initial reactions to HBP
I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince last night. If you don't care to be spoiled, you can click the cut for my initial fangirl reaction. If you for some reason have never read Deathly Hallows...?!?!@!!, I talk about key plotpoints in the cut. HBP is basically the lead in to DH, so the two go hand in hand. You have been warned...
Let's just say...I am not dissappointed. The previous films were enjoyable but left something to be desired. Either they left crucial things out, or it felt too rushed. I never got that sense with Half Blood Prince. Steve Kloves' script is spot on and David Yates directed everyone to be the best at what they could do. The magical world feels so real and the writing is so much more sophisitcated. The blend of drama, action, and comedic relief is perfectly balanced. Adding to that the smooth pacing, and fathfulness to original source material, this is the best Potter film yet. Yes, there are differences, as there must be. However, the changes don't cause me to cry foul. They work this time around.
Tom Felton finally get's his chance in the spotlight as Draco and he does a fantastic job bringing out the character's sense of conflict, fear, and despair. Rupert Grint gets more screentime as well, and while he is superb with his comedic scenes, they are never over the top as they have been in the past. David Yates draws more realistic performances from his cast as was evident in Order Of The Phoenix. Instead of using Rupert's expressive face to show what Ron is feeling, as past directors have done, Yates doesn't fall back on that crutch. Rupert is emoting from within and it comes out over his wonderfully expressive features. In short, Ron has lost the campiness. Rupert is doing beautifully here, and his Ron has become someone I can see Hermione losing her heart to. Watching the film, I liked Ron much more in this installment. The more juvenile humor of the past has made way for more adult themes as we also see in Hermione. She has finally accepted that her heart has been lost to one of her best mates. She is a roller coaster of emotion in this film, but her and Harry find comfort in each other as he is struggling with new feelings for Ginny. Harry and Hermione understand each other here, and form a stronger bond that draws them closer in friendship. By the end of the film, the trio is solid. They literally look off to an uncertain future. They are set and ready for the final installment that will test the bonds of the friendship thay have been forging for years.
Favorite scenes:
Spinners End and the Unbreakable Vow scene. Pretty much any scene with Snape is a favorite and this one is a biggee. Alan Rickman's portrayal is delicious. He pretty much steals every scene he's in. Helena's Bellatrix is fun, but she is more barking mad background . Like a crazed wraith skirting around the edges, blowing shit up and whispering in people's ears. However, Snape has a cool quality that calls attention. Rickman plays him with a sense of tragedy behind those haunted eyes. Or is it that after reading DH, I see the character as tragic... No, JKR has said herself that she's told him at the very beginning the BIG Snape secrets. He's been playing it right all along. ;)
Scenes with Draco testing the vanishing cabinet. Each one was well paced and you understood that this has been his secret project for the entire year. To get it ready for the Death Eaters to come through, back him up and get him out of there after the dark deed has been done.
Harry on Felix Felicis. The writing is priceless here and Dan must have had so much fun doing it. Don't know what I'm talking about? See this film. ;)
Quidditch. Fast paced, glorious, and Ron gets his time to shine. Loved how Hermione helped him through try outs. Oh, and it's the LAST time we will ever see any of it. The time for games is over when the credits roll for this film, kids.
Luna Lovegood really sees wrackspurts! We saw them, too. :)
When Harry gets Slughorn to reveal his true memory. Jim Broadbent plays Horace with such a sensitivity. Here is a Slytherin who is not evil. He avoids the Death Eaters and refuses to join them. He is selfish, no doubt, but also sad. He is one who knows more than he would care to, yet unintentionally stumbled onto this burden. He lives with a terrible secret that once revealed, will unlock the way to destroy Voldemort for good. The scene where Harry gets him to relinquish the secret to him is the most sensitive in the film. It's absolutely heartwrenching.
Snape and Harry in the tower. No words are spoken. Snape sees him hiding and simply puts up a finger to his lips to shush him. It isn't cruel, it isn't sharp...it's careful and done to save Harry from being found out. Harry doesn't know that Snape's ultimate endgame is for Harry...for Lily. But those who read DH do. There are times when Snape lingers and looks down at Harry, seeing Lily in his eyes, as if wanting so much to explain. But he continues on. EVERYTHING he does is for him. But Harry DOESN'T KNOW! ARGH! The treatment of Snape in this film is all his fans could wish for...until Deathly Hallows, of course. :)
Ginny and Harry! They are believable! More so than in the book! Something that's BETTER than the book?! Sorry, but yes. Deal with it.
Harry forcing Dumbledore to drink the poison in the cave and then the inferi attacks. When the first inferi clutched at Harry, half the audience jumped out of their seats, myself included. I knew it was coming, but it didn't matter.
Harry Sectumsepra's Draco! He doesn't know what it will do, but they are wand battling in the lavoratory. It was in the Half Blood Prince's potion book, so he tries it out on Draco. The results are bloody and a new discovery for Harry. Don't play with magics you don't understand, son. After that, he agrees to get rid of the Half Blood Prince's potion book. Who tells him he must do so immedietly? Ginny, who knows all too well the dangers of mysterious tomes.
*********
ENOUGH! Okay. I'm stopping here. Just...the film is better than all films previous. I still do highly enjoy POA, but now i feel the lack of important information in that adaptation more keenly when I see how well HBP was handled. POA has been my steadfast favorite Potter film and I won't prematurely throw HBP on top of it. However, time (and several more viewings) will help me come to a decision.
