the characters that have been focused upon: Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, and Draco. If Bill Weasley and the Aurors had got dragged into it, it would've just complicated the matter. Everything essential to the plot and character development happened in that scene. And, while Dumbledore didn't petrificus totallus Harry like in the book (so he could move in the film), it actually makes it worse, I think, because Harry actively trusts Snape and so the betrayal is worse, because he's also betraying Harry. Added to this is the fact that now Harry is going to blame himself even more.
RANDOM:
Did anyone else notice how the Amortensia potion changed colours when Hermione said "grass (green)...parchment (purple)...(then it turned orange)...spearmint toothpaste (blue)" Loved that.
This is probably quite bad but my favourite moment in the entire film is the bit just after Ron has recovered from the love potion and Slughorn gives him the alcohol to drink, Ron drinks it and falls over. What I love is that the audience laughed really loudly until they saw him foaming at the mouth and twitching and everyone is like "oh...right...probably shouldn't've laughed at that bit..." LOL
Shout out to Regulus Black! Loved the foreshadowing!
Dumbledore reading Knitters Own=WIN
Luna wear shoes to bed! ;D
While Neville only had one line (I think), watch out for him. Every single scene he's in,
even if he's in the background, he's just hilarious, pulling faces. I could just watch the film Neville-spotting!
I love that they hire Timothy Spall, a great, well-known actor to be Wormtail. And he's in it to open a door (with no lines). What did they pay him? What's the going rate to open doors in films these days? ;D
END OF RANDOM
Overall, this film was drenched in emotion, more so than any of the other films, and I felt it all the way through. I've not commented on the acting that much because finally in this film there were no moments when I was thrown out of the action by false notes from the 'child' actors (like in all the previous movies). They're all completely convincing. The characterisation in this film was spot on. The action was thrilling. The pacing was excellent. I just absolutely loved it.