half blood prince...
To say that the movie was so anti-climatic is an understatement. I’d read a couple of positive reviews, so I had my hopes up a little that it was going to kick ass - but the last quarter blowed. I understand editing, removing subplots (ie S.P.E.W, the fact that Hermione and Ron are Prefects) that don’t add a huge amount to the overall narrative but changes to the plot that don’t make SENSE?! The essence of the story is still there, but why the hell would the producers/writers remove ENTIRELY the battle at Hogwarts?! Why would the DE break into Hogwarts, just to go on a smashing fit in the Great Hall (which, by the way is looking smaller and smaller as the years go on…seriously, they must be executing students and bunching everyone up…) and stand around semi-threatening to end Dumbledore’s life when the person who offs him is ALREADY IN THE CASTLE?! And yeah, about the DE - clearly there are only 6 or so wandering around. I’m crapping my dacks. Oh and Draco? Whyyy does he look like a banker??
Not having Harry petrified underneath the Cloak was a big mistake. Would have taken 3 seconds, but instead he was just cowering down the stairs, silently watching. What the heck? Like Harry would do something like that. And Hagrid’s hut? COME ON! He almost DIES in the book! In the movie I thought they were wanting to have a bonfire and roast some marshmallows to toast their smashing fit. Was Hagrid even home??
I was pleasantly surprised with the imagery of the Cave scene - it looked virtually as I had imagined it, but the emotion of it didn’t get to the pitch that I was wanting. Dumbledore didn’t seem remotely close to death - nor did I feel sad watching it. I know I did when I read it.
I think, if I look at the entire series - HBP is low on the scale from 1-10. Out of all the books, it’s probably my least favourite - purely because it becomes apparent that JKR is going to take us down the hell hole that is H/G and R/Hr. It just makes me into this CRAZED loony - HARRY AND HERMIONE YOU MOFOS. I will never get over this. Everrr. Harry’s stomach monster is the one of the worst things committed to print. UGH! I will acquiesce, begrudgingly, reading the book, that I can see how Harry would fall for Ginny during that summer at the Burrow - close quarters and all, and he is a BOY in PUBERTY - but the translation to film just doesn’t cut it. Obviously, they thought ‘feeding him a bun/biscuit’ and ‘tying his shoelace’ was going to leap off the screen as sexy - but it made her look like his friggin Mum (Oh, wait!...nah, too easy)! It does not help that Bonnie and Dan have no chemistry, and Bonnie isn’t terribly good at this acting gig and is much like a wet blanket. Book Ginny is much more feisty, pretty and blah blah blah, like all Mary Sue’s I suppose. H/G kiss was kinda cute though, but completely dull. Isn’t it supposed to be EPIC? Ron and Lavender’s make out was WAY more epic than H/G.
Speaking of Lavender - she was perfect. PERFECT! Her and Luna were cast to a T. I hope that girl, whomever she is continues to act in some sort of comedy…she had me in stiches. And I was STOKED to see Luna wearing her Gryffindor Lion Head!! And her party dress!!! I suppose these smaller details they did correctly, and Hermione’s hair in the first Potions scene - GOLD. My favourite Hermione moment in the film.
Credit due though - Emma Watson’s acting was much improved. Hardly an eyebrow wiggle, and her delivery of lines was much less ‘breathless’ and toned down. Here’s hoping by DH, she’ll be Hermione, minus all the over the top dramatics. She nailed it during the canary scene too - and WTF? Cuddles? Whhhyyy Josephine, WHHHYYY?! Not that I’m complaining. It only served to show how much more on screen chemistry Dan and Emma have than Dan and Bonnie.
Things that truly made me laugh: Cormac’s dessert seduction - LMFAO x 9572817346732934. And Harry on Felix - THE SPIDER PINCERS!!!
Bitterly disappointed with Narcissa. UGGO HAIR. Isn’t she supposed to be sexy fox? And I’m pretty sure in the book, she don’t have no skunk inspired hair.
Overall - average adaptation. I can find bits that I truly enjoyed, but it’s outweighed by things that sucked. But it’s made me want to re-read the books (which I didn’t, because I didn’t want to make my expectations worse), and confirmed just HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS SERIES. And how much I am invested in this story. Not that it’ll be the same - we all know how it ends.