Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince a Review

[puppetmaker]

I am going to put most of this behind a cut since I know of at least 3 people who are exploring Harry Potter through the films rather than reading the books and there is no way to write this up without spoilers and, for those who read the books, there are some serious changes that would come as a bit of a surprise that I don’t want to ruin for you.

Overall I think it is a good film. The cast is solid and it is interesting that the all kids have continued to grow as actors. Most of them are over 18 and most of them will go on to have healthy careers in film, television and the stage. A couple will probably end up signing autographs at conventions for extra pocket change but overall I was impressed at what I saw. Also Michael Gambon does great as Dumbledore. I miss Richard Harris but he really couldn’t have done in the film what Mr. Gambon does.


My biggest problem with the look of the film was the color choice. Blue and more blue for gloom and doom. I got it within the first 10 minutes and suffered through it for then next two hours. It would have been a better trick to keep the lighting natural when we were at Hogwarts and let the actors portray the concerns. It was a very dark movie and by that I mean the lighting on top of the subject material.

I did like Fred and George’s shop. It was great fun and a lot of work for that amount of film. The sense of humor and whimsy that was through out the film was nicely done. It made it so that the film wasn’t too heavy and emotionally dark.

Alan Rickman had more to do than he did in the past films combined. I think he played Snape a little more relaxed because everyone knows what he knows that Rowling told him oh so long ago as to what happened to Snape. He was a little more cuddly as Snape and I am still processing that. I don’t know if that is because I know all that information from the last book or Rickman changed his performance slightly.

But the person who wowed me was Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. He played this one just perfectly. And again he had more to do but he did a wonderful job with it. I almost want to see a film back when Harry’s parents were are Hogwarts but not really. His death was powerful and I did tear up quite a bit. Then Harry chasing Snape not realizing that Snape was saving his life by not fighting him. Wow.

It was nice to see Quidditch again after so long an absence. And Rupert Grint did a fine job with the wire work. I believed he was the keeper. It was just long enough to bring a smile to my face but not too long that it felt padded.

Relationships were forged. The role of Lavender Brown was well played by Jessie Cave. It was another character off the page and onto the screen. She was the right amount of annoying without me wanted to throw her off the Hogwarts express. Evanna Lynch continues to excel as Luna Lovegood. Ariel wants the dress that she wore to Slughorn’s Christmas Shindig. I felt sorry for Matthew Lewis (Nevil) because I think he had a total of 4 line although he was in a lot of the shots. But in the end Hermione ended up with Ron and Ginny with Harry. I do like that they used the word snogging and didn’t Americanize it.

(EDIT: I forgot Felton which is a crime because he did so well with Malfoy this go around. He was troubled and twisted and so unsure about what he has agreed to do. It was an incredible performance.)

And I know a number of people are down on Helen Bonham Carter over Bellatrix but I thought she did an excellent job of being a presence in every scene she was in but not stealing the scene away from the main characters.

So over all I give it two thumbs up. It is of such a scope that seeing it at least once in a Movie Theater would be worth the cash.



I am grateful that I saw Harry Potter in a good Movie theater with comfortable seats.

Comments

[blueashke.livejournal.com]

I agree with most of what you said (and have eagerly been awaiting your review lol), but you forgot Malfoy. Tom Felton did a truly amazing job in his character this year I think. You saw genuine anguish over what he knew he was supposed to do.

I felt the ending was just done badly though. The lack of a fight scene just kills me. I'm sure they had a good reason for it - after all, Bill doesn't exist in the movies, which means no Fleur/Bill couple, no Bill getting hit by Fenrir, but we don't even know what he is, you know?

I love picking apart this type of movie, but in the end, it's more in fun than anything else. It was a great flick.

On a completely different side note - I was talking to a friend and she mentioned being a puppet fan and turned out to have seen you do a show a few years ago. You inspired her to want to make them herself. I promised I'd pass that on.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Wel Gosh Darn Shoot. I'll have to revise and add Felton because he did do such an excellent job.

About your friend, Cool. I feel like part of my job in this life is to make sure that puppetry is still here when I leave. I love to inspire others.

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

OOP was the first Harry Potter film I saw in the movie theater. I vowed to see the rest of them in the theater. I hope to fulfill that vow with HBP early next week.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Enjoy. It is worth seeing it on the large screen

[ladytalker13.livejournal.com]

We're going to the IMAX - so we'll just have to wait...

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

You will have to tell me how that is.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

What did you think of Slughorn? There has been some discussion of his character. some thought he was too "smooth" and his voice not gruff enough. But I thought he was great. Opinion?

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Well I am a card carrying Jim Broadbent fan from way back.

I thought he did a great job of playing the character as he was written in the books. I have known professors and others who are like Slughorn. They find their importance not in what they do but who they know. As Dumbledore put it, he collects people that he thinks will push him up the social ladder and that is how Mr. Broadbent played it. He also played the sheer fear of what might happen to him if Voldemort decides to look his direction and doesn't like what he sees. He is, at heart, a coward but in the end he does show that he can be brave if push comes to shove.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

I agree. I think the character was played perfectly. Glad I am not the only one. Smile

[michael-b-lee.livejournal.com]

Saw the movie last night with Caitlin. I thought it was good overall, but the pacing was really off. It felt like they could have cut 30 minutes from the film and been much better off. Very nice performances overall, especially from Felton, Rickman and Gambon. Gambon is a great Dumbeldore, but I still wonder how Harris would have played him in this film.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Part of the problem would have been that Harris wasn't moving well in the films that he did do so you wonder how they would have gone about the physical aspects in this one.

[michael-b-lee.livejournal.com]

That's a good point, although I can't remember any scenes offhand that Gambon did in this film (with the exception, perhaps, of the scenes in the cave) that they couldn't have gotten around with a body double and some camera sleight-of-hand. Ah, well.

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

I so agree. I have seen the movie bashed here and there, and honestly I thought it was well done. Yes, there were changes, and some that some might say big, but these are people who have not had to write a script for film before, and it's not an easy task. I will always love the books best, but I loved this movie and I will look forward to it on descriptive video so I can catch the visuals I missed not being able to see it.

This is the first movie where I could appreciate Michael Gambon. I absolutely didn't like him in past movies, bordering on hate, but here he really comes into the Dumbledore role.

I love Evanna Lynch, she is everything I imagine in Luna.

I loved the Slughorn guy, whatever his name is, from the very beginning when he recognizes Harry. I found the scene between Harry when he is giving Harry the memory, very touching and it made me tear up. Very good acting all around.

Of course I adore snape, and as well think Allan Rickman has the sexiest voice ever, and I too, noticed his more relaxed manner.

[trinalin.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed the movie too. It's been amazing how they've managed to do these flicks from such involved books. My mom's a movie only person, I wonder what she'll make of it when she sees it?