Being the huge Harry Potter fan that I am, I couldn't help but feel the thrill of anticipation -- an actual chill down my spine -- when the theater lights dimmed and the familiar instrumental theme song kicked in as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince started rolling. Sing (hum?) it with me now: Dah, dah-dah dah, da daaaaah daaaahhh! Dah, dah-dah daah, da daaaaaah. (It still brings the shivers, even in text form.)
You all know that I had really high expectations for this one. I've shared my freak-out reactions over each and every trailer with you. It should go without saying that this was the summer movie I'd been looking forward to the most. I figured that since I loved what director David Yates did with Order of the Phoenix (my least favorite book), he'd surely top himself with the adaptation of the sixth novel in J.K. Rowling's series, which was my second-favorite overall.
Which is why it pains me to report that I thought The Half-Blood Prince was just... OK.
I'm obviously glad I saw it, and certain aspects of the film were absolutely excellent (more on those shorly), but I enjoyed both Order of the Phoenix and Prisoner of Azkaban much more and was disappointed that this latest installment didn't move me in the same ways its literary twin did.
For those who've never read a Potter book or caught any of the first five movies, do yourself a favor and remedy that situation before paying to see The Half-Blood Prince. The main characters aren't introduced, the wizarding world isn't explained, no back-story is given... there's just too much material to get through to bring non-Potterheads up to speed. Yates really had no choice but to jump right in, those unfamiliar with Rowling's mythology be damned. I think this was the right approach. The movie already clocks in at over two and a half hours... imagine how long it would've been if a ton of set-up was added?
For those who are well schooled in J.K. Rowling's fictional universe of wizards and witches but need a little refresher about what exactly transpired in the sixth novel, let's recap for a moment, shall we? Order of the Phoenix ended with a good guys versus bad guys duel in the depths of the Ministry of Magic -- a duel that killed Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, and proved that Lord Voldemort had returned. The Half-Blood Prince kicks off near the beginning of the following school year. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is on an urgent mission to learn as much about Tom Riddle -- the Hogwarts student who eventually became Voldemort -- as he can in order to better prepare Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) for his inevitable showdown with the Dark Lord. He does this by collecting and searching through others' memories of their encounters with the young Riddle.
Meanwhile, the perpetually scowling Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) also seems to be on a mission, and Harry becomes obsessed with stalking him in order to figure out why he's acting so shady. When he's not dreaming of his best friend Ron's younger sister Ginny, that is.
Yes, adolescent hormones have kicked into high gear at Hogwarts, and the scenes revolving around teenage angst were what I was dreading most about The Half-Blood Prince. However, wouldn't you know it, these love-centric moments were some of the best parts of the movie. Ron (Rupert Grint) is finally being noticed by the ladies, and Hermione (Emma Watson) doesn't like it one bit. Both Grint and Radcliffe were honest-to-god funny in this movie, and while Grint has always had comedic chops, he was really allowed to show them off this time around. As far as Watson goes, let's just say a moment where she loses control of her conflicting feelings over Ron was the only scene in the film that brought a tear to my eye (and for those of you who remember how the sixth novel ends, you now might be able to guess what I had problems with in its adaptation).
Other highlights include new Potions professor Horace Slughorn, personified brilliantly by Jim Broadbent. The "memories" of Riddle were nothing short of kick-ass. And as always, Alan Rickman rocked the house as Professor Snape.
All of the wide-angle, sweeping shots were beautiful to behold -- from the Hogwarts Express chugging through snow-covered fields, to the Death Eaters' swirling attack on London's suspension bridge, to Dumbledore and Harry teetering on a jutting rock in the middle of an angry sea, to Hermione and Harry looking out over the school's expansive grounds from atop the Astronomy Tower -- but I did find cuts between scenes to be rather abrupt and disorienting, and some of the camerawork a bit dizzying.
And that's a nice little segue to get into what disappointed me about The Half-Blood Prince. I think it all comes down to the fact that the most exciting and emotional parts of the book were given the shaft in the movie, and therefore the resulting two and a half hours were not nearly as captivating as they could have been. I've had no problem with any of the changes that were made in the previous adaptations -- I want a film to work on its own. But this time an added scene with stark raving mad Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and new baddie Fenrir Greyback (Dave Legeno) that was probably meant to be action-packed and suspenseful fell flat and seemed pointless -- especially since a pivotal scene with Greyback at the story's end was left out.
Much more could've been done with Harry and Dumbledore's treacherous journey to retrieve an important object Voldemort stashed away in a cursed cave; I had been particularly excited to see this creepy sequence translated on the big screen. Granted, it was still actually quite scary (despite the film's PG rating), but seemed significantly compressed. As did the final, what-should-have-been climactic confrontation between the Death Eaters and Dumbledore at Hogwarts. I'm not going to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read the book, but I will say that I was thoroughly stunned by the lack of time and gravitas paid to what I thought were some of the best chapters of the entire series. I still can't believe Yates -- and screenwriter Steve Kloves -- deemed them unworthy of this movie.
So all in all I liked -- yet was slightly disappointed by -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Now we all need to start hoping and praying that Yates, who will remain at the helm of the final two installments (Deathly Hallows will be split into two parts), is able to hit the remaining films out of the ballpark and bring Harry's story to the rousing, triumphant conclusion it deserves.
Once you've seen the film, let us know what you thought! Spoilers ARE allowed in the comments, so let's get into it...
Great review Erika, I too thought the final scenes with the Death Eater confrontation were severely lacking.
