Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Facts:
The movie begins with Death Eaters wreaking havoc on Muggle (non-magic folk) London. After the special effect tour of London, we get to see Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), with more Harry-appropriate hair than Order of the Phoenix, picking up a rather attractive waitress. Alas, before it can progress, Harry is stolen by Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Dumbledore takes Harry to visit Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) before dropping him off at the Weasley’s house.
Before we return to Hogwarts, we take a break from the students and visit Severus Snape’s (Alan Rickman) home with Narcissa Malfoy (Helen McCrory) and Bellatrix Lestrange (Helen Bonham Carter). After witnessing something, although we’re not sure exactly what, take place between the three, we jump back to the students. While on the train to Hogwarts, Harry discusses his thoughts about Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) being a Death Eater with best friends Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).
Once at Hogwarts, school begins as normal, but with extra hormones. New eye candy, Cormac McLaggen (Freddie Stroma), has an obvious attraction towards Hermione, while Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) has an obsession crush on Ron. Harry, meanwhile, is noticing he has feelings for Ron’s younger sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright).
With all the teenage angst and hormones, it’s quick to forget that Harry’s life is becoming darker, until Dumbledore shows Harry memories of Voldemort as the boy Tom Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin). Dumbledore gives Harry a challenge to retrieve a memory from Horace Slughorn, the new potions professor, and Harry grudgingly accepts.
After picking up an old Potions book owned by someone called “The Half-Blood Prince”, Harry becomes intensely curious as to who it is, but even more curious with what Draco Malfoy is up to. When the two obsessions combine, disaster strikes and Draco is left injured while Harry is surprised.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, Harry eventually gets the memory he needs. After viewing the memory, it is discovered that Voldemort had split his soul into 7 pieces and hidden them in objects called “horcruxes”. This news leads Dumbledore and Harry on a quest to a dangerous, cursed cave where they face Inferi (dead bodies cursed to act alive). Once they get back to Hogwarts, conflict ensues between death eaters, Snape, Draco, and Dumbledore and Dumbledore is killed by one of the aforementioned characters. Distraught, Harry chases after them and learns the true identity of the Half-Blood Prince.
.
Thoughts and Opinions:
Half-Blood Prince was my least favorite book in the Potter series, so my expectations were rather low for the movie. However, I still got excited, donned on my Slytherin colored clothing, and headed out to the midnight showing with my best friends three hours early to be surrounded by fellow fans and some fanatics. I was pleasantly surprised to watch the movie and discover that I not only enjoyed it, but that I liked it much better than the book, which is a feat in itself.
Plot: I can’t say much because this is a book turned movie, but I will say that I do enjoy the plot. The romance is a little overbearing, but it’s survivable. I found that a lot of the dialogue was taken directly from the book, as were most of the scenes. The scene at The Burrow over Christmas, however, was my least favorite. Not only did “shoelace” make me want to vomit into my bucket of popcorn, but burning down the Burrow leads to complications in the next two movies. Oh well. Too many opinions on the books plot to mention in a movie review…
Acting: Although the three main actors of the series are recognizable all over the world, they are not known for being the best actors. Fortunately, the acting has improved incredibly in this movie for almost all of the characters.
My award for “Most Improved” has to go to Emma Watson (Hermione Granger). In the past, Watson has been, for lack of a better word, weak. In past movies her eyebrows did all of the acting, which was both distracting and laughable. Thankfully, the eyebrows have been tamed and she is still as beautiful as ever. Did I mention how her hair actually resembles that of her character? It was shocking, I know.
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) also improved, especially in terms of comedy. After seeing him in Equus I knew he had the ability to act, but this was the first Potter movie I’ve physically seen him do so. His scenes while he’s “high” on the luck potion are positively hysterical and he played high almost too convincingly. Unfortunately, his ability to cry is still…lacking. Perhaps next movie we will see some real tears? I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), who has been the best actor out of the three since the first movie, proved once again that he has the acting gene. His screenplay was much better written and it was clear that he was Ron, not Rupert. No one in the audience can resist a giggle or two while watching him act under a love potion. Hopefully he continues his comedic acting after the series ends.
Following the main actors, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) improved drastically. Playing a character as distraught at Draco is in this movie is a challenge, especially for such a happy person like Felton (just check out his twitter!), but he executed it perfectly. New to the Potter crew, Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn), Hero Fiennes-Tiffin (Youngest Tom Riddle), and Frank Dillane (Teenage Tom Riddle) were cast perfectly. Broadbent executed Slughorn’s mannerisms perfectly, while both Tiffin and Dillane played very creepy Tom Riddles.
Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), unfortunately, did not improve at all. Her acting is mediocre in comparison to the rest of the cast, and she has absolutely no on-screen chemistry with any of the other characters-even the very attractive Alfie Enock (Dean Thomas).
The relationships: Even though the story is getting darker, romance is abundant in this movie as hormones and teenage angst start to take over Hogwarts. Cormac McLaggen is crushing on Hermione, while Lavender is obsessed with Ron, while Hermione likes Ron, while Harry realizes he might like Ginny, who is dating Dean. Sound a little too Gossip Girl to you? Don’t worry, the gagging feeling will go away.
A few kisses, several tears, and some awkward moments later, the relationships between the characters remain undefined, although they are set up for the final movies. Although it’s never explicitly said or shown, it appears that Ginny is broken up with Dean and possibly dating Harry, while Ron and Hermione are still exactly where they were before the movie starts. Of course, if you read the books you know how it turns out, but it’s okay with me if you don’t like it-I know I don’t.
Cinematography: Just a few scenes into the movie, it is clear that the new cinematographer, Bruno Delbonnel, was exactly what the series needed. Although it was a bit to similar to Twilight during the scene where Harry and Ginny are running through the fields, the rest of the cinematography was executed exceptionally well. Sometimes, the transitions from scene to scene, were a bit choppy, but that can also be said of the book.
Soundtrack: As far as the soundtrack goes, it is probably the weakest in the series. There are points where the music will climax, but the scene or the dialogue is still continuing past the climax point. In a few scenes, most notably the scene with Harry and Ginny in the Room of Requirement, the music just doesn’t fit as it should and dies out entirely before the scene ends. The silence is painfully noticeable is some of these scenes and makes it semi-uncomfortable for the viewer -as if the awkwardness between Daniel Radcliffe and Bonnie Wright wasn’t painful enough.
Why it got this Grade/In Summary:
Half-Blood Prince was a good movie, but it was not perfect. The improved acting and cinematography were great, but the lack of chemistry between Harry and Ginny, lack of explanation of the Half-Blood Prince, and sketchy soundtrack lead me to balance out with an A-.
Overall, the movie is a must-see for anyone who has seen the other movies in the series. In my opinion, it is one of the best movies for the series and much more enjoyable than the book. Of course there are things that are left out from the book, and one scene is added, but take the movie as the movie and the book as the book. You’ll be much happier that way.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/
The movie begins with Death Eaters wreaking havoc on Muggle (non-magic folk) London. After the special effect tour of London, we get to see Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), with more Harry-appropriate hair than Order of the Phoenix, picking up a rather attractive waitress. Alas, before it can progress, Harry is stolen by Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Dumbledore takes Harry to visit Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) before dropping him off at the Weasley’s house.
Before we return to Hogwarts, we take a break from the students and visit Severus Snape’s (Alan Rickman) home with Narcissa Malfoy (Helen McCrory) and Bellatrix Lestrange (Helen Bonham Carter). After witnessing something, although we’re not sure exactly what, take place between the three, we jump back to the students. While on the train to Hogwarts, Harry discusses his thoughts about Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) being a Death Eater with best friends Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint).
Once at Hogwarts, school begins as normal, but with extra hormones. New eye candy, Cormac McLaggen (Freddie Stroma), has an obvious attraction towards Hermione, while Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) has an obsession crush on Ron. Harry, meanwhile, is noticing he has feelings for Ron’s younger sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright).
With all the teenage angst and hormones, it’s quick to forget that Harry’s life is becoming darker, until Dumbledore shows Harry memories of Voldemort as the boy Tom Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin). Dumbledore gives Harry a challenge to retrieve a memory from Horace Slughorn, the new potions professor, and Harry grudgingly accepts.
After picking up an old Potions book owned by someone called “The Half-Blood Prince”, Harry becomes intensely curious as to who it is, but even more curious with what Draco Malfoy is up to. When the two obsessions combine, disaster strikes and Draco is left injured while Harry is surprised.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, Harry eventually gets the memory he needs. After viewing the memory, it is discovered that Voldemort had split his soul into 7 pieces and hidden them in objects called “horcruxes”. This news leads Dumbledore and Harry on a quest to a dangerous, cursed cave where they face Inferi (dead bodies cursed to act alive). Once they get back to Hogwarts, conflict ensues between death eaters, Snape, Draco, and Dumbledore and Dumbledore is killed by one of the aforementioned characters. Distraught, Harry chases after them and learns the true identity of the Half-Blood Prince.
.
