I went to the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night. I have so many thoughts and opinions about this movie that I’m trying to write some of them down while they are still fresh.
This post is chock full of spoilers so don’t read it if you haven’t seen the movie.
First, Half Blood Prince isn’t necessarily a terrible movie, it just falls short. At certain points, it captures the spirit of the book perfectly and it’s truly a pleasure to watch. At other times, it just plain fails.
Good Job: Lavender Brown
She’s perfect. She and portrays exactly the character you find in the book. She gets my vote for the best acting in the film.
Bad Job: The Burrow on Fire
What the hell? This sequence serves no purpose. It doesn’t further the plot. It’s nowhere to be found in the book. It ruins events that occur in the seventh book. It wastes precious screen time that should have been devoted to other topics.
Good Job: Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes
The joke shop captured Fred and George’s wild energy and flair beautifully. It fits exacty with their characters.
Bad Job: The Order of the Phoenix
Just about everything was off here. Tonks is completely mis-played. It’s ok that Luna found Harry in the train compartment instead of Tonks, but it was unacceptable to skip over her depression. We don’t see Lupin’s conflict between love for Tonks and fear of his condition. Bill and Fleur are nowhere to be found, and with the Burrow burned, it looks as if the 7th book’s wedding scene is going to be skipped. That’s a serious amount of story to ignore.
Good Job: Felix Felicis
Probably the best scene of the film, Harry under the influence of liquid luck is “bloody brilliant”. Again its consistent with the novel and it makes sense. Comic relief that also furthers the plot is always welcome.
Bad Job: Harry and Ginny
Why on earth does this happen in the room of requirement? Why is Harry there at all while Ginny is hiding the book from him? Why hasn’t Ginny broken up with Dean? Honestly, 2 extra seconds in the Felix Felicis part would break up Ginny and Dean, and then one Quidditch match brings Harry and Ginny together. The time it took to blow up the Burrow should have been devoted to this relationship.
Good Job: The Horcrux
Not much to say other than it followed the book and the effects team did a superb job bringing the scene to life.
Bad Job: Marauder’s Map
It appears only once in the movie, certainly not enough to convey Harry’s obsession with discovering Draco’s secret plan. Instead of constantly showing Draco with the cabinet we should have seen Harry trying to figure out what Draco is doing, and only at the end learn what he has been working on.
Good Job: Quidditch
What little there is in the movie is perfect. It’s intense, fast paced and brutal action. The tryout scene is done well. Its fun to watch Ron try to play keeper.
I could probably forgive these faults if it weren’t for the movie’s ending. Draco’s work on the Vanishing Cabinets is absolutely pointless because the Death Eaters he brings do nothing of value. Bellatrix conjures the Dark Mark, breaks some glass, and sets Hagrid’s hut on fire, but there is no purpose. I am utterly confused as to why the battle between teachers students and Death Eaters is ignored. The action is building with the search for the Horcrux, but it comes to an abrupt end as the final battle is conveniently left out. Here’s what I mean.
In the Order of the Phoenix the climax followed this progression,
1) Death Eaters chase students to get prophecy.
2) Prophecy shatters and Aurors fight Death Eaters culminating in the death of Sirius Black
3) Harry chases Bellatrix to avenge Sirius, ending in Voldemorts final duel with Dumbledore.
The Half Blood Prince should have followed this progression.
1) Harry and Dumbledore retrieve the Horcrux as Draco uses the Vanishing Cabinet to usher in Death Eaters
2) Death Eaters duel teachers and students (who do not die because of the extra Felix Felicis they have taken) as Draco confronts and disarms Dumbledore
3) Snape arrives on the scene to confirm all of Harry’s horrible suspicions and betray Dumbledore’s trust. Harry looks on, paralyzed by Dumbledore and helpless as his he watches Snape kill his last father figure, and then reveal the true identity of the half blood prince as death eaters leave
What actually happened
1) Harry and Dumbledore retrieve the Horcrux as Draco uses the Vanishing Cabinet to usher in Death Eaters
2) Draco disarms while the Death Eaters and Harry (completely out of character I might add) do nothing at all
3) Death eaters continue to do nothing. Snape kills Dumbledore and reveals the true identity of the half blood prince as death eaters leave.
The movie just couldn’t deliver on Dumbledore’s death. I hate to say it but it simply isn’t an emotionally powerful scene. I can’t understand why though. The same director beautifully showed Harry’s reaction to Sirius’ death in the previous film, and as the audience, you can really feel his pain. I didn’t get that same deep emotional impact here, and that was really disappointing. What should have been the most powerful scene in all 6 movies so far was nothing but mediocre.
All in all, my final opinion is that I’m so glad the seventh book will be two movies. I can’t bear to watch another incredible novel ruined because they tried to cram it into one movie.