Posted by: JoshB | July 15, 2009 at 10:11 AM
I am not watching the movie until midnight today, so I can't comment exactly on the movie.
But from what I've heard online, book fans won't be happy with it, and non-book fans will like it. Being one of the former, I hope I am not disappointed.
From what I've heard, the final battle in the Astronomy Tower was cut, because Kloves didn't wanted to be similar to the one in Deathly Hallows...which is stupid. If you don't want the battles to be the same, don't write them the same...
I'll go in expecting the worse, maybe that way I'll like it better :/
Posted by: Dreyesbo | July 15, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I definitely enjoyed the movie. BUT, I was severely disappointed in the fire scene being added (for what purpose?) when there was so much material to draw from in the book. I was expecting to leave the theater bawling, as I was at the end of the book, and left feeling oddly OK. This 6th book has an awful ending, it should have left viewers sad and anxiously awaiting the next one, but they downplayed that whole end scene for the sake of, in my opinion, non-readers that watch the movies. I think the Order of the Phoenix needed more screen time in general, ESPECIALLY at the end in the battle (that wasn't in the movie).
Posted by: Rachel | July 15, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I am more than a little disappointed in the Half-Blood Prince! I am severely disappointed...in shock really! I just saw the movie a few hours ago and it was lifeless! The drama, the energy, the uncertainty, were all gone! I have seen all the movies, yet have only read the last two books (and recently reread the Half-Blood Prince so I wouldn't be confused) Not only did the movie leave way too much out (which is understandable in movie adaptations of a book) but it left out the most important parts!!! I couldn't believe there wasn't a funeral for Dumbledore! Is that supposed to be in the next movie??? The scene where Harry and Dumbledore go to the cave for the first horcrux was terrible. The ending was ridiculous. There was no drama, no excitement. Every scene was disjointed...it just didn't flow. I have always left Harry Potter dying to see the next one, but today I feel nothing...no anticipation of the next film...just incredible disappointment to last for awhile.
Posted by: Lydia Shipes | July 15, 2009 at 05:21 PM
David Yates (director) did a superb job just magnificent to watch, may be Alfonso Cuarón would have made them ROCK. I am a great fan of Harry Potter series. My favorite still remains HP3: Prisoner of Azkaban. But Half Blood was simply outstanding on levels. I'll be seeing it again Saturday on IMAX which will be even better as it's one of the original IMAX screens that loom up and over the audience as opposed to newer screens that are just big.
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
Posted by: Sri | July 15, 2009 at 05:54 PM
Completely agree with every word you have said. I was really looking forward to an action sequence in the end between students/members of the order and the death eaters on their arrival at the school. I started getting a bit worried when Harry drank all of the Felix Felicious potion during the moving, thinking "he needs to leave some for everyone so they have luck at the end"!!!!! They could have taken out the scene with Belatrix at the Weasleys, they didn't need it at all - wasn't suspenseful and wasn't needed - don't really know why they burnt the house down either.
Posted by: Allison Evans | July 15, 2009 at 07:47 PM
I hated it!! So disappointed!! SOOOOO much left out. This was my favorite book, where was the fight scene at the end, the funeral, the explaination of the 7 horcruxes(what are they) When are they going to get it right!!!!! Luna found Harry on the train at the beginning????? NOT!!! What was the deal with the subway??? Was that even in the book???
Posted by: v | July 15, 2009 at 08:07 PM
I thought many of the scenes were downplayed, most particularly the Cave scene. Also, the end scene--the battle between Dumbledore and the Death Eaters--where was the energy?! It was such a crucial and emotional scene, and it really seemed non-important. It would have been good if they extended these scenes, definitely add more drama and weight to each scene. I really don't think the movie holds nearly as much weight as the book does. It seriously wouldn't hurt to add more; what's another 30-40 minutes, right? On the good side, the effects were more than satisfactory. Comedy and romance was well portrayed in the movie, and the actors did an outstanding job. Great job directing, too. So it's good, but a little disappointing.
Posted by: Shreya | July 15, 2009 at 10:56 PM
I started reading the other comments but I only got through three before I needed to get my own thoughts and opinions out. I can say that I was anxiously awaiting this movie. I got over the extended pregnacy we were forced to wait through, what with WB pushing back the release of this movie by 8 months, and just allowed myself to be genuinely excited for it to hit theaters this summer. (Another summer where I got to see Transformers and Harry Potter in the same space of time.) Sadly summer of 2007 will remain the best Transformers/Harry Potter box office duo, and 2009 will fall into a sad third place in hopes that maybe there will be a future summer during which another duo hopefully including Harry Potter or Transformers leaves me blown away.
I like you Ericka was tingling from the nape of my neck to the bottom of my toes when the Harry Potter theme began rolling. I was just so excited to see how everything came together, and honestly had high hopes that this movie was going to be the one that I loved the most of all the HP movies made so far. The previews and clips I'd seen up to this point had led me to believe that they really were going to stay very true to the books.
Now I should say that the whole movie up until a point I was absolutely loving the film and was sure I was right, this was going to be THE ONE! The one I watched again and agian without thinking about what was missing. I loved (and by loved I mean I gave a girly giggle and grabbed my sisters hand for) every Ron and Hermione scene! They were perfect! All the adorably subtle hints, EVERYTHING it made my stomach all flip floppy! and Lavender Brown was as Ron would say "Mental, completely mental!" lol I loved her! CRAZY LADY! She was a great addition!
