Review: Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince *spoilers*
I was so psyched to see this movie! :) It's been a long time between drinks for us HP-nuts! :) I really did enjoy the film a lot; it's a great watch and there are some hilarious and quite scary moments (sea of dead bodies, anyone for a dip?). But I have issues, so I hereby enter into a rant...
HATES
The story - it went nowhere. I LOVE how it started outside the Department of Mysteries; that was so cool. And then the look into the darkness of the Muggle world. But as for the actual story of the movie; I didn't think there was one. It was like someone picked out a chapter here and there in the book and just vomited it on screen in a mish mash of scenes with no point.
Believe me; I understand things had to be cut out of it but why the hell would you put in new scenes instead? Like The Burrow fire? We didn't NEED to see that. A lot of the set up points for characters and relationships going into movie 7/8 were left out in lieu of invented scenes. I was really disappointed with the Harry/Ginny stuff. Their relationship is so poignant to Harry in book 6 but she didn't really come off as anyone special to him in this movie; I didn't get the same intensity from them that I got while reading. And what about Snape? He was sandbagged in this one! What about him teaching Harry Defence Against The Dark Arts? All that Snape/Lily stuff? Not only do I wish we had scene it; but it's so effing important to know that stuff as the story goes on.
Tonks/Lupin - Had about a dozen lines between them and not even sure why they were included when they're characters served no purpose in this movie. Their relationship is another that I love to see and saw none of it here :(
Dumbledore's death - the guy IS Hogwarts; his death scene was so tiny in retrospect to his character and the wizarding world in general. I was really looking forward to seeing everyone coming together at his funeral; it's like such a set up point for what we're going to see in book 7.
As Lois Griffin says, "it's a middle finger to the fans" who do know the book and were excited to see it play out. I don't really understand this idea of trying to create a movie for everyone to enjoy without having to read the books. If you don't like Harry Potter; you wouldn't see the movie. So why don't they just appease us fans?
LOVES:
Two words can sup up my favourite moments in this movie. Tom. Felton. He rocked the shit out of Malfoy in this one. I was very worried his scenes would be cut out; they are my favourite parts of book 6. He's been a very neglected character in the HP franchise so seeing him again and in such a dramatic arc of Malfoy was epic. That Sectumsempra scene was kick ass.
Ron/Hermione - Loved it ;) Jealous!Hermy is one of my new fave things ;) I've always been a bit 'meh' with Emma Watson; I feel she comes off as such an overly workshopped actress and she doesn't have that natural ability that say Rupert Grint does; he just seems to really shine on screen. Emma; not so much. That was until this one; her best performance yet in my opinion. She was so funny at that ball shoving that food in her mouth and scrambling away from that hottie on her tale, I momentarily forget his name...Kormack?
Slughorn - Never really gave him a second thought in the book, but Jim Broadbent really blew me away. He was hilarious to watch, and his drunken scene with Hagrid was a highlight for me :)
Luna - I snorted lemonade when I saw her in that lion get up; she's such a great character to just have floating around and has some of the best lines of the movie :)
Lavender - That girl rocked; she was so great to watch and hilarious. Brought Lavender to life!
The Acting - All round solid effort from everyone; the characters are spot on and the casting is something I've always loved about HP. With Maggie Smith leading the charge as McGonagall and Dan just embodying Harry it's one of the strongest ensembles I've seen.
Overall; I really did enjoy it but it was as I was going home remembering what was in book 6 that got left out that I was annoyed. What they put in that was from the book was excellent; I wish they would continue with that and not leave out the magic like moving staircases and wandering portraits. I am glad the next book is split into two movies; hopefully this means we'll get more in depth and sticking with the story; which is what the fans want to see! :)
HATES
The story - it went nowhere. I LOVE how it started outside the Department of Mysteries; that was so cool. And then the look into the darkness of the Muggle world. But as for the actual story of the movie; I didn't think there was one. It was like someone picked out a chapter here and there in the book and just vomited it on screen in a mish mash of scenes with no point.
Believe me; I understand things had to be cut out of it but why the hell would you put in new scenes instead? Like The Burrow fire? We didn't NEED to see that. A lot of the set up points for characters and relationships going into movie 7/8 were left out in lieu of invented scenes. I was really disappointed with the Harry/Ginny stuff. Their relationship is so poignant to Harry in book 6 but she didn't really come off as anyone special to him in this movie; I didn't get the same intensity from them that I got while reading. And what about Snape? He was sandbagged in this one! What about him teaching Harry Defence Against The Dark Arts? All that Snape/Lily stuff? Not only do I wish we had scene it; but it's so effing important to know that stuff as the story goes on.
Tonks/Lupin - Had about a dozen lines between them and not even sure why they were included when they're characters served no purpose in this movie. Their relationship is another that I love to see and saw none of it here :(
Dumbledore's death - the guy IS Hogwarts; his death scene was so tiny in retrospect to his character and the wizarding world in general. I was really looking forward to seeing everyone coming together at his funeral; it's like such a set up point for what we're going to see in book 7.
As Lois Griffin says, "it's a middle finger to the fans" who do know the book and were excited to see it play out. I don't really understand this idea of trying to create a movie for everyone to enjoy without having to read the books. If you don't like Harry Potter; you wouldn't see the movie. So why don't they just appease us fans?
LOVES:
Two words can sup up my favourite moments in this movie. Tom. Felton. He rocked the shit out of Malfoy in this one. I was very worried his scenes would be cut out; they are my favourite parts of book 6. He's been a very neglected character in the HP franchise so seeing him again and in such a dramatic arc of Malfoy was epic. That Sectumsempra scene was kick ass.
Ron/Hermione - Loved it ;) Jealous!Hermy is one of my new fave things ;) I've always been a bit 'meh' with Emma Watson; I feel she comes off as such an overly workshopped actress and she doesn't have that natural ability that say Rupert Grint does; he just seems to really shine on screen. Emma; not so much. That was until this one; her best performance yet in my opinion. She was so funny at that ball shoving that food in her mouth and scrambling away from that hottie on her tale, I momentarily forget his name...Kormack?
Slughorn - Never really gave him a second thought in the book, but Jim Broadbent really blew me away. He was hilarious to watch, and his drunken scene with Hagrid was a highlight for me :)
Luna - I snorted lemonade when I saw her in that lion get up; she's such a great character to just have floating around and has some of the best lines of the movie :)
Lavender - That girl rocked; she was so great to watch and hilarious. Brought Lavender to life!
The Acting - All round solid effort from everyone; the characters are spot on and the casting is something I've always loved about HP. With Maggie Smith leading the charge as McGonagall and Dan just embodying Harry it's one of the strongest ensembles I've seen.
Overall; I really did enjoy it but it was as I was going home remembering what was in book 6 that got left out that I was annoyed. What they put in that was from the book was excellent; I wish they would continue with that and not leave out the magic like moving staircases and wandering portraits. I am glad the next book is split into two movies; hopefully this means we'll get more in depth and sticking with the story; which is what the fans want to see! :)