Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - movie (spoilers)

Television, Movies Games and Books Harry Potter
#21

I saw it last night and I really enjoyed it. I purposefully didn’t read book 6 prior to watching the movie because I didn’t want to be too nitpicky with it. I can see how some people felt that they cut too much out of it and they changed the story too drastically because I felt that way about OotP when it came out, but it didn’t bother me as much with this one. Book 6 has never felt like a stand alone story to me. I’ve always read it as Act 1 to Deathly Hallows. It’s setting up the end game, there is no conclusion to this story. It reminded me a lot of ‘Empire Strikes Back’ actually.

The one big change that I wasn’t looking forward to before going in was not having Dumbledore’s funeral at the end. After watching it, I can say that I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would. The scene at the foot of the tower with Harry, McGonnagal and the students had enough emotional weight for me to be satisfied with it.

The one change that I do have a problem with is the Room of Requirement scene where Ginny hides the potion book instead of Harry. That should not have been changed for any reason. I don’t understand the purpose of changing that when all it does is create another problem later on that causes them to muck up the story even more.

I need to also say that I have never before been a fan of Emma Watson. I never thought much of her acting ability. I’ll gladly eat my words and go on the record to say that I was wrong. She really brought it this time - she was wonderful. I thought all the acting in this one was pitch perfect. Very well done!

I loved Luna’s lion hat, I couldn’t stop giggling at that.

I’m going back to watch it again tonight at the local Ultrastar Cinema. They have a D Box theater that has motion control seats. I can’t wait to experience the quidditch match like that.

#22

Dude. Thats incredibly cool. I have never heard of such a thing. Also the flying with the death eaters would probably be super awesome as well.

#23

I saw the film Wednesday night, and my thoughts have percolated since. Here goes:

In many ways, this is tied with PoA for my favorite HP film. Dark. Incredible soundtrack. Visually appealing (I loved the opening sequence). Funny. The trio’s acting is getting better with each film. I was expecting the inferi to grab Harry in the cave, but I jumped with the rest of the theater.

The question marks have to do with how this bridges to DH. I mean, if you did not read the books, you have no clear idea about the horcruxes. Zip. Nada. We did need the memory showing Hufflepuff’s cup. We also needed to know that Dumbledore has had a hunch about the horcruxes for a long time and to clearly point out that Harry needs to go after them. In the film, it seems like he is just sorting it out and Harry’s mission seems a bit unclear.

Odds & Ends:

  • Parts of the film were choppy, definitely
  • I did not like the scene with Ginny & Harry in the Room of Requirement. It seemed long and simply not necessary. There had to be another way to get them to “the big kiss.”
  • Except for setting up Mrs. Weasley kicking Bellatrix’s butt in DH, what was the point of the attack on the burrow, because…
  • It comes at the expense of the attack on Hogwarts. Which, to agree with an earlier post, was probably downplayed to make the battle in DH that much better. Regardless, we needed a bit more here, I think, to give more emphasis to Draco’s task, and to set up Neville’s involvement in DH (which I realize was set up in OofP with him finding the Room of Requirement)
  • I think Dumbledore’s tomb could have been shown on the grounds at the end of the film, to show that is where he is buried. I think we needed more than a shot of the Great Hall empty.
  • Dobby & Kreacher were cut: which is fine, unless they are going to be in DH, then how do you set that up & give it impact?
  • I have heard the Shell Cottage scenes are in DH. So, again, without Bill & Fleur in HBP, how does this get set up?
  • Luna: pure perfection
  • Tom Felton: excellent as Draco
  • Jim Broadbent: loved his take on Slughorn

I cannot wait to see it again.

Here is an interview with producer David Heyman. He talks more DH than HBP. There are spoilers, although I think they are pretty minor: http://www.collider.com/2009/07/16/exclusive-producer-david-heyman-talks-harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-and-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/

#24

Bill and Fleur are married at the beginning of Deathly Hallows, which should set up Shell Cottage just fine.

Seeing it tonight, but I do wonder how they’re going to tie the house-elfs back in when they do play a role, Dobby especially, in DH.

#25

I was under the impression that they moved Dumbledore’s funeral to the 7th movie? Did anyone else hear that?

#26

It seems a no-brainer to me. A great way to tie the two films together, and it would allow reflections upon the characters attending. It would even allow the appearance of characters they did not have time to introduce in HBP.

Just a theory mind you…

Doesn’t mean they are as smart as I am hoping.

#27

I have not heard anything but that’s what my speculation is

#28

I’m predicting that Bill and Fleur do not make an appearance in book 7. It’s too late to introduce Bill now, it would take far too long to explain even with a 2 part movie. I think they are going to instead substitute Tonks and Remus for the wedding and Shell Cottage. It seems to me to be an elegant solution to the situation, not to mention adding a deeper emotional impact for the viewer when they both die at the end.