Take these plot points away and I can probably say I would have hated this movie and left the theater in an outrage at the end, instead of just highly dissapointed and overly depressed.
Oh and for as much as I loved all the Ron/Hermione scenes, the Harry/Ginnie scenes made me want to throw up! I just didn't see any chemistry... it really just didn't translate from the books to the screen at all... maybe its just the actors but it was hard to watch.
The thing that completely ruined the movie for me, wasn't even the lack of a funneral (although it was kind of needed because the elder wand is supposed to be in there! not sitting on a desk in the headmasters office!) but it wasn't that that had me digging my nails into my arms and fuming in my seat while I watched the last scenes of this movie in an angry stupor!
THE ENTIRE FIGHT SCENE! The entire final fight between the death eaters and the order in the corridor while malfoy confronts dumbledore upstairs! This was THE climatic point of the 6th book and they just completely failed! Completely cut it out... I would have sat in the theater gladly for another 20 to 30 minutes for this all to take place. AND why in the world did they ADD the burning of the burrow and CUT the much needed final fight???
Then as pissed as I was that they cut that, it only served to further remind me that they completely left out An Excess of Phlegm! Which is kinda of important for the seventh movie and understanding who's getting married! Geez! I dont know... I'm hoping that after some sleep i'll wake up tomorrow and have a much lighter less angry view of this movie.
It was probably insane of me to expect anything different, they've always cut important scenes and it was dumb for me to expect anything less!
Posted by: Ally Jay (iareally) | July 16, 2009 at 03:33 AM
As if my comment wasn't long enough, I must add that I agree with V, THERE WAS NO EXPLAINATION OF THE HORCRUXES! We NEEDED (or people who only watch the movie and never read the booked) NEEDED those other memories to understand what Voldermort choose to be his horcruxes! I mean seriously! I'm DYING and I say that will all the saracasm I can muster to see how Harry figures out what the horcuxes are supposed to be in the next movie! I can tell you now I'm expecting it to be an epic fail!
Posted by: Ally Jay (iareally) | July 16, 2009 at 03:40 AM
Very entertaining and close to the book. Its an "A" movie.
Posted by: Debt Relief | July 16, 2009 at 03:46 AM
Just a comment to those of you who are complaining that there was no explanation of the Horcruxes. It was actually explained once in Slughorn`s memory and again at the end of the movie when Harry was explaining it to Hermoine. Don`t complain if you weren`t paying attention to the movie.
Posted by: Chris | July 16, 2009 at 08:13 AM
Ally Jay - You mentioned something I had meant to cover in this review... the awfulness of the Harry/Ginny relationship. I just think that Bonnie Wright is not a strong actress, so I blame her for how awkward and lame and stiff all of their scenes together were.
Chris - I think what people are referring to when they mention the lack of explanation about Horcruxes isn't that the definition of a Horcrux was never given... because it was, and you mentioned those points in the movie. But rather, in the book Dumbledore and Harry had a conversation about what the other Horcruxes might be, and that sets up Harry's mission for the final book. I think that since that scene wasn't included, we're all wondering how Harry's going to know what else exactly he's looking for (the snake, something of from the heads of the other houses, etc.). My guess is that maybe they'll have a flashback in the seventh movie in order to still have Dumbledore in it a little bit or something.
- Erika
Posted by: Erika Olson | July 16, 2009 at 08:26 AM
I'm really upset with this movie. Crucial events removed, scenes put in that were not in the book and don't make any sense. Did the person who wrote the screenplay even read the books? Worse HP movie yet.
Posted by: Shannamo | July 16, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Something to remember here: The people that loved the movie aren't going to be as vocal as the fanboys/girls who were disappointed. The movie was pretty much universally praised by critics and by those that aren't worried about canonical consistency and completeness. Sure, stuff that was important in the books was left out. But consider this. The final book is cut into two movies. That means that there is probably more room for the stuff that was missing from this one in those.
So, while there is a lot to complain about. Don't let this single comment thread make you think that it's a terrible movie. The vast (and silent) majority will love it.
Posted by: Fiirvoen (Jason) | July 16, 2009 at 02:13 PM
I watched a friends video review of this movie after leaving this site and he reminded me of a few things I didn't meantion in my rush last night.
A)Visually this movie was absolutely stunning! Truly it was beautiful to watch!
B)Tom Felton was GENIUS in this movie! He truly did steal every scene he was in! If there was on book to movie translation done perfectly it was Draco and his anguish while attempting to do the Dark Lord's bidding!
C)This movie was SO FUNNY! The funniest of all the HP movies made so far. I was so glad they let Daniel Radcliffe be truly funny! Even if just for a scene or two, because if you've ever seen an interview of his, he is naturally quick witted.
And there it is... my must lighter feelings about the movie after a good nights rest!
I dont know if links work, but he's a link to the video review i watched that had me rethinking things I'd left out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV2_Xe1BJh0
Posted by: Ally Jay (iareally) | July 16, 2009 at 02:42 PM
I just saw the movie and I am pretty disappointed. I mean I knew going into this movie that, from reading the books, I would be kind of upset with the movie. I always expect as much from movies that are based off of books. But this movie was just rough. I thought that it would be a decently action packed movie that would leave me excited for the next movie because of the effects. However, it did not. I also thought dumbledore dying would leave me feeling sad, as it did in the book, but nope, the movie didn't do it. I honestly think Hermoine sending the birds darting up Ron gave me more of a thrill then the dueling between Harry and Snape did. That is pretty sad. I hope the Deathly Hallows will pick up what this movie lacked. we will see though..
