Movie Review Corner: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

[Phoenix]

Title: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Genre: Fantasy
MPAA Rating: PG
Synopsis:
As the Death Eaters wreak havoc in both Muggle and wizard worlds, Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for its students. Though Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) suspects there are new dangers lurking within the castle walls, Dumbledore is more intent than ever on preparing the young wizard for the final battle. Meanwhile, teenage hormones run rampant through Hogwarts, presenting a different sort of danger to the students. Love may be in the air, but tragedy looms, and Hogwarts may never again be the same.
Back when the first movie was released, I had only one good moment throughout that entire film... watching a 6 year old boy in front of me become exuberant when Harry first came onto the screen. It was perhaps the most adorable thing to witness. And then I watched the rest of the movie and left with a splitting headache. That's always been a thing with me, if the movie gives me a splitting headache, it's because I didn't like the movie at all. So, the movie itself, I didn't enjoy back then. The same can be said for the second movie. Can't remember why I went to see the second after not liking the first, but I did. Then to just continue my punishment, I went to the third movie and found myself enjoying it!!! And from that movie on, I did enjoy them.

So, for this movie, yes, I enjoyed it greatly! As did most of the audience I was with. We probably would have enjoyed it more, had the theater turned the AC on just a bit more. We were all roasting, and it was a completely sold out show. At MIDNIGHT! All three showings were sold out. Reminded me of when I would go to see Lord Of The Rings.

While watching the movie, I couldn't help but feel sorry for how much turmoil Draco was going through with his task. I thoroughly appreciate movies when they allow you to feel the pain of the antagonist.

According to my husband who has read the books, there was a lot less teen romance in this movie. That's good! There was a lot, but it was portrayed in such a way that it made it fun for the audience. There were many laughs through those scenes.

As for Harry himself, Daniel Radcliffe has become a very good actor! Perhaps the best scenes were those after the had taken a potion. He reminded me of a very beloved #10.

However, I wasn't shocked by the ending. I knew what was to happen and maybe that dampened the impact (unlike Torchwood's season three scenes!!!). In fact, I think I kept saying to myself, when is this going to happen??

Though overall, I really enjoyed this movie. The acting was very good, the effects are on par for Harry Potter (though I loved the cave scene with the fire!!), and the story told good, leveled events. At the end, I found myself wanting to watch more, even though this was a 2 and a half hour movie!

I had a better thought out review last night after the movie, but it was 3am, and I just wanted to go to bed.

  = LIKED IT!

[Aignatius]

Went to see it this afternoon. The theater was about 2/3 full or so. Kids from about 7 and up, teens, parents and older people. Have to say, it was the quietest audience I've ever sat with. In the quiet parts of the movie, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop.
The movie itself? Wonderful. The story of course was great, the actors were great, the special effects, the whole thing was so seamless you got lost in the realm of the movie, and forgot you were sitting in a theater, which is what a movie is supposed to do, IMO. 
 Prof. Slughorn reminded me of Prof. Tolkien, hehe. And Merlin's Beard! Shades of Gandalf in Mr. Dumbledore in that last big scene, I almost expected him to say you shall not pass! 
Lots of fun and drama, some very funny parts, and some intensely touching parts as well.

[BubblyShell22]

This movie was awesome. I loved a lot of the scenes, and the death scene was very touching. I told my boyfriend to bring tissues because I told him I was probably going to cry, and I was right. I did cry when they showed Dumbledore's body. I also loved it when the DE's were flying through the Muggle world, and it made it seem as though we were flying with them. I think the only complaint I have is that they should've had Dumbledore pick Harry up at the Dursley's. I wanted to see the drinks hitting them in the head. Other than that, the movie was very well done. Bring on DH!

[Amicitia]

I liked this movie a lot. I think in some ways it was better than the book - particularly in pacing and the way Draco's story was brought out. (Although my brother noted that when the Death Eaters come through the cabinet at the end, they don't really do anything, which makes that whole part of Draco's task seem pretty pointless.) On the other hand, the movie left out some points that are critical to setting up book seven, so whoever directs the last two movies is going to have to pick up some slack.

Effects were good, acting was good, music was good, though I was surprised to see that John Williams hadn't written the new score. As always, I enjoyed the little touches that go into creating this weird magical world. (Especially the Unicorn Tapestry in front of the Room of Requirement - I want to know how that got there.)

A very sober final moment as well - the sense of looking at a place you love and knowing you won't be back. So glad they went with this and not some busy happy tacked-on end-of-term scene.

  = LIKED IT!

[BubblyShell22]

I agree. I also liked how everyone raised their wands in honor of Dumbledore and the scene of an empty Great Hall. It really gives a sense of the loss everyone is feeling at that moment.

