Director: David Yates
Screenplay: Steven Kloves
Producers: David Barron, David Heyman
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, David Bradley, Jim Broadbent, Jessie Cave, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Helen McCrory, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Julie Walters, David Thewlis, Bonnie Wright
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 153 min.
(4/5)Harry Potter tends to sneak up on me. The films come at regular intervals, they look good, have a great cast of actors I can get behind and a story I like but I’ve never walked away from a new Potter film feeling wowed. My Harry Potter experience can and will now be divided into two: before Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and after.
The sixth entry into the franchise, Half-Blood Prince is a little darker, a little more comfortable in its skin and a film that knows exactly where it fits into the cannon. More than its predecessors, this one feels like part of a bigger story, a starting point for something important, urgent and dangerous which is likely to unfold in the final two instalments. The previous films were all entertaining enough but none managed to create an air of impending doom and gloom something this one does so in spades. Perhaps it’s the fact that this feels like a “set-up” film but there’s a definite sense that something big is brewing and as the closing credits rolled, I couldn’t help but wonder what is in store for the next one. So much so that I seriously considered giving the books a chance and reading ahead.
As someone who is largely unfamiliar with the minutia of the Potterverse, Half-Blood Prince starts off a little abruptly. I couldn’t recall how the previous film left off, what Harry was up to or why he was doing what he was doing and this film doesn’t hold your hand. It drops you in, assuming you know the details but also taking care to provide a little information for us ludites to follow along without feeling like I was wondering through a dark maze. I like the fact that writer Steve Kloves and director David Yates don’t feel the need to fill the opening few minutes with flashbacks or a retelling of what we’ve seen up to now and the opening beautifully sets up the rest of the film: hold on tight and don’t look away otherwise you’re going to be one lost muggle.
The evil power of Lord Voldemort is still causing all sorts of havoc and looming over Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore is on the case but some doubt his power and ability to protect the students and the school from the growing threat. Harry doesn’t doubt Dumbledore for a moment and when he’s asked to partake in the plan to save the universe, he does so willingly though not blindly. He asks questions, he second guesses but when all is said and done, he trusts. Along the way we also get a sense of who Harry and his friends have grown into. Sprinkled throughout are relationship tidbits reminiscent of “Beverly Hills 90210” but they work within the story. It feels comfortable for these characters to be going through these issues and I couldn’t help but laugh along with the roomful of fans who know how the story ends and who ends up with who. Ron’s status as a hunk blind to Hermione’s attentions made my little heart pitter-patter (as did the moment when Ginny finally lays one on Harry). These tidbits may be inconsequential to the story being told but the fact that Yates and Kloves feel secure enough with the characters and the universe which has been created to include them make the film that much more enjoyable.
To its credit, there’s much more going on in Half-Blood Prince than teen angst. For the first time there is a real sense of danger and that the monster that is Voldemort and all of his evil plans are coming to fruition. Though he doesn’t appear on screen, his hand stretches into the story and squeezes. What I love most about this film is that it feels as though there is a great threat building and that only Harry and his friends can keep it at bay. Though the previous films have always played with the threat, it always felt foreign and on the edges but this time around the universe really feels like it’s on the brink of disaster. Part of the feeling may be the knowledge that we are near the end of the franchise but the film builds the suspense nicely.
Though Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince lacks any one major battle, it features a number of confrontations and more than a handful of beautiful effects and visuals. From a dark cave (which is reminiscent of both Lord of the Rings and a live-action re-imagining of a The Little Mermaid scene) to a now standard game of Quidditch, to the transforming Death Eaters, the visuals are perfection.
I could go on to reminisce over the acting, the marvellous cast of character actors who make up Hogwarts’ faculty, the costuming, the set design, how unbelievably awesome Alan Rickman is but I won’t. It’s enough to say that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince feels like the superior continuation of a mediocre TV series. The story being told here lives and breathes and is allowed time to do so. For the first time there is a sense of dread and urgency that the world is coming to and end and that Harry is the only one who can save it. For the first time in the franchise, I am excited to see how it all plays out.
Click “play” to see the trailer:
Links:
IMDb profile
Official Site
Flixster Profile for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
If you want to watch it onl1ne for free,...