Posted by: billischaos | July 17, 2009 at 01:13 AM
What was with the first scene of Harry sitting in the cafe and getting hit on? Wtf?! They took out the other memories of Merope, Morfin and Marvolo Gaunt. I was looking forward to seeing that scene but POOF it's not there. And what the heck is with The Burrow all of a sudden being located in a swampy marsh and than being burned down? Was that really necessary? The whole Room of Requirement was changed too: While Harry was putting the book somewhere, he spots the Diadem on top of a stone head... Where the hell did Ginny come into play? This movie was based to much around love and too loosely around Voldemort and the Death Eaters. I do believe that they took the battle scene out so the movie could be PG so more people would go and see it (parents and teh chyyyldren!)
Posted by: Kelly | July 18, 2009 at 12:09 AM
I could not agree more Erika. I warned my friend when we sat down in the the theater that I would likely be crying during a certain scene the way I sobbed when I read the book, and then NOTHING. I didn't feel ANYTHING. Yes, the movie was beautifully shot, and funny. I felt it was building up to this amazing ending, and then it just fell flat. I was really very suprised because I always love the HP movies. In this case, I think the book was just too big, and too amazing to ever live up to. PS. Tom Felton was AMAZING in this movie.
Posted by: Melissa | July 18, 2009 at 06:38 AM
Agree with you entirely, Erika. I never thought the climactic death scene would end with a sense of numbness instead of tears. What a wasted opportunity! Adding the fire at the burrow was entirely pointless—there was such delicious drama to draw from in the book, why would they instead add in something that did nothing to advance the plot? Ugh. Maddening.
Posted by: Jenn | July 20, 2009 at 04:59 PM
I haven't read many of the Harry Potter books, so don't know when something is missing or added, but I was confused by the movie and also didn't see any cemestry between Ginny and Harry. I didn't think this movie was anywhere near as good as the last five were.
Posted by: Linda Wheeler | July 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I completely agree with the review. I mean really, what's the deal with a whole bunch of death eaters walking right through Hogwarts and everyone just staring at them. Really now, they skipped the best battle. Though I will say that I loved the ending part between Snape and Dumbledore. Fantastically acted. All in all the book was sooooooo much better.
Posted by: Chelsea Fremming | July 21, 2009 at 01:14 PM
I was very dissapointed in the movie just like you. Having read all the books I had felt satisfied with it all up to date. That is until now. I can only hope that because they are splitting the last book in two that it will be better. On that note I would like to point out the fact that most movies that become a series have a difficult time beeing unanimously good. Then the fact that it was in book form first makes it that much harder for them to satisfy the true fans. Not all sets of films can live up to other standards previously set by movies such as Lord of the Rings or Star Wars and even then there were many fans dissapointed.
Posted by: Rita | July 21, 2009 at 01:16 PM
It appears the Ministry of Magic just disappeared in this film... and Fenrir Greyback is just a large, hairy man. What a joke. Just read the books.
Posted by: David | July 21, 2009 at 01:35 PM
I saw it the day after it opened and felt much the same as you. The movie itself was good, the graphic wonderful as always but there was no climax to the film and that was disappointing. You keep going along with the sometimes very slow story line and then when you finally think you have reached the climatic sceen that will lead to the bringing together of all your unanswered questions and the characters reactions to earlier things in the movie you begin to hold your breath........ and the credits start rolling because the movie is over. It was a major let down to myself and my husband who love harry potter and have always took great joy and suspense in each and every one of the movies.
Posted by: Toni Gipson | July 21, 2009 at 01:51 PM
I found the whole movie very flat, as if almost everyone in it were just going through the motions. Dumbledore was so wooden, it was almost as if he were sleeping - he seemed pretty much the same at the beginning and at the end when he was dying from the poison.
In addition, they did so much cramming in of stuff (much of which was useless), that they left out little bits and pieces that would have given it some humanity and made it interesting. I mean, okay, so Snape's the Half-Blood Prince. But who cares? Why does he even need to tell Harry at the end? It's not like it matters in the context of the movie - they skipped every bit that would have made it relevant. I'd rather they spent that 30 seconds actually saying Tonks' name and giving her even a teeny tiny bit of depth.
Posted by: Burt | July 21, 2009 at 02:26 PM
I was highly disappointed with this movie. First off, We had the beginning. Instead of Dumbledore confronting the Dursley's (which had me roaring with laughter whilst reading) we find harry at some kind of train station flirting with a waitress. This is the first of two "romantic" complications that had no point. Then, we have Cormac Mclaggen constantly going after Hermione, not only did this seve no point, it took away valuable time that could've been distributed elsewhere (like the final battle)
The final battle was, as far as I concerned when I went into the movie, probably going to be my favorite scene in the whole movie. So imagine my surprise when, after Snape takes out Dumbledore, they trot out of the castle with practically no obstacles. Not to mention that the whole scene with Dumbledore's death was changed quite a bit. I feel that removing the final battle created a huge plot hole here. Why are the death eaters there if it will only require Snape and Malfoy to kill dumbledore? hmm?
Over all, I was highly disappointed, and there better be some good reviews of the next movies before I even think about going
Posted by: Josh | July 21, 2009 at 02:58 PM
I agree, i liked the movie but only because of the fact that it was Potter. Everything i was really looking forward to was left out of the movie, and useless parts that weren't even in the book, were added!! what was that all about?