Until the two Deathly Hallows films come around, that is. The end is nigh. ::sniff::
-Z
Let's just say...I am not dissappointed. The previous films were enjoyable but left something to be desired. Either they left crucial things out, or it felt too rushed. I never got that sense with Half Blood Prince. Steve Kloves' script is spot on and David Yates directed everyone to be the best at what they could do. The magical world feels so real and the writing is so much more sophisitcated. The blend of drama, action, and comedic relief is perfectly balanced. Adding to that the smooth pacing, and fathfulness to original source material, this is the best Potter film yet. Yes, there are differences, as there must be. However, the changes don't cause me to cry foul. They work this time around.
Tom Felton finally get's his chance in the spotlight as Draco and he does a fantastic job bringing out the character's sense of conflict, fear, and despair. Rupert Grint gets more screentime as well, and while he is superb with his comedic scenes, they are never over the top as they have been in the past. David Yates draws more realistic performances from his cast as was evident in Order Of The Phoenix. Instead of using Rupert's expressive face to show what Ron is feeling, as past directors have done, Yates doesn't fall back on that crutch. Rupert is emoting from within and it comes out over his wonderfully expressive features. In short, Ron has lost the campiness. Rupert is doing beautifully here, and his Ron has become someone I can see Hermione losing her heart to. Watching the film, I liked Ron much more in this installment. The more juvenile humor of the past has made way for more adult themes as we also see in Hermione. She has finally accepted that her heart has been lost to one of her best mates. She is a roller coaster of emotion in this film, but her and Harry find comfort in each other as he is struggling with new feelings for Ginny. Harry and Hermione understand each other here, and form a stronger bond that draws them closer in friendship. By the end of the film, the trio is solid. They literally look off to an uncertain future. They are set and ready for the final installment that will test the bonds of the friendship thay have been forging for years.
Favorite scenes:
Spinners End and the Unbreakable Vow scene. Pretty much any scene with Snape is a favorite and this one is a biggee. Alan Rickman's portrayal is delicious. He pretty much steals every scene he's in. Helena's Bellatrix is fun, but she is more barking mad background . Like a crazed wraith skirting around the edges, blowing shit up and whispering in people's ears. However, Snape has a cool quality that calls attention. Rickman plays him with a sense of tragedy behind those haunted eyes. Or is it that after reading DH, I see the character as tragic... No, JKR has said herself that she's told him at the very beginning the BIG Snape secrets. He's been playing it right all along. ;)
Scenes with Draco testing the vanishing cabinet. Each one was well paced and you understood that this has been his secret project for the entire year. To get it ready for the Death Eaters to come through, back him up and get him out of there after the dark deed has been done.
Harry on Felix Felicis. The writing is priceless here and Dan must have had so much fun doing it. Don't know what I'm talking about? See this film. ;)
Quidditch. Fast paced, glorious, and Ron gets his time to shine. Loved how Hermione helped him through try outs. Oh, and it's the LAST time we will ever see any of it. The time for games is over when the credits roll for this film, kids.
Luna Lovegood really sees wrackspurts! We saw them, too. :)
When Harry gets Slughorn to reveal his true memory. Jim Broadbent plays Horace with such a sensitivity. Here is a Slytherin who is not evil. He avoids the Death Eaters and refuses to join them. He is selfish, no doubt, but also sad. He is one who knows more than he would care to, yet unintentionally stumbled onto this burden. He lives with a terrible secret that once revealed, will unlock the way to destroy Voldemort for good. The scene where Harry gets him to relinquish the secret to him is the most sensitive in the film. It's absolutely heartwrenching.
Snape and Harry in the tower. No words are spoken. Snape sees him hiding and simply puts up a finger to his lips to shush him. It isn't cruel, it isn't sharp...it's careful and done to save Harry from being found out. Harry doesn't know that Snape's ultimate endgame is for Harry...for Lily. But those who read DH do. There are times when Snape lingers and looks down at Harry, seeing Lily in his eyes, as if wanting so much to explain. But he continues on. EVERYTHING he does is for him. But Harry DOESN'T KNOW! ARGH! The treatment of Snape in this film is all his fans could wish for...until Deathly Hallows, of course. :)
Ginny and Harry! They are believable! More so than in the book! Something that's BETTER than the book?! Sorry, but yes. Deal with it.
Harry forcing Dumbledore to drink the poison in the cave and then the inferi attacks. When the first inferi clutched at Harry, half the audience jumped out of their seats, myself included. I knew it was coming, but it didn't matter.
Harry Sectumsepra's Draco! He doesn't know what it will do, but they are wand battling in the lavoratory. It was in the Half Blood Prince's potion book, so he tries it out on Draco. The results are bloody and a new discovery for Harry. Don't play with magics you don't understand, son. After that, he agrees to get rid of the Half Blood Prince's potion book. Who tells him he must do so immedietly? Ginny, who knows all too well the dangers of mysterious tomes.
*********
ENOUGH! Okay. I'm stopping here. Just...the film is better than all films previous. I still do highly enjoy POA, but now i feel the lack of important information in that adaptation more keenly when I see how well HBP was handled. POA has been my steadfast favorite Potter film and I won't prematurely throw HBP on top of it. However, time (and several more viewings) will help me come to a decision.
Until the two Deathly Hallows films come around, that is. The end is nigh. ::sniff::
-Z