[TurtleNinja]

When I first saw this movie on opening day, I left just a tad disappointed at some parts. Even though I hadn't read it in a few months, I remembered the book quite well and noticed a number of changes I wasn't certain I was entirely happy with.

Then I went home and read the book again and discovered that the changes weren't any worse than the previous movie. There was only one scene that still disappointed me a bit and that was the switch off between Luna and Tonks finding Harry on the train. I adore Luna, she's so delightfully dreamy and loopy, but the scene in the book had more interraction with Tonks and Snape.

Then I went to see it again, and it was Episode III all over again. I went the first time, wasn't sure I was going to like it, then the more I went to see it, the more I liked it.

I do plan on seeing it again sometime before it's out of the theaters. The acting was really well done(especially Draco! He's a favorite in this movie!), and I love how they handled Dumbledore's death. I don't think they dared do a bad job with that, given fans' reactions when the book came out.

I admit that I wish we could have seen more with the Death Eaters at the end. After the tower scene, there was supposed to be a bit of a skirmish that was changed to a Bellatrix-centric rampage through the school. Not that I mind too much. I adore Bella, too, with her complete insanity.

I'm hoping they do pick up the missing points with the last two movies that cover Deathly Hallows. My biggest remaining bone to pick with HBP was some of the missing points concerning the Horcruxes that were brought up in the book, but totally absent in the movie. I'm wondering how they'll manage that.

Oh, that and the fight with Snape was too short. As a Snape fan, I was disappointed he didn't get his "I am not a coward!" line. But I can live with it.

Favorite Scenes: The Christmas Party scene, if only because poor Snape gets puked on. *giggle* And of course, Dumbledore's death. The wand lifting was a very nice touch in lieu of the state funeral that was done in the book.

Overall, I loved it, though, missed parts, changes and all. Already waiting for it to come out on DVD. Good movie releases just can't come fast enough.

[BubblyShell22]

Oh, I laughed so hard when Snape got puked on. It was hilarious.

[klork]

I think it was very well done, considering how much information they had to fit in from the book.  They took artistic liberties but it didn't jump so far away from the book to make it unbelieveable.

My only complaint?

Where the heck was Dumbledore's Funeral?!

Yes, they did the death scene and how it was handled VERY well, but I *sooo* wanted to see the funeral.

It was, however, pointed out to me that they could easily start the next movie with the funeral too.

Ah well.  That's just me.

[BubblyShell22]

Yes, they could start DH with the funeral. However, I do like the way they handled the death scene with the raising of the wands then showing the empty Great Hall. I also liked it when Harry came into the office and it showed the emptiness. It was just well done.

[Michaelangelo]

I finally saw this - heh first movie since I left home on this trip talk about a long time for me not to go to the movies...

I have to say right away I was disappointed with something big time, we paid for a 3D IMAX movie... we got only the first 5 to 10 minutes in 3D than it said to take off your glasses and NEVER put them back on.  GRRRRRR  Ok, that was my only complaint, don't go to see it in 3D not worth it.

Ok onto the movie itself, I say I liked it.  It's a great movie and all, though not a movie I'm going to race back to see 100 more times.   The acting was wonderful, the story was really well put together, the comedy was well placed, the characters were well placed in the movie, and the action was not over or under done.  That being said, it's an over all great movie and for anyone who hasn't read the book (like myself) there was no room for disappointment.

Ron remains my favorite character and I love how much he was in this movie.  His expressions (Fae and I were just talking about this) are great and fit the moments, you can tell what he's thinking without a word being said.  He's a fun character, which is needed in this movie. 

I thought Ron was a fool going with that other girl... but it played out great.  And the Love potion was great!  Seeing him totally nuts over a girl he didn't even know and how Harry handled well done!  I also love how Harry handled getting Ron to stay with the team, making him think he drank that Good Luck potion when it was really just him feeling good about himself for a change.  Well written and well played!

It was really funny seeing the cast of Sweeney Todd all in the same scene... seeing as how I am a fan of that movie as well it just made for a good laugh having them all right there.  They're a great set of actors and work very good off of each other.  Of course that was the joke around when Sweeney Todd came out, all the Harry Potter actors that were in it... so now those two movies are just going to feel connected for me when I see one, I'll think of the other.

Favorite scenes:
- Prof. Slughorn reaction when they left without trying hard to get him to come with.
- Ron & Harry fighting over the book.
- Ron at tryouts
- Love Potion
- Giant Spider

Over all, I will watch it again if it's on TV same with the rest of the Potter movies and maybe after all the movies is out I'll get the set of them... though I'm not a huge fan of the series I do find myself going to each movie as they're released.  Maybe one day I'll listen to the books on tape hehe