Comment by Mercurie — July 15, 2009
Being a great fan I have collected a list of good sites and articles (may be around 200) related to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (movie information, movie schedule, movie reviews, books, games, news, wallpapers and many more). If you are interested take a look at the below link
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/07/all-you-want-to-know-about-harry-potter.html
Comment by Sri — July 15, 2009
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 15, 2009
Saw it in a theater of Potter fanboys all bawling their eyes out at the end. 3/5
Comment by Goon — July 15, 2009
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
Were they crying because Dumbledore dies? I assumed he was going to come back for the one if not both of the next movies.
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 15, 2009
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
*********SPOILER BUFFER*************
I knew Dumbledore died in advance, after all, that was an internet meme a couple years ago, like ‘05. yes, they cried then, but I dont know if he returns or not. I knew at one point but already forgot. I’m not satisfied with the reasons Potter kept quiet about Snape the whole movie. Kind of like how on Lost all the walking time should have revealed more info to each other and Sixth Sense falls apart on its logic (see the last FJ podcast), to me so do this when Harry should have talked about Snape to at least some degree to Dumbledore along the way.
Comment by Goon — July 15, 2009
That 150-plus minutes FLEW by for me, and didn’t feel what you did, Goon, looking at my watch and such. I was engrossed from start to finish, and of course ***SPOILER***Dumbledore dying “got me” even if I knew it in advanced. You wouldn’t think they’d have the balls to actually do something like that in a “family friendly” film like this***SPOILER END***.
I was glad for Dumbledore and Snape having more to do in this one. Is it just me or has Rickman as Snape, in particular, been criminally underused so far? I always thought his performance as that character was one of, if not THE, best one of the entire franchise so far. I love the little pauses he takes between the words – and the fact that he ties into the story much more this time instead of being the slithering, strict potions teacher. GREAT stuff.
The film spends a bit TOO much time on the lighthearted romantic stuff between the students, but apart from that I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this instalment. I’ve liked them all so far, each one getting better and better each time (with, as mentioned, the third one being my personal favourite).
Bit of the juice was taken out after Deathly Hallows was announced as being two parts, though – Half-Blood Prince suddenly stopped being the penultimate chapter in the saga.
Overall a solid 4 out of 5 from me.
Comment by Ross Miller — July 15, 2009
I started childishly snickering at once scene in the Weasley’s house where for no reason Mr. Weasley has a pillow on his lap the whole time. In my head popped “Harry Potter and the Hidden Erection” and I just started smiling.
Comment by Goon — July 15, 2009
Comment by Goon — July 15, 2009
I lost interest after the third movie and the fifth book, didn’t read sixth or seventh and haven’t seen fifth movie, though I saw the fourth one on TV and I know the basic plot about the final two books.
So my question is: how much screentime does Rickman have in this movie? That’s probably the only determining factor on whether I’ll eventually see it or not.
Comment by Ashley — July 15, 2009
Agreed. I always want to see more of him – he’s awesome.
Ashley – no ewwww factor here. Rickman is awesome but sadly, still a little underused here. I haven’t read any of the books (other than the first) and I have a feeling we may be seeing a lot more of Snape in the final two films.
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 15, 2009
he’s in it about the same as most of the movies if you ask me.
Comment by Goon — July 16, 2009
Comment by Ross Miller — July 16, 2009
Comment by Ashley — July 16, 2009
Comment by Andrew James — July 16, 2009
Me, I’m completely indifferent to them, I tried out #1 and #3 (due to Alfonso Cuaron at the helm) and really, they do nothing for me. And this from a ‘Fantasy writing Buff” in the 1980s to early 1990s.
I’m still waiting for The Sarantine Mosiac or Tigana to be made into a film with the gargantuan budget resevered for Harry Potter & The increasingly outsized collection of British Master Thespians.
Comment by Kurt Halfyard — July 16, 2009
I was in a camp with you Kurt – indifference. I saw them as they came out but haven’t been excited to see any of them but after this, I’m ready to go back and take a look at the previous ones because I have a feeling I missed a lot of stuff in this one that may not have been crucial to the story but which would make it even better.