Posted by: Spencer | July 21, 2009 at 03:02 PM
I think that the problem is that up to this point they have managed to make these kiddie friendly movies full of lots of neato keen, gee whiz elements. Now as the story line evolves into its inevitable conclusion, they have painted themselves into a corner. The last movie began its dark overtones and I like many others hunkered down to pick up where things left off. I was stunned to find this more a light hearted love potion tale which I felt was a commercial approach of mass appeal. After all have to keep the matinee market smiling. But when the fire sequence happened, I thought I had taken the wrong turn into a different theatre. Anyone who has read these books knows that all good things are going to come to an end and this series is no different. No matter the hue and pressure placed on Rowling, she stood firm and refused to sell out, continuing her cash cow ad infintum and has surely written an ending that cannot be undone. However, to minimize the ending of the book for all of its major impacts on what comes next was shameless. I am not a fan of the director but alas have had to accept that someone more influential was. In this film in my opinion he has betrayed the true essence of the plot line and sold out to cutesy commercializtion. Dumbledor's death should have rocked the theatre. I cried when I read the book and desperately hoped until the last page that Foulkes or something would bring him back. His funeral was something I wanted to see illutrated on the big screen. Certainly this won't keep it from being another incredible money maker but I was disappointed. Just hope that it won't take another two years for the next installment...
Posted by: Julia | July 21, 2009 at 03:38 PM
I have this thing where I cannot see a movie that is based on a book without seeing the book first, or if I've already read the book but it was too long before the release of the movie I will reread it. But for this Harry Potter (I've read and loved all of them)I did not reread the book. So when I went to see this movie, which was based on one of my favorite Harry Potter's, I left disappointed but could not figure out exactly why...until now. Reading all these comments made remember everything that I loved about the book, everything that got me so much more emotionally invested in these characters then I already was, everything that did not necessarily make it into the movie. I did enjoy the movie (the humor, the scenery) but agree with the other postings about the lack of crucial scenes. I hope that Erika is right and the 7th movie will include flashbacks or something to tie it all together. Overall I thought it was GOOD, but was really expecting GREAT after the previous ones. For those that have not read the book...you will most likely enjoy it but want more action. For those who are die-hard fans...you may enjoy it but will definately wish it included more crucial moments.
Posted by: Kristyana | July 21, 2009 at 03:43 PM
I really enjoyed the played down tone of the movie. "Order of the Phoenix" was a little too gripping for kids, and let's face it... these are kid's books. The cliffhanger ending and lack of climactic events may have been disappointing... but is sure to bring people back for more next year, which I think was the intention of the film.
All in all, one of my favs.
Posted by: Mick | July 21, 2009 at 04:01 PM
As usual, Erica just HAS to find something negative and snarky to say, even though 98% of the reviews have been wonderfully positive, giving it A's and A-'s all across the board and it's been embraced by movie-goer's around the world. That's just NOT good enough for her. (she went to HAAAARVAAAARD...doncha know?) Ever wonder if she ever saw a movie she liked? How could anyone think she wrote a 'great review' of the movie? (Instead of a comparison of a movie to it's book source. Even other reviews said they did an excellent jobin this dept as well)
I said before, a movie can only cover 100 book pages an hour..so this is the 250+/- page version of H.P. She doesn't seem to get that. Many sub-plots have to get shortened or removed all together...get over it.
I was lucky, i started the book, but was only 1/2 through it when i went to see the movie, so the ending wasn't ruined. I also avoided this reviewer's horrible review like the plague.
My review of HP: it's great, the best of all the HP movies, lots of fun, scary, funny, even a little sexy, with wondrous special effects as good or better than Star Trek's. See it, love it, then read the book.
Posted by: JRBear | July 21, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Dear JRBear,
A few objections to your post:
1. Just because you disagree with Erika's opinion, doesn't mean her opinion is "horrible." And, while I would agree that her review is somewhat negative, I wouldn't say it's snarky.
2. Erika has written plenty of positive reviews.
3. She actually said that she liked this movie quite a bit. She was just summing up what bothered her about it.
4. Can you really get mad at the book readers when you DIDN'T EVEN FINISH IT?
5. She wasn't complaining about minor scenes that were missing, but a MAJOR one. Also, she complained about the addition of confusing scenes that weren't even in the book. Take some further looks at the positive reviews out there. Even if it is a positive review, any reviewer worth their salt will at least MENTION a few negative caveats. Negative reviews that actually say something are worth a dozen positive reviews that are too often devoid of content.
6. Unfair personal attacks piss me off regardless of whom they are aimed at or posted by.
Posted by: Fiirvoen (Jason) | July 21, 2009 at 04:36 PM
On a lighter note, Mick, I have to disagree with this: "let's face it... these are kid's books."
Oh sure, they started out that way, but the books definitely take a gradual turn into darker territory. The movies, out of necessity must do the same. I forget which reviewer said it, but they were correct when they said that the books grew up with their audience as they both progressed.
Posted by: Fiirvoen (Jason) | July 21, 2009 at 04:39 PM
The movie left me disappointed...I was really confuse as to some of the scenes because the book didn't have it, I ALMOST cried in the book when Dumbledore died but yet in the movie when he died, I didn't feel anything. Some of the scenes were out of place and the ending was HORRIBLE, I overall did not like the movie, I think I'm going to read the book again. They really should split this book into two parts as well since the 6th book is longer than the 7th one...
