she has nice...skin
I saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince last week, on the day it came out. I think I can safely say for all HP fans that dying of anticipation was definitely an understatement as to how we were feeling! That being said, H-BP has garnered mostly positive review from fans and critics alike, but I question whether that's due to simply being satiated after such a long HP starvation period or if it was actually good. I'll go through my thoughts - pro and con - in bullet notes as they come to me. Beware the SPOILERS!
-"And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her." David Yates, do you read?!
-On the topic of Ginny, I loved her character in the books. She was strong, and kinda kickass. Maybe it's just Bonnie Wright, but I can't stand movie Ginny. What I think happened was that the filmmakers didn't know that Ginny would become a major player in the later books, so they cast any redhead girl without a second thought. And now they - and we - are stuck with her. I'm sure she's a nice person, but her acting is mediocre at best.
-More Ginny ranting. Did anyone else hate how they tried to include her in scenes where she clearly didn't belong? Like at Quidditch trials, standing behind Harry? Or in the Room of Requirement? And what the hell was up with that ridiculous shoelace-tying scene? Honestly, when she knelt down, the first thing that popped into my head was "WTF, blowjob?!"
-On the positive side, I adored every minute Helena Bonham-Carter was onscreen, as I usually do. Her macabre, morbidly childish portrayal of the insane Bellatrix LeStrange was spot-on, and frankly, a lot better than I ever could have imagined. She's a fabulous actress, and her performance blew me away.
-On another positive note regarding acting, Tom Felton - Draco - truly blossomed here. Perhaps it was because it was the film where he went from petty bully to an actually dark character. I didn't expect Tom to transition the character that well - especially since he hasn't had that much screen time in the past movies - be he did it fantastically. He really evoked sympathy from the audience, and give a truly feeling that he, like Harry, was a victim of the previous generation's mistakes. Plus, he's damned good looking - which is always a plus!
-I was so happy to see the Ron-Hermione relationship FINALLY manifest onscreen! One of my favorite scenes from the H-BP book was when Hermione set the birds on Ron after the Quidditch match, and I was SO happy that it was included. Can't wait for their kiss in Deathly Hallows.
-Not enough Neville, Lupin and Tonks! Three of the best characters in the series were not given nearly enough screen time. Shame on you, producers and David Yates!
-What the hell happened to all of the Pensieve scenes? With the Gaunts? And Hepzibah? How the hell is Harry going to figure out what the Horcruxes are? And where they are? Once again: David Yates, DO YOU READ?!
-Cormac was a pleasant surprise, however...I was not expecting someone good looking but Freddie Stroma is remarkably pleasing to the eye. And I admit, I giggled like a little girl when he licked his fingers at the Slug Club party. Freddie Stroma, welcome to the ranks of hot Hogwarts boys.
-I love Michael Gambon, but not as Albus Dumbledore. I must say I liked Richard Harris's Dumbledore a lot better, as he was closer to the calm and cool Dumbledore in the books. Gambon is too much of a fiery Dumbledore in my taste; the way I interpreted Dumbledore's character, his power lies in his calm demeanor and quiet strength.
-OK, the Dumbledore dying scene: was anyone reminded of Gandalf dying in The Fellowship of the Ring? Just a thought. But seriously, I thought the scene was overall well done, and I cried during that scene, as well as the beautiful scene when everyon raised their wands in honor of him. It was lovely and moving.
-The Golden Trio also did a great job. This was the first movie since the Chamber of Secrets that I thought that Daniel Radcliffe was actually Harry Potter, and not himself trying to be cool. Emma and Rupert were fab, as always. I don't think I'll ever forget Ron on Love Potion or Harry on Felix Felicis. Two amazingly funny scenes.
-One of my biggest complaints: not enough Snape! And that's not just because I have the hots for Alan Rickman! It's called Harry Potter and the HALF-BLOOD PRINCE for a reason, so where the ef was the Half-Blood Prince?! He's such a crucial character, and got such little screen time, when lesser characters like Ginny got unnecessary screentime. Ugh.
Just my thoughts regarding the film. I'll leave you with this gem:
