Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
There's a right bitch of a spoiler below, by the way. You've been warned.
The "it's not as good as the book" response to a movie has been much applied to the Potter adaptations, fine examples of cinema though they are. To an extent, this stems from the fact that you know at least vaguely what'll happen. It's rare, then, that such foresight works in your favour. Rare too, when you're still amazed by what takes place.
This adaptation has a moment that manages each of these. For me, anyhow, since I'd forgotten what the blurred word in Slughorn's memory was (ironically). But when it finally came, the first mention of "Horcrux" was eerily symbolic. A reader of the book would know, at that point, that a no-turning-back point had been reached. This would be the moment that the rest of the Potter story becomes dark and desperate; when a mere child will have to spend the foreseeable future trying to keep not only his life safe, but those of so many around him. "Horcrux", a beautiful word chosen by Rowling, it sounds as evil as the object it represents.
The second moment, that which surprised me with its speed and certainly with Alan Rickman's iciness, was the moment that Dumbledore is killed. It surprised me in the book, but the moment it happens in the film is just as evocative.
As well as Rickman, we get the usual quality of acting from the other stars. Grint, Watson and Radcliffe have certainly grown as actors, and although Michael Gambon will never be allowed by many to get away from comparisons with Richard Harris, he does nothing wrong at all. Jim Broadbent is excellent as Slughorn, as one would expect an actor of his pedigree to be.
Thus, the film is a thoroughly enjoyable 2-and-a-half hour (but feeling shorter) burst of escapism. Yes, there are details missing from the book (certainly, the mystery surrounding the Half-Blood Prince could have been dealt with more), but with a book that size, it's always going to be. Thank god the seventh book has been split into two films. The best book of the bunch in my humble opinion, so I can't wait for the films.
I fart in the general direction of the Times hack who gave the film two stars. Four from me. _________________ "It's ok to be different, it's good to be different, and we should question ourselves before we judge others." -- Johnny Depp
There's a right bitch of a spoiler below, by the way. You've been warned.
The "it's not as good as the book" response to a movie has been much applied to the Potter adaptations, fine examples of cinema though they are. To an extent, this stems from the fact that you know at least vaguely what'll happen. It's rare, then, that such foresight works in your favour. Rare too, when you're still amazed by what takes place.
This adaptation has a moment that manages each of these. For me, anyhow, since I'd forgotten what the blurred word in Slughorn's memory was (ironically). But when it finally came, the first mention of "Horcrux" was eerily symbolic. A reader of the book would know, at that point, that a no-turning-back point had been reached. This would be the moment that the rest of the Potter story becomes dark and desperate; when a mere child will have to spend the foreseeable future trying to keep not only his life safe, but those of so many around him. "Horcrux", a beautiful word chosen by Rowling, it sounds as evil as the object it represents.
The second moment, that which surprised me with its speed and certainly with Alan Rickman's iciness, was the moment that Dumbledore is killed. It surprised me in the book, but the moment it happens in the film is just as evocative.
As well as Rickman, we get the usual quality of acting from the other stars. Grint, Watson and Radcliffe have certainly grown as actors, and although Michael Gambon will never be allowed by many to get away from comparisons with Richard Harris, he does nothing wrong at all. Jim Broadbent is excellent as Slughorn, as one would expect an actor of his pedigree to be.
Thus, the film is a thoroughly enjoyable 2-and-a-half hour (but feeling shorter) burst of escapism. Yes, there are details missing from the book (certainly, the mystery surrounding the Half-Blood Prince could have been dealt with more), but with a book that size, it's always going to be. Thank god the seventh book has been split into two films. The best book of the bunch in my humble opinion, so I can't wait for the films.
I fart in the general direction of the Times hack who gave the film two stars. Four from me.
Agree with all of what you said .... One thing though, if I had been a kid watching this film I would have cacked my pants a couple of times through fear, especially when those bloody zombie things came out of the water I think that scene in paticular shows how the HP story line and films have grown up with the audience. found it disturbing at my age, if I'd been a kid I think I may of had nightmares. Cooooooooool!
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I think that scene in paticular shows how the HP story line and films have grown up with the audience. 
Cooooooooool! 