Posted by: Kim Phung | July 21, 2009 at 05:15 PM
i agree with your disparities with the movie completely. my biggest problem is that Yates not only underplayed important scenes, but he even CHANGED them! The scene at the Weasley's was not only unnecessary, but creates a problem for the Deathly Hallows, as the Burrow is burned down in the last book, after a wedding that takes place on the grounds! The scene in HP6 makes this whole chunk of plot impossible! I do think that the drama and romance was done about as well as it could have been, but the memories concerning Tom Riddle seemed to be lacking, as the film only shows two memories.
Posted by: Daniel Alderman | July 21, 2009 at 05:29 PM
If they're breaking Deathly Hallows up into two, then they should've done that with the other books that are that long. I would've loved to see accurate depictions of the book portrayed on the screen, no matter how long the movie was. I hope they at least do an extended version or something, for the real fans.
I agree, the Half-Blood Prince was okay. I couldn't even put my finger on what about it wasn't up to snuff, but over all it was lacking. One thing I really didn't like was how they down played Harry and Ginny's first kiss. It was such a surprise in the book, but the movie it was hyped up. They just didn't seem to have a real relationship at all. Hermione and Ron, however, were perfect.
Posted by: Johanna | July 21, 2009 at 06:22 PM
I loved this movie!!! An A+!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO REGRETS! And yes I have read the books about 5 times each. I was just mad that they used the same music as last year.
Posted by: Teddy Bear | July 21, 2009 at 07:25 PM
I cannot believe what they did to this movie. It was completely butchered. The worst part was the missing of the last battle. It is a school of magic. Why would the TEACHERS. Just let the death eaters right in. Come on now. In any case as great as the graphics were I have to admit I was very dissapointed. I've read all the books and for all of you that have you l ow that no matter how hard they try the 7th and 8th movies can't fixed this one. There is still a lo of material to cover, and the battle for example cannot happen at the brggining of the next installment since dumbledore is already dead, neither can th funeral. Let's be realistic now. What has been done has been done. And there is nothing left to fix it.
Posted by: Andy | July 21, 2009 at 07:39 PM
pretty much what everyone has said here.
ginny seems big and awkward, no chemistry.
i didn't like slughorn's weird demeanor either. in the movie for those that have no idea what slughorn is supposed to be like in the books, he's fine. i wanted a bald jolly uppity tubby rosey cheeked large blondish mustached "finer things in life" braggadocios gentleman with a rich thick laugh. they gave us an odd egg with seemingly creepy tendencies.
i thought the scene at the end with harry and snape also lacked the intensity we were supposed to see.
and what happened when harry WALKED AWAY FROM SECTUMSEMPRAING DRACO?!?! that was a serious curse and no one even really talked about it, he wasn't reprimanded. lame.
i did enjoy the bland parts only because i thought we were getting the AWESOME parts but alas, no magic for the masses.
harry should have been petrifacused. the harry we know (and dumbledore knows in the book) would have had to have been petrifacused because harry would not have sat there and allowed dumbledore to take them all on in his weakened state. its harry for crying out loud.
i wanted more energy out of snape for the entire (since his entrance to the astrology tower) ending.
let down.
pretty movie. emtpy movie.
Posted by: django | July 21, 2009 at 08:00 PM
I was very dissapointed in the movie just like you. Having read all the books I had felt satisfied with it all up to date. That is until now. I can only hope that because they are splitting the last book in two that it will be better. On that note I would like to point out the fact that most movies that become a series have a difficult time beeing unanimously good. Then the fact that it was in book form first makes it that much harder for them to satisfy the true fans. Not all sets of films can live up to other standards previously set by movies such as Lord of the Rings or Star Wars and even then there were many fans dissapointed.
Posted by: tyler | July 21, 2009 at 08:29 PM
I am currently rereading "The Half blood Prince" after seeing the movie, since, though I truly enjoyed the film, I felt like it left a lot of the juice out of it. I could not remember at all the Burrow being burned in the book, and now I know why, it did not happen in the book! I, too, wonder what was in the screenwriter's head when he decided to add that, and leave a lot of the interesting, story advancing parts out. Plus, I need to actually read the book to remember the epic battle at the end, which I remember being enthralled with. The portrayal of Dumbledore's death seemed like just a matter of fact happenstance in the movie here, not the emotion laden drama like it was in the book. Oh well, I think the movie serves to make folks go back to the books to get the deeper story, but the movie also puts really great images in our mind as we do re-read the books. So, I think one needs both to get the whole Potter experience!
Posted by: Barb | July 21, 2009 at 08:53 PM
one of the beautiful things about being an adult, is the ability to go back to your childhood in your mind. I never read books like Harry Potter until my husband started telling me about Harry's adventures. We read the series together out loud and we totally enjoyed all the imagination and action in the series. The best thing about books being made into movies, is the new imagination your mind creates when you start thinking about how the movies will be played out. While I am still excited about the final two, I definately feel let down about The Half Blood Prince. This was to be the most emotionally spent movie and exciting and I found myself bored through parts of it. It's a good thing the actors did their part, or I may have changed my mind about seeing the next two movies, for fear of being let down. A special thankyou to J.K. Rowling for giving us back our childhoods!
Posted by: Sarah | July 21, 2009 at 09:09 PM
It sucked! They need to bring Alfonso Cuarón for the grand Finale.
Posted by: Alchonock | July 21, 2009 at 10:23 PM
soooo want harry supposed to die what with that instead they kill Dumbledore what was with that sad to say not very good although i did jump when that thing grabed harry in the water
Posted by: maidenlilith | July 22, 2009 at 12:25 AM
I have been a huge fan of both the books and the movies. I was slow to get into the books until the third book was out and I wanted to see what all the excitement was about. Wow! What a great story! Then then movies started being made and undestanding that movies can't contain everything books do, I really, really liked the movies. This was so fun! And then came the crushing deafness of the Half-Blood Prince. It's been a few years since I read the book, so I didn't remember all of the plot points, which normally is a good thing. But few things in the movie grabbed me and I found myself looking at my watch, wondering how much time was left. There was no emotional investment, no pacing, no climax and the cave and death scenes had no fire to them at all. What this movie needed was a editor who had the nerve to cut and a director who had the gumption to ask his actors to get the scene right.
Posted by: Eric | July 22, 2009 at 08:07 AM
Haven't read any of the books. Tried the first. Got about 20 pages and quit BUT I'm a huge fan of the movies! They are a favorite of mine. But I was highly disappointed in this one. Hormones were done so much better before. This was just laughable and I agree there was no chemistry between Harry and Ginny. I didn't understand what was happening. I couldn't follow the story. It felt like the movie was a bridge (a very LONG bridge) between something or a set-up for the next movie. I'm still wondering what it was that happened. This is the first time I ever felt like I needed to read the book to know what was going.
Posted by: leslie | July 22, 2009 at 08:21 AM
It was cool, but to much love talk and not enough fighting.
Posted by: Tommy | July 22, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I think your review hits it on the head. I give this movie a B. In short... To much time focused on awkward acting teen love-70% of the movie | Week little kids that have not learned any new spells-can they just disarm people? | Ending scene??? what happened there no climax/fighting-the fifth movie got it right with crazy fighting, then death, then wow check that spell out. | They should have gone into why Tom Riddle was so demented more. This movie could have been A+++ if it wasn't for that darn ending-letdown scene... and they walk right out-end
Posted by: ErickRB | July 22, 2009 at 11:26 AM
what is the exact date bc my sis is all excited about it and i dont want to go see it i just want my sis to be happy
Posted by: andi | July 22, 2009 at 11:54 AM
I was very disappointed in this movie...the ending was horrible. Usually I am ready to see the next movie but this one wasn't that good at all...I was very upset when I left..I felt I had just wasted 8.50 on that movie. There should have been way more action throughout the movie but it was 2.5 hours of a plot. I felt like the climax was reached at the end of the movie so there was no ending leaving you wanting to see more.
Posted by: Erica | July 22, 2009 at 12:44 PM
My daughter and I saw this the day it opened. My daughter went into it already upset because she had seen a news show the night before that mentioned no funeral for Dumbledor, and they hinted at an added scene. So when we saw the movie, she was very frustrated. So when the Burrow got burned to the ground, we were like "WHAT??!!" Kait was vocal throught the whole movie saying, that wasn't in the book, why did it happen that way..and also...Luna finding Harry because of Wrackspurts?! Please..I would much rather have Tonks find Harry.would explain more why she is suddenly there later on..And the whole thing with Tonks and Remus? Noone else mentioned that, but I like that part too of the book. I know it isn't vital to the plot..but if they are pushing the whole romance angle with the kids at least keep them, and the Fleur and Bill in ..Someone else mentioned the excess of Phlegm, and how it might get dumped into the last movie..I don't think it will..again not vital to the main storyline..just a side plot..oh well..Hopefully the producer/execs/actors get to read this and don't destroy the last two movies..I don't care if they both are 3 hours long..I would sit through all of it for a great finale to an awesome series!
Posted by: Shelly in Oklahoma | July 22, 2009 at 01:03 PM
My husband and I went to see HP but we were really disappointed. My husband said that he is never paying any money to watch any more HarryPorters'movie. ("it sucks")
Posted by: Abimbola | July 22, 2009 at 03:32 PM
I did not like it one bit. Everyone knew that snape and malfoy were the ad guys. Who didn't see that coming? And the scene where harry runs after the lady death eater was pointless. It was awful
Posted by: TJ Whitaker | July 22, 2009 at 05:38 PM
didn't say anything about snape being the half blood prince, no back ground or how he loved harry's mom. One line was not enough to sum up the entire book that is TITLED Half Blood Prince.
Posted by: Amy | July 22, 2009 at 09:47 PM
The movie did not capture me. I fell asleep three times and finally walk out at 90min. I won't rent it.
Posted by: rowinski | July 23, 2009 at 01:33 AM
Wow, and not in a good way. First... If I hadn't had the kids with me, I probably would have left at the Burrow burning scene. Maybe part of the reason the next movie is split in two is to explain Bill and Fluer a bit better, but what? Does the burrow just reappear for the wedding?
Second... Horcruxes. They are MENTIONED twice. Two times. For 'movie only' fans this is leaving them with no clue.
Third... The Ending. Where do I start? At least they added the bit where Snape sees Harry and silently tells him to stay out of the way. That's a bit of a hint that maybe he isn't the 'evil git' he appears to be. The fight scene should have been much more important than it was made out. The exchanges between The Order, the Death Eaters, and certain students is very important to the later story. Apparently they are completely leaving out the issue of Bill being bitten by Fenrir. I sincerely hope another reason for the last movie being split is for the funeral scene to be included. I will watch, but won't hold my breath for, the seventh movie.
