harry potter and the half blood prince
Just got back from the midnight showing and it was gorgeous. Very dark, the darkest movie so far, as was the book.
Draco's story arc was very well done. I have a feeling this was the movie Tom Felton hung around for, he is really given a chance to shine and give Draco some depth and character beyond the one-note bully of the early films. I came away, not liking Draco, but feeling sorry for him. Which was exactly what I got from the book, so well done.
I did also like how the relationships were handled for the most part. They had to condense things, as it were, for the movie and I felt that both of the main relationships - Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione - were done well. Remus/Tonks, however, was given incredibly short shrift. I understand, the decision makes sense from a directorial standpoint, but to see my favorite characters' most emotional scenes removed completely was a bit annoying to say the least. And not a mention of Bill and Fleur or the wedding that begins the Horcrux hunt in the next book.
They burnt down the Burrow. That surprised me. I suppose it was meant to illustrate the devastation and danger being wreaked across the Wizarding World (and it did) but... wow. The menace and fear were brought out powerfully throughout the movie with some genuinely frightening moments - the whole beginning sequence, Katie Bell's reaction after she touches the cursed necklace, Harry's panic once he realizes Ron's been poisoned by the mead, the attack on the Burrow and the scene there in the fields around it. And the inferi. *shudder* I hate things that jump out at you.
Loved the whole Felix Felicis episode, that was brilliant. And Jim Broadbent's Slughorn was spot-on. Also Ron was the funniest thing ever all hopped up on Romilda Vane's love potion.
Still not a great Michael Gambon as Dumbledore fan but he handled the all important climax scene well. That "please" had to be just so for it to work for me and it was. And Rickman's Snape was perfect. He has been all along, but this movie and the next (two) are where Snape really gets complicated and he managed to convey that in the few scenes he had.
Now, how long are they planning to make us wait for the last two movies? Better not be as long as they made us wait for this one.
Draco's story arc was very well done. I have a feeling this was the movie Tom Felton hung around for, he is really given a chance to shine and give Draco some depth and character beyond the one-note bully of the early films. I came away, not liking Draco, but feeling sorry for him. Which was exactly what I got from the book, so well done.
I did also like how the relationships were handled for the most part. They had to condense things, as it were, for the movie and I felt that both of the main relationships - Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione - were done well. Remus/Tonks, however, was given incredibly short shrift. I understand, the decision makes sense from a directorial standpoint, but to see my favorite characters' most emotional scenes removed completely was a bit annoying to say the least. And not a mention of Bill and Fleur or the wedding that begins the Horcrux hunt in the next book.
They burnt down the Burrow. That surprised me. I suppose it was meant to illustrate the devastation and danger being wreaked across the Wizarding World (and it did) but... wow. The menace and fear were brought out powerfully throughout the movie with some genuinely frightening moments - the whole beginning sequence, Katie Bell's reaction after she touches the cursed necklace, Harry's panic once he realizes Ron's been poisoned by the mead, the attack on the Burrow and the scene there in the fields around it. And the inferi. *shudder* I hate things that jump out at you.
Loved the whole Felix Felicis episode, that was brilliant. And Jim Broadbent's Slughorn was spot-on. Also Ron was the funniest thing ever all hopped up on Romilda Vane's love potion.
Still not a great Michael Gambon as Dumbledore fan but he handled the all important climax scene well. That "please" had to be just so for it to work for me and it was. And Rickman's Snape was perfect. He has been all along, but this movie and the next (two) are where Snape really gets complicated and he managed to convey that in the few scenes he had.
Now, how long are they planning to make us wait for the last two movies? Better not be as long as they made us wait for this one.