Thoughts and Opinions:
Half-Blood Prince was my least favorite book in the Potter series, so my expectations were rather low for the movie. However, I still got excited, donned on my Slytherin colored clothing, and headed out to the midnight showing with my best friends three hours early to be surrounded by fellow fans and some fanatics. I was pleasantly surprised to watch the movie and discover that I not only enjoyed it, but that I liked it much better than the book, which is a feat in itself.
Plot: I can’t say much because this is a book turned movie, but I will say that I do enjoy the plot. The romance is a little overbearing, but it’s survivable. I found that a lot of the dialogue was taken directly from the book, as were most of the scenes. The scene at The Burrow over Christmas, however, was my least favorite. Not only did “shoelace” make me want to vomit into my bucket of popcorn, but burning down the Burrow leads to complications in the next two movies. Oh well. Too many opinions on the books plot to mention in a movie review…
Acting: Although the three main actors of the series are recognizable all over the world, they are not known for being the best actors. Fortunately, the acting has improved incredibly in this movie for almost all of the characters.
My award for “Most Improved” has to go to Emma Watson (Hermione Granger). In the past, Watson has been, for lack of a better word, weak. In past movies her eyebrows did all of the acting, which was both distracting and laughable. Thankfully, the eyebrows have been tamed and she is still as beautiful as ever. Did I mention how her hair actually resembles that of her character? It was shocking, I know.
Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) also improved, especially in terms of comedy. After seeing him in Equus I knew he had the ability to act, but this was the first Potter movie I’ve physically seen him do so. His scenes while he’s “high” on the luck potion are positively hysterical and he played high almost too convincingly. Unfortunately, his ability to cry is still…lacking. Perhaps next movie we will see some real tears? I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), who has been the best actor out of the three since the first movie, proved once again that he has the acting gene. His screenplay was much better written and it was clear that he was Ron, not Rupert. No one in the audience can resist a giggle or two while watching him act under a love potion. Hopefully he continues his comedic acting after the series ends.
Following the main actors, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) improved drastically. Playing a character as distraught at Draco is in this movie is a challenge, especially for such a happy person like Felton (just check out his twitter!), but he executed it perfectly. New to the Potter crew, Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn), Hero Fiennes-Tiffin (Youngest Tom Riddle), and Frank Dillane (Teenage Tom Riddle) were cast perfectly. Broadbent executed Slughorn’s mannerisms perfectly, while both Tiffin and Dillane played very creepy Tom Riddles.
Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley), unfortunately, did not improve at all. Her acting is mediocre in comparison to the rest of the cast, and she has absolutely no on-screen chemistry with any of the other characters-even the very attractive Alfie Enock (Dean Thomas).
The relationships: Even though the story is getting darker, romance is abundant in this movie as hormones and teenage angst start to take over Hogwarts. Cormac McLaggen is crushing on Hermione, while Lavender is obsessed with Ron, while Hermione likes Ron, while Harry realizes he might like Ginny, who is dating Dean. Sound a little too Gossip Girl to you? Don’t worry, the gagging feeling will go away.
A few kisses, several tears, and some awkward moments later, the relationships between the characters remain undefined, although they are set up for the final movies. Although it’s never explicitly said or shown, it appears that Ginny is broken up with Dean and possibly dating Harry, while Ron and Hermione are still exactly where they were before the movie starts. Of course, if you read the books you know how it turns out, but it’s okay with me if you don’t like it-I know I don’t.
Cinematography: Just a few scenes into the movie, it is clear that the new cinematographer, Bruno Delbonnel, was exactly what the series needed. Although it was a bit to similar to Twilight during the scene where Harry and Ginny are running through the fields, the rest of the cinematography was executed exceptionally well. Sometimes, the transitions from scene to scene, were a bit choppy, but that can also be said of the book.
Soundtrack: As far as the soundtrack goes, it is probably the weakest in the series. There are points where the music will climax, but the scene or the dialogue is still continuing past the climax point. In a few scenes, most notably the scene with Harry and Ginny in the Room of Requirement, the music just doesn’t fit as it should and dies out entirely before the scene ends. The silence is painfully noticeable is some of these scenes and makes it semi-uncomfortable for the viewer -as if the awkwardness between Daniel Radcliffe and Bonnie Wright wasn’t painful enough.
Why it got this Grade/In Summary:
Half-Blood Prince was a good movie, but it was not perfect. The improved acting and cinematography were great, but the lack of chemistry between Harry and Ginny, lack of explanation of the Half-Blood Prince, and sketchy soundtrack lead me to balance out with an A-.
Overall, the movie is a must-see for anyone who has seen the other movies in the series. In my opinion, it is one of the best movies for the series and much more enjoyable than the book. Of course there are things that are left out from the book, and one scene is added, but take the movie as the movie and the book as the book. You’ll be much happier that way.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/