Posted by: Justin | July 23, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Totally agree, this movie was by far a dissappointment. It was beautiful to behold, yes, but it jumped around too much because of the scenes that were added (Bellatrix at the Weasleys and Harry at the cafe) and left out important parts like the explanation of the Horcruxes and many many other things in the book that would have made the story flow and the movie much more exciting (like the fight scene in the end) Totally anticlimatic! I hope this writer and director get it right next time or it will ruin the whole experience we have been setting up ourselves for for all these years. If I were J.K. Rowling I would be pretty upset at the butchery of one of the best books in her series. Please, please do the last one justice!
Posted by: Deb | July 23, 2009 at 07:14 PM
ok well honestly most critics and fans alike thought that the 5th film was the worst and the 3rd was the best
the 6th was fair it did remove scenes and i too agree that the burrow scene was unnecessary but to the reader who was disappointed about fluer being gone well theres no more wedding in 7 but i did not find much more wrong with the film i miss the battle for hogwarts but yates said the one in hallows will be worth the wait the honestly most fans know the Alfonso Caron would have than better with any of these other films like he did with 3
Posted by: andrew | July 23, 2009 at 09:23 PM
i love harry potter ive seen them all its like your in the movie when you watch it id love to be in it i hope youall make a 7th one plz plz plz plz plz
Posted by: serena keown | July 24, 2009 at 09:00 AM
it kindof leaves you hanging because vlotamort is still alive i see harry potter in the 7th movie comming
Posted by: serena keown | July 24, 2009 at 09:02 AM
I could have easily sat in the movie for another hour...meaning I wish they had put more of the details of the book into the movie. With the book I was in tears reading of Dumbledore's death. He was a character I grew to love and admire. Most Harry fans immerse themselves in this world and truly feel for and about the characters. I so agree that the quest for the horcrux and Dumbledore's death fell quite short in the movie. Yes the cinematography was beautiful and yes I was excited to be back at Hogwarts but it wasn't quite enough. I wanted more and I too hope that Deathly Hallows takes us there.
Posted by: Lisa P. | July 28, 2009 at 07:51 PM
My Harry Potter journey has been a little different than most I think. Everyone I knew had read all the books before me and I staunchly refused to let them speak a word of any of them in my presence. I have known for years that movies can never equal books but I have still tried to maintain the innocence and sense of wonder that the movies have never failed to bring me.
Every time I have been into a theater (to see some other movie) and a Harry Potter preview has come on I have said, without fail, "Forget this movie, I want to see THAT movie. NOW." I have felt that way with every single trailer except the trailer for the Half-Blood Prince. The trailer was flat and dark and brooding but carried no sense of excitement. So tragic. The first Harry Potter movie I wasn't rabidly looking forward to.
That said, once I saw it. It was the first Harry Potter movie I went back and watched again. The others I never worried about because I knew my kids would play the DVD's until the DVD player burned up. But this one... this one I went back to the theater and watched again by myself. Alone so I could absorb it. Feel it. Being a life-long die-hard romantic and seeing the love. Finally seeing the love we have waited for start to hammer it's way forward. I did not find any of the characters flat. I did not think the acting lacked. I think the actors did a fine job capturing the nuances that separated their very similar struggles. I think this film lived up to the humor and the humanity that we've come to expect from this series of films.
This was the film that made me know I had to read the stories. Not just because I wanted to fill in all the little blanks that I knew were missing but because I HAD TO KNOW what was going to happen to these characters NOW, not over the course of two years and two films. This was the film that took me to Harry Potter as it was fully intended to be.
So I read and I choked and I feared and I sputtered and I cried and I worried and I laughed and I smiled and I cheered.
And I realized this movie was the worst hack job of any of the films.
I understand that in the need to save time some sub-plots and minor characters have to be whittled out, and because of that some key lines and passages and bits of information end up coming from the mouths of other characters or other sources, sad as that is. But for this film to add an UNNECESSARY action sequence at the expense of losing so much rich material is a travesty. Who is to blame for that? The director? The producer? The studio? These people should know by now that if you mess with the cannon too much the congregation will cry foul. Did the sequence cement Ginny's desire to stand by Harry? Did the burning of the Barrow solidify the sense of loss and dread the Weasleys and the rest of the wizarding world were facing? Yes and yes. But this was not the time for this. Not on that scale. The major point of this book is the feeling of building up progress against Voldemort then having the rug jerked out from under you by the losing the main source of security to a dreadful betrayal. (I am so glad I did not read the books as they came out. I deeply sympathize with those who had to languish with that feeling of dread until Deathly Hallows came out. It would have killed me.) The Weasleys have enough loss on the horizon. We didn't need to burn their house down. Not if it meant we did not get to properly lay to rest one of the most important characters in the whole story. A major heart tug lost for a minor one.
That said I will always have a soft spot for this movie. J.K. Rowling never did much to develop the love between Harry and Ginny. After this the dear readers know in the near future he tells her basically, "Uh... yeah... this is too rough and all that. I can't have you around. Gee, it's been great and stuff. See ya'." I had hoped for that blazing moment to come when Ginny stood by Harry's side fighting and the little dumb-ass realized that is where she belonged. (Oh how I hoped to see it at the Battle of Hogwarts....) But that moment never came, so that stupid unnecessary scene in THIS movie is all I have of my dream. Hack job that it is, I guess I've come full circle in contridicting myself.
I suppose my only choice is to go see it again and maybe even again. That first kiss melts my heart, even if it isn't quite the kiss it was supposed to be.
Maybe I'll see you there.
Posted by: W. Brian Belcher | August 18, 2009 at 05:47 PM