Posted on 07/21/2009 4:44:26 PM PDT by SoonerStorm09
By Andrew W. Griffin
Red Dirt Report, editor
Posted: July 21, 2009
reddirtreporter@gmail.com
FILM REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Delayed a year, the sixth film installment in J.K. Rowling’s wondrous Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was finally released in theaters last week and this Harry Potter fan was left wondering why we had to wait so long for a film that was a bit too long and a bit underwhelming in its execution.
And did I say rushed? Yes, Half-Blood Prince felt rushed, strangely enough. Sure, it’s hard to squeeze hundreds of pages of a book into a two-and-a-half hour movie, but important information in the book was overlooked, left out entirely or briefly addressed in favor of scenes of Hogwarts students “snogging” (to us Yanks that’s “making out”) and being silly teens, their hormones-a-ragin’.
So, for those of you (your Red Dirt Reporter included) who have read the entire series, it will be frustratingly clear that some key details are left out of the film and as a result, take away from the impact the book had, particularly towards the end of the film.
Red Dirt Report enjoyed 2007’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, giving it a positive review. It seemed a bit more focused than Half-Blood Prince and the story in the previous film was more understandable.
Director David Yates is a clearly a capable director and has an eye for all things English. The countryside never looked better and the details are far more realistic than in past Harry Potter films. This is effective and important in that it makes the anticipation for the inevitable clash between good and evil in the final film – the lengthy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which will be split into two films in 2010 and 2011.
In Half-Blood Prince, dark, ominous clouds gather over London in the opening scenes. Black shadows (Death Eaters) are crazily flying through the city and wreak havoc, destroying the city’s Millennium Bridge while Muggles (non-magical humans) are crossing it.
Meanwhile, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) are back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and not all is well.
Slytherin student Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), who has taken ‘the mark’ is clearly up to no good, now on Lord Voldemort’s payroll. Will Malfoy follow through with the important errand Voldemort has given him?
Meanwhile, Dumbledore (the magnificent Michael Gambon) has convinced Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) to return to Hogwarts and work as the new potions professor, a position he had some years before, when Voldemort – then known as Tom Riddle – was a Slytherin.
And speaking of Slytherin, Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) is back in his black-clothed, brooding glory. What is Snape up to? Is he good or bad? Some important revelations are made in this film regarding Snape.
Certain scenes are lovely and sublime. These include ones like Harry eyeing a pretty waitress in a London train station or when he drinks liquid luck and seems drunk and straightforward. Or seeing the Weasley’s house in the countryside, or a scene where Hagrid, Slughorn and Harry say a few words after Aragog, the Acromantual spider is found dead on a windswept hill. One scene in particular involves a flashback showing Dumbledore with shorter hair and a natty suit and scarf, circa 1970's.These and many more scenes involving some other characters are all well worth seeing onscreen and are quite rich and enjoyable.
And this is really a Ron Weasley-focued film. Example of this include where he is excelling at Quidditch. Or when he is competing with a rival for Hermione's attention - even if he doesn't quite know it yet. It’s clear Hermione, who seems very distracted this go around, has fallen in love with the red-haired wizard. And Harry is clearly falling for Ron’s sister Ginny. In fact a scene in the fields near the Weasley home where they fight the Death Eaters shows the audience that Harry and Ginny work well together.
Characters like the spacey Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) and lovestruck Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) get more face time while members of the Order of the Phoenix are used less. But this may be a good thing since these characters actually lighten things up a bit. Luna is one of the best characters in the series.
While we do not want to spoil the ending, those who have read the book will be shocked that a key scene was totally left out. This is unforgivable, Mr. Yates. For those of us who have read the books, gotten to know the characters like people we actually know, that ending is not acceptable, particularly for so long a film.
We know that there are two more films in the works based on Deathly Hallows and will be decidedly more dark than the previous films, with Half-Blood Prince being a lead up to the final movies.
This is a dark film in its appearance. Autumnal in appearance, the magical world appears dreary and dim. Of course this works because, well, Voldemort and his dark army are looking to achieve victory. Harry Potter and his friends may have something to say about that in the next installment. We shall learn more next summer and the summer after that, I expect.
Grade - B
Copyright 2009 West Marie Media
Welcome to FR. Movie reviewer? That will always start up an argument!
I thought it felt a lot less rushed than OOTP. It did feel like the whole movie was a big setup for the next one which might have hurt this one a bit but will make Deathly Hallows better. For instance they moved ********’s funeral to the start of the next movie instead of including it in this one.
But overall I thought it was easily the funniest movie in the series and better than most of the HP movies.
I wanted more Snape! He is most compelling character in the films.
I think one of the best in the series. Liked the development of Harry learning slowly the MO of Voldermort and taking it to him.
I did enjoy though i thought some parts too slow and did
not enjoy all the teenage stuff. more boring than humorous to
me.
Saw it last weekend with my kids (my daughter’s read the series multiple times). We all enjoyed it!
The best one-line synopsis I saw was "Horny teenage wizards face danger."
Yes indeed. Mostly music and movies. Am reviewing the new tell-all by Don Felder, formerly with The Eagles. Jaw-dropping in parts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.