Comment by Marina — July 16, 2009
I mean thatd be like Kurt complaining about ‘misuse ofspall’ since he’s only in this new movie for like, one second. i think its completely justified to stack the movie with actors when theres so many movies to make, and especially when you’re starting off the series with child actors who may not or may never be, any good. the casting for the side characters to me is maybe the best decision the people behind this franchise made!
Comment by Goon — July 16, 2009
That said, my little heart wants more Snape. Really, it just wants more Rickman.
Comment by Marina Antunes — July 16, 2009
Semantics. The first one was boring as hell. The second movie I don’t even remember. The third I didn’t see and the fourth one really pissed me off.
“i dont see the use of Rickman as a justification against it.”
That is not my justification against it. I said it’s ONE of the MANY reason why I don’t like the movies.
Comment by Andrew James — July 16, 2009
With regards to having lots of actors in small roles, I agree it’s fine to have heavy casting with loads of faces. It gives you a diveristy of people to look at and to support the main players. I just think they could’ve done a BIT more (not “abuse the story,” as you say, Goon) with Rickman as Snape in the last 5 movies, and they have thankfully done so with HBP.
And Andrew, you skipped the third movie?! That was a mistake, dude!:P And why did the fourth piss you off? It’s probably the most outright “entertaining” if you’re going by action scenes – and that full appearance of Voldemort was epic.
Comment by Ross Miller — July 16, 2009
One of the first great spectacles is the gigantic arena where the World Cup of Quiddich (I don’t know how to spell it, nor do I really care) is played. We zoom overhead, see some of the players zooming around on their broomsticks, gasp in awe at the enormity of the crowd and their excitement. I was thinking, “this is going to be sweet.” Then we cut away to Harry and friends celebrating after the match. We got to see none of the game. This was a big let-down straight away.
“Well, I know there are going to be dragons and mazes and what-not later – that will make up for it,” I thought. I was wrong. We soon learn a contest is set to begin soon for the different wizard/witch schools – the “Tri-Wizard Tournament;” one player per school, the winner to receive eternal glory (whatever that means) and some stupid cup. Of course Potter is selected and we find that the players must finish three tasks quicker than the other contestants to claim the name of winner. I’m not going to go over the whole story line, but each of these tasks takes about ten minutes of film time each. This is what made the trailer look interesting and actually got me to waste a Friday afternoon seeing this film. I was so disappointed. Not only that, but they are spread out through days. Each task takes place days after the last. I thought it was going to be one long endurance challenge. But no. Although I’ll give credit to the afore mentioned dragon scene. Though short, it was pretty cool.
The filmmakers do manage to make a huge deal out of the dance that takes place. A full 30-40 minutes is spent with the totally irrelevant and pointless acts of the kids getting over their fear of asking the girls to the dance, dance lessons with a professor, then the ball itself. NONE OF THIS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE STORY! As soon as the dance was over, we went back to the competition. It was as if this whole dance thing was thrown in to lengthen the film to 2 and a half hours. I suppose it contributed to some charcter development and setting up for the next book/film, but otherwise, it just made me squirm in my seat.
Comment by Andrew James — July 16, 2009
Comment by rot — July 17, 2009
I dont know about you guys, but if the person I’m with isnt enjoying something, I know, and thus I don’t force people into coming to things I know they’re timid about, because another person having a bad time can affect my time. Have you ever had a friend over and shown them something, anything, be it viral video or a tv series or movie, and it just wasnt taking?
Now with all this said, I don’t love Harry Potter either. I don’t love the characters and I don’t love the stories. But I like them, and I can tell from watching them that the source material is probably very well fleshed out, so I can see the fanboy fascination pretty easily. I catch up with them in a way to see them grow up, and because after the fourth one I started thinking of them more as episodes to an overall series, where the ending – much like a single season of a series – hopefully has a strong payoff that makes you like the previous entries even more.
And for all that said, aside from the first 2, I think they’re quite well made films, and I very much look forward to what Yates specifically does after the series is over. Clearly he has a knack for adapting tomes of material into less than 2 and a half hours to most peoples’ satisfaction.
Comment by Goon — July 17, 2009