#29

There is much truth to that…I can live with that.

#30

Just got back. Definitely a long movie, though I was surprised by how funny it often was, Broadbent’s phenomenal performance, and the surprisingly affecting ending. I have never cried reading a book in my entire life, so when people say how choked up over Dumbledore they were, I’ve kind of just figured I was different. This ending was surprisingly moving, and I daresay they did the best ending they could. The momentum in a film just worked out better than breaking away and revisiting his death again.

#31

Loved the movie. Thought it was visually stunning at the best of the series. I think the actors have gotten better with every film. Daniel, Emma, and Rupert were excellent and I was very pleased and surprised by Tom Felton as Draco.

Was sad about them leaving off the funeral but I think they will probably put it in the beginning of the DH part 1.

The end was very anticlimactic - the battle needed to be there. I was also mad about the fact that instead of having Harry be frozen under the cloak they had him just standing there.

I really liked the scenes with Harry and Ginny - though I wish they had kept the way they kissed in the book.

#32

I thought Harry/Ginny’s first kiss in the book was kind of a thunder-stealer from Ron, so I liked the execution in the film.

I’d heard a lot of complaints about Harry staying down there when Harry by nature is impulsive and strong-willed, but I think Snape had him convinced that Dumbledore was safe, and Harry felt that Draco was wavering. If nothing else, he had been told what to do by Dumbledore, and he had given his word he would do so.

Many of the complaints myself and others had leading in were addressed.

And Aragog’s funeral was awesome.

#33

Will write more when I’m not typing on an iPhone. Saw movie tonight and it is my favorite to date. As I commented in Twitter, the movies are finally catching up to my imagination. More on this later.

#34

I totally agree, but they always seem to imagine Hogwarts in ways I never thought (What’s up with that Astronomy tower, how would you hold a class there?:confused: That must be why there are so many headless ghosts.:eek:).

#35

I really liked the movie, but i haven’t yet read the series past the first book yet. but the story was a little awkward and condensed at moments. On the other hand the acting was quite good. Over all was on the edge of my seat. I liked the romantic angle it was the lightness and cuteness it needed to keep the whole thing from turning into Macbeth. I will say there is one nagging thing about the movie and its nothing anyone could have done, but the actors just look to old for the age range they’re playing. just pulls me out of the movie a little.

But a great movie. loved the end scene with harry and Snape. Dude just steps up and takes them all out. he’s like I don’t really want to do this, but once i start your all screwed

now on to book number 2 (my favorite movie)

#36

Have ya seen kids nowadays…Girls look 20 in High School. And most of the kids are about the ages they should be maybe a year or two older. Much better than most HS movies where the actors are in their mid 20’s

#37

we saw the movie saturday night and it’s is the best one so far IMO. And I agree with a previous poster that Emma Watson finally brought it! I was cringing gong in at having to suffer through her acting again. I didn’t reread book 6 before the movie so I was just going along with the ride.

I think there is much they can add in to the 1st DH movie to tie up some loose ends. I read a quote that book 7 was “the never ending camping trip” so we’ve been talking about what will be in 1st half and 2nd half. I like others ideas of having funeral at the beginning and even having the battle come there instead of having the wedding at all. There’s going to be some need of filler for this 1st movie and I think it will end with the escape from Gringott’s.

Don’t know why they chose to blow up the Burrow. But, now Arthur and Molly can rent Shell Cottage and voila-no need for Bill and Fleur. (But, I do hate that the “7 Potters” won’t need to happen). Funeral, attack, escape to Grimmauld Place, camping trip, malfoys, shell cottage, gringotts.

#38

Hm whereas if they end the first one at Gringotts, then all that’s left in yhe 2nd one is the Battle of Hogwarts - which I think would be awesome but I don’t think they have the budget to do 2.5 hours of battle. My quarter (though I’m not a betting person) would be on the cut coming somewhere around the Malfoy Manor part - either they get caught and then the next movie starts with them there, or it ends suspensefully with the torture, etc.

Bright and cheery, I know. But as I have had more time to think about it - I expected the movie to be darker than it is, and am perhaps a bit annoyed that the movie took that away. Because it’s serious, man! Though as the Trinity said in the podcast, for the kids, the romance is just as serious. I guess this means I’m becoming an old fuddy-duddy lol.

#39

Re: The Age. Really? In my experience movies about high school age kids have them generally end up looking like McClagen. All of them. I thought the HP movies were really good about not doing this

#40

I thought maybe a little more back story and then epic battle!! But I can see cutting at Malfoy’s also. Maybe escape from Malfoy’s and end with the planning stages at Shell Cottage. Hmmm…that seems to follow their formula of movie, battle…then discussion of what’s to come. Then the 8th movie opens with Gringott’s and doesn’t stop to take a breath!! :eek: