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• A breath of fresh air for Potter fans. posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is possibly one of the only, if not the only, movie in the series that stays true to the novel on which it is based. I say this not from reading it, which I have not, but from the reaction of a friend who has read it a number of times. From a film stand-point, it may be the best so far. Though I still have a soft spot for the first one, John William's magical score and all, this one comes pretty damn close. David Yates shows his true directing talent here which was suspiciously absent from the previous film, Order of the Phoenix. First example in the flashback scenes (of which there are a number of), or whatever the true term of it is, the style of the cinematography almost completely shifts to a darker, more frightful style. The art direction, as with all of the films, continues to mesmerize the audience. The script is witty and I admit I had more than a couple of laughs. I personally felt that the film relied too much on the relationships of the three main characters and less on the main focus of the movie, but thats just me. The acting overall was superb. Nothing really different than the last films. I saw this film with an audience of maybe 1000 at the premiere in New York City, and I can confidently say that not one of those viewers went away with a frown. This is a fantastic magical ride of a movie that I highly recommend.

• Emotionally Stimulating, Dark, Hilarious...AMAZING! posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Being a huge fan of the books, I tend to be a critic when it comes to weighing out the book and the film. I have noticed with the Harry Potter series as the books get bigger, the films generally get worse excluding The Goblet of Fire.This time, I WAS NOT LET DOWN. Despite being quite a large book, this film SURRENDERED to the book as much as it possibly could in the space of 2 hours and 33 minutes. Every single actors' acting has vastly improved and matured, especially Tom Felton's (Draco Malfoy) and Michael Gambon's (Dumbledore).There were moments that made me laugh hysterically, weep suddenly and jump as if I were having a heart attack.The opening of the film was PERFECT, despite being different to the book as it set the tone perfectly for the entire movie. Hormones did definitely rage in this film but they were not taking over the film and I felt we needed a good amount of hormone rage to balance the darkness with the good old Hogwarts atmosphere.Finally, the movie as a whole introduces fans of just the movie to the extremely deep darkness of the final two movies with the death, sadness and violence as well as a sense of the destruction of Hogwarts near to the end of the movie. It creates that sense within the person watching that the series is coming to an end and good sometimes doesn't always triumph.In terms of ranking, this was really up there with the first two movies and I know no Harry Potter film will be able to be compared to the ingenious of the last two as even without following the book, you could not fail to make a masterpiece.The bottom line is, this is only the tip of the iceberg: wait for the next two!

• 1 hour and 20 minutes before the first exciting scene posted on 30 Aug 2009

  It's a good thing I like well-made movies, good acting, and relationship stories, but that's not why I go to Harry Potter movies. I started going to the HP films for the wonder and imagination, my favorites are the day to day magic like making dinner, and scenes where the Hogwarts students are learning magic. There was 1 interesting potions scene, no defense against the dark arts, 1 new discovery by Potter, 1 fun cleaning the house scene, no interesting dining hall magic during dinners, and Voldemort is not in this film. It had some comedic scenes, but nothing to make me laugh long enough to miss anything important. The sets were again amazing. I LOVED Fred and George's shop scene. The memory scenes were captivating. The quidditch games were good but not as exciting as earlier films. Hermione's brilliance was completely overlooked. The Half-Blood Prince storyline was skipped, Dumbledore's withering hand storyline was skipped. The ending had a twist but was underwhelming. I would always recommend Harry Potter be viewed on the big screen, some over and over again, but this is one I will not see again until the video comes out.

• Worst Interpretation EVER posted on 30 Aug 2009

  This segment of HP will disappoint all who read the novel. The Burrow burns down during x-mas break due to Bellatrix and Fenrir (who is never described as a werewolf) perhaps for the lack of action at the end of the movie...the Dursleys are completely cut from the movie, meaning when Dumbledore picks Harry up for the summer it's at the train station for some apparent reason...The Ginny/Dean/Harry dichotomy is skewed, there was no break up between Ginny and Dean and Harry is clearly in love with her from the start of the movie which eliminates his confusion on his feelings during the school year...Hermoine prematurely spills the beans on her feelings for Ron which was only speculation in the novels...Lavender Brown becomes a obsessive and crazed girlfriend rather than simply over-affectionate (a reminiscent Unis from She's the Man)...the battle scene is missing from the end giving Dumbledore's death an anticlimactic feel making it all the more unemotional and disappointing...Harry hides under the floor simply holding his wand looking like a coward while Dumbledore dies, Snape sees him hiding rather than Harry being frozen under his cloak compliments of Dumbledore ...There is no funeral or break up with Ginny at the end of it (there is no relationship between the two either simply a kiss)...Hagrid is basically deleted from the movie as is Neville...Pensive trips are deleted and the Horocruxes are never explained, not even slightly...Luna finds Harry on the Hogwarts Express rather than Tonks...The Slug Club simply makes a cameo rather than a proper introduction and explanation...the Inferi look more like skeletons compared to the white bodies described in the book...I'm sure more discrepancies are present, however I can only remember so many of them.It is absolutely a horrible interpretation of the book and I hope that they look at all of the mistakes and gaps left for the next movie and fill them in with more than humor (they are supposed to be in the middle of an all out war aren't they?) I mean I didn't even feel emotional when Dumbledore was killed, I was too busy trying to figure out why Harry was acting like a stunned coward under the floor boards and not doing something, isn't that his thing...doing seemingly impossible rescue missions?!?! I am utterly disappointed in this installment of HP!!

• Love is in the air at Hogwartz posted on 30 Aug 2009

  With heavy emphasis on attractions to the opposite sex and the jealousy that comes with it, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a transitional tale of both the children's growth and the breaking of light for darkness. The once lively halls of Hogwartz, lined with young children practicing their magicks and playing games with one other has been swapped for dark foreboding paths, barren classrooms and unnaturally looming darkness. The quirky professors of the lighter films, having scattered and banished since The Order of The Phoenix are no longer here to entertain us with their eccentric personas, goofy spectacles and comedic spells. No, this is a very different Hogwartz and Dumbledore's relationship with Harry Potter is more the focus than the raging hormones of he and his friends.Emma Watson, who has had as many haters as supporters of her acting in the past will no doubt shut these critics up by her performance in this one. For the first time we are given a convincing range of emotions by her as she cries when her love interest is with another and smiles warmly and at peace when he is finally hers (convincingly). You cannot help but feel sorry for her during certain times when her lineage is questioned and when the loneliness settles in. Some of the more memorable scenes for me were between her and Daniel Radcliffe in their strange friendship that seems more brother and sister than classmates. The entire Weasley clan is back providing laughs, cringes and at times sighs. This not being limited to the bumbling blunders of Ron who has somehow grown into quite the ladies man at the school.Though beyond the teens and their love stories and my wont for a Harry and Luna Lovegood romance, the main theme is always obvious and that is the choice of good versus evil. Nothing is as it seems and a cruel plot is hatched that forces Dumbledore to use Harry as a sort of spy to uncover a hidden secret. The comical Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) is introduced and replaces the spirit of the teachers we have grown accustomed to "experiencing" in the former films. He is a pleasure to watch as his every word is entertaining and adds a bit of light humor to an otherwise gloomy film. The sexual tension amongst the students, and the detective work of Harry takes up two thirds of the movie but by the time you hit the last third the dark tone becomes pitch black. By the time you make it to the last 30 minutes, you will experience a heavy tragedy and an explanation behind the title that is The Halfblood Prince.Out of the entire series, this one shines and falls well in line with the rest. To compare it with another movie I would choose The Empire Strikes Back in terms of the dark mood, the winning hand of evil and the feeling of "to be continued" that occurs when the credits roll. With beautiful direction, relevant cinematography and outstanding special effects, I find it hard to complain about anything. Outside of the alienation of a new viewer who may choose this to be their first movie in the Harry Potter series, the story and acting is one of the better in the 7 films to date.www.SpicyMovieDogs.com

• Bad adaptation posted on 30 Aug 2009

  I agree that this was a horrible representation of the book. I felt like half of the story and characters were cut out (where has Dobby been, he plays an important role after all!!!??) and even changed (Ginny does not cry over boys, come on!! and since when does Dumbledore need to ask Harry permission for anything, it seemed like the two were more buddies than professor and student). The main problem I found though, was the lack of characterization of Voldemort- this is the whole point of this story!!!!!!!! Without knowing his character Harry can't kill him, come on Hollywood writers, get your heads out of you butts!!!

• Good, even if different from the book posted on 30 Aug 2009

  I had heard some relatively bad reviews of the movie before I went to see it, so I was sort of expecting to be disappointed. As an avid follower of all things Potter, I know the book very well and was anticipating that some elements wouldn't make it into the film. This has been true for all of the other movies in the series as well, so it wasn't a shock to me in this one. I was pleased to see the inclusion of some elements that I thought might go by the wayside, such as the Weasley brothers' joke shop, the brief romance between Ron and Lavender Brown (who, oddly, went unnamed in the film), and Ron's stint as Keeper of the Gryffindor house quidditch team. However, it was odd to see the scenes that appeared in the movie but not in the book. The incident at the Burrow, while certainly effective at instilling fear and urgency into the overall situation, was a complete invention of the film-makers. And some slight differences between the book and movie were puzzling to one who has read the books many times over. For example: why was it Luna Lovegood and not Tonks who discovered Harry on the Hogwarts Express? Silly, I know, but these things drive me nuts. I was also pleased to see that, even though this film takes place at a time when both the wizarding and muggle worlds are in nearly their darkest hours, there was still a fair amount of humor and light-heartedness. The entire "Liquid Luck" scene borders on hilarity, and Ron's encounter with a love potion had the whole theater guffawing. I think it was refreshing, too, to see Harry and Ron get to play some really funny moments - knowing what lies ahead in the series, I doubt we'll see much of that again, and these actors clearly have the chops to play comedy as well as drama. As for casting, the new professor on the block, Slughorn, was played very well by Jim Broadbent. Though Broadbent is a little less "walrus-y" than the Slughorn that Rowling describes in the book, he still played the character perfectly, a little unctuous, a little vain, a little absent-minded. Interesting to me was the choice of Helen McCrory (I recognized her as the top-shelf personal security maven Amanda from the NBC series Life) as Narcissa Malfoy, mother to Draco and wife to Lucius. She played her role here well, and she will get the chance to reprise that role in the final 2 films of the series. Though she was not styled the way I would have expected, she was still a good choice for the role, and I look forward to seeing her again. Speaking of style, what happened to Prof. McGonagall? Did they run out of magical makeup? And since when does she wear a set of robes reminiscent of an evil puffer fish? The film certainly had its head-scratcher moments, but overall was quite enjoyable. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, especially fellow Potter fans (who are going to see it anyway, regardless of reviews), but also to non-followers of the series. Unburdened by the knowledge of what the story holds for the future, the couple behind me in the theater speculated what the next 2 movies will contain while the credits were rolling. They didn't know what had been left out, and they can't wait to see how the story ends. Well, even though I know how the story ends, I still can't wait for the next movie to come out.

• Teen Crushes vs the Darkest Magic posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Its been a long wait for this film especially after the postponement of its release date from November 21,2008 to July 15,2009. One thing that the postponement was successful in accomplishing was increasing the excitement and the expectations for the movie. And I could never afford to miss the premiere show of HBP in India. All the previews had been indicating a darker side and a hormonal rush at the center stage of the film. Although I did welcome the darker side, but didn't like the sound of hormonal rush so much. And sure enough, you would notice that the movie at multiple places, looks more like a teen romantic comedy with crushes and love triangles and silly irritating girls pouncing all around the Hogwarts castle. As for the darker side, I do appreciate the feel of the movie in that regard. Draco did emerge as the main villain in the movie with Snape not lagging far behind. But Voldemort was absent from the film. Though Bellatrix was brilliant but Fenrir Greyback did not get a chance to show his mettle as a werewolf. The movie starts off very well with the screenplay juggling between dark scenes and light anecdotes and the scent of love staling in the air even with the dementors around. But as the movie progresses, the familiar Harry Potter touch is lost with barely one classroom scene throughout the movie and it being difficult to decide whether the movie is revolving around good versus bad or the infatuations or lack thereof among the characters. In spite the fact that every inhabitant of the castle is a wizard or a witch (or a squib), there is definitely a deficiency of (good quality) magic, if I may. But I must admit that the film made use of its last opportunity of showcasing Quidditch quite extraordinarily and the few Quidditch scenes are simply brilliant. Another exciting scene was the one with the Inferi and it was very successful in hooking the audience to their seats. Though I fail to reconcile with a specific scene where the Burrow is burnt down and can't seem to find its importance in the movie. Again, the film forgot to lay appropriate emphasis on the should-have-been central aspects of the film like Lord Voldemort's past and the Horcruxes. Strangely, the Horcruxes appear almost at the end of the film and no detailed discussions are depicted on the topic, considering their importance. One huge disappointment was the absence of the Hogwarts castle fight at the end. I strongly feel that if they had included that amazing fight with all the special effects that they are capable of, instead of some of the romantic scenes, it would have made the film extremely fun and exciting to watch. Just to wrap up with some mention of the characters in the film - Harry clearly got a lot mature and had a very good eye for beautiful girls! Ron still doesn't know that Harry did not add any Felix in his cup before the match and it was he all along who made those excellent blocks in Quidditch. Both Ron and Harry got their hands full with girls. Hermione was not the most brilliant student anymore, at least in Potions (the only class that the trio attended in the film) and she herself had a lot of admirers, though not the one she desired. Ginny did not get a chance to show her magical skills but did get to kiss Harry near the end after many futile attempts throughout the film. Lavendar was shown a silly "dumbo" who's overly passionate about her boyfriend Ron and did not really play any other part except at snogging him. Luna was brilliant with her eccentricities, as always. Dumbledore directed Harry throughout the film and the film did justice to his role. Fred and George got a small share, in their own shop - the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - which has been created vividly with lots of details.Before I close, I must admit that I was a bit skeptical of the film considering how high my expectations were. At the end, I would just say that in spite of all the shortcomings, it is still a brilliant Harry Potter film and definitely worth visiting your nearest multiplex and I would not miss a chance to watch it again.

• Best One Yet! posted on 30 Aug 2009

  This movie was amazing. Even with the changes that some people believe were way too drastic the movie remained true to the book without that rushed feeling that Order of the Phoenix had. I know some people think "oh everybody likes the next one the best just because it's the next one" but this was just really well done.The controversy over the absence of the fight scene at the end really shouldn't be as big as people are making it to be. The reasons for it not being there are fine because it would be fairly similar to the last scene of part 2 of Deathly Hallows. And yes the fire scene at the Burrow was completely random but it added a little more excitement to the middle of the film that wouldn't have been there. It also didn't really affect the next film all that much either. Yes, there should've still been a scene at the Burrow for when Harry leaves his house and for Bill and Fleur's wedding but really they didn't mention that they were getting married as they were supposed to in this movie and they will still be able to edit the storyline to work for them.The romantic issue between Ron and Hermione was also done well. It was fairly close to what happened in the book. The situation between Ginny and Harry was just weird though. It was sort of awkward and just cheesy. If they would've kept it like the book it would've been fine but it didn't have too big of an effect on the movie anyways so it was fine. It also allowed for more comedy I guess but it still just seemed abnormal.Speaking of comedy, that aspect of the movie really improved as well. It added a lighter touch to the movie and just entertained the viewers more.One last thing that was a little disappointing was the absence of a funeral scene at the end. I thought that would've added more closure to the movie as well as better transition to the next. The movie isn't ruined without it or anything but it would've been a nice touch.Overall, this movie was just excellent. I had a good balance of action, suspense, comedy, and romance that was very entertaining. Can't wait for the next one.

• 1/2 Blood Prince posted on 30 Aug 2009

  This version of Harry Potter was, as the last three movies have been, only a closely related story to the books. It, like most screen adaptations of best-sellers, always leaves you asking, "I wish they had included (insert your many favorite passages here)." Spoiler section--No Dobby again and no proper send off for Dumbledore. What's with burning down the Burrow? Not in the book at all! Alan Rickman definitely set himself up to be a feature character for the last 2 films. He was brilliant. I also liked how they gave a more central focus to Rupert Grint and, I thought Jim Broadbent was terrific as Slughorn.Contrary to at least one review I read, I don't think this series needs to change to stay fresh. If you've read the books, the real quality in their development comes from Rowling and should not Steve Kloves or any screenwriter. Just stay close to the originals and people will like them.If you're a fan or not, this movie will give you lots to discuss about what's ahead.

• Worth watching but could be better posted on 30 Aug 2009

  The last couple of Potter films have done something that I felt the first two didn't achieve- leaving parts of the book out without rewriting them/allowing the audience to not believe they happened in this interpretation. This film went one step further and presented things that happened in between the lines in the books- for example the bridge and Cormac being slimy towards Hermione. However certain things that didn't occur in the book but were included in the film seemed unnecessary and there purely for blockbuster duties; the blowing up of the Burrow and Hagrids' hut.Unlike the other films, you could also tell that the scriptwriters knew what was going to happen in the final installments and were setting everything up for them.I think it was a good film but often went into soap-opera melodrama territory at times rather than the dark, emotional drama.Dumbledore's accent was also a bit distracting. I do love Gambon as an actor.Overall the scenes that translated directly from the book were wonderful, the scenes that were adapted from the book-quidditch, relationships and potions to name a few- were pretty great but the scenes created solely for the film were, a bit, irritating. The CGI was possibly the best it has ever been and the direction and script were both in good forms.

• Ending makes no sense - what's with the Death Eaters? posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Spoiler alert.OK, I understand that a film adaptation of a novel generally requires that plot elements and other details be left out. That means choices. It's the director who makes the choices, and different directors make different choices.A different director from David Yates -- such as Alfonso Cuarón -- would probably have made choices more in keeping with the spirit of the books.More to my liking, anyway.Others commenting here have pointed out that Yates chose to emphasize the Ron Weasley/Lavender Brown romantic subplot at the expense of more important story arcs -- such as Harry's speculation over the identity of the Half-Blood Prince; or what items Voldemort used for horcruxes; or Tom Riddle's ancestors; or Harry's inheriting Sirius's property, including the house-elf Kreacher -- and I agree with them. He also chose to add a totally gratuitous scene of the burning down of the Weasley home -- but chose to omit the CRUCIAL battle between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix/Dumbledore's Army.But if a director is going to omit the battle at the end, the battle that is necessary to drive the Death Eaters out of Hogwarts, which they want to take over, and keep them from killing or kidnapping Harry, then the director should find some other way to explain why the Death Eaters vacated Hogwarts without doing any damage to anybody, and what they were doing there in the first place.It seems the worst thing the Death Eaters did while they were inside the grounds of Hogwarts (not counting killing Dumbledore because that wasn't the Death Eaters) was breaking the glass in the Great Hall and burning down Hagrid's hut -- hardly worth all the trouble that Draco went through to get them inside Hogwarts. The Death Eaters weren't there to help Draco, they weren't around on his previous attempts to kill Dumbledore.After Snape kills Dumbledore and Harry chases after him, Bellatrix points her wand at Harry, but Snape stops Bellatrix from killing Harry, saying, "Save him for the Dark Lord." Then Snape, Draco, Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters just run away -- without even TRYING to capture Harry and take him to Voldemort. These are Death Easters, Mr. Yates, not mischief-night pranksters or execution-hall witnesses. They would not simply depart Hogwarts unless they were driven out! Without the final battle, it would have made more sense to omit the Death Eaters from the ending completely, and just have Snape take over for Draco in killing Dumbledore.Or drive them off some other way, if you are so determined not to show the battle.This is the worst adaptation so far.I understand Yates is currently filming Bill & Fleur's wedding scene for the next movie. Where will the wedding be held now that the Burrow is gone? What an idiot Yates is.

• Sectum Sempra! A great movie, I can't wait for HP7 posted on 30 Aug 2009

  A wonderful movie. HP has become so successful now that as many people like to stick the boot in, as those who rave about it.Strip away all of the hype and you have a great film. A story that is well told and constructed that makes 2 1/2 hours fly by. You care about the lead characters so much you feel every emotion they feel.The added scenes of the attack on the bridge and the Weasley's house were necessary. The book has very little or no action and needed adding to. The extra scenes added to the story and the building tension.I felt a little let down by the ending. However thinking this through, the ending of HP7 was very similar to HP6, so I think the makers want to capitalise on the ending of the series, and not be open to claims that it copies HP6. It also leaves the way open for a dramatic start to Deathly Hallowes Part One.Highly recommended.

• The ads are taking over IMDb.... posted on 30 Aug 2009

  I found "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" very boring and repetitive. No back story I could understand. No way to understand the actions of Harry Potter, or most of the other members of his family.I thought I was seeing a weird British crossing between "Mary Poppins" and "Brutti sporchi e cattivi" (Ettore Scola's "Ugly Dirty and Bad"), without the powerful story those film have, and didn't enjoyed it.Cinematography is below average, acting is very good, but overall the movie makes no sense. It may be because I don't understand much of wizard school history, but I generally appreciate supernatural movies (from the Matrix to Star Worlds).It is clear that a lot of time was spend in the sets and the reconstruction of the 40's, 50's and 60's in the movie, and a lot of details looks real. But all seems very pointless.There are some sexual scenes that are very hard to see, mostly because they are quite repetitive and don't make the story move.The bottom line: These ads have to stop. Everything I'm looking at gets blocked with this ad. I have to stop and click the close button. This show sucks anyway, why are they promoting something that is going to get cancelled?

• Excellent! Just Excellent! posted on 30 Aug 2009

  This is by far one of the greatest movies of the year. The reason it has stuck with me so much is that it feels like much more than a Harry Potter film. The acting was superb,the special effects were awesome,the cinematography is at its best,and the overall story telling is great.I would also like to tell you that Emma Watson's acting is exceptionally great. She focuses on the scene and how it is supposed to be delivered. I've read a lot from the book purists that they left too much out. They DIDN'T. They told everything that needed to be told.Every single part of this movie is great. It is funny,emotional,well acted,great looking,and very good storytelling.

• Entered apprehensive, left pleasantly surprised. posted on 30 Aug 2009

  I went to see this having read many reviews--most professional critics were positive, while far more regular viewers were critical of the adaptation. To prep for the movie I re-read book 6 and book 7 last week, and so while I can appreciate that some people are upset at the changes to the details between the book and movie, I thought that the movie DID capture the essence of what the book was about--with the exception of the horcruxes (the details of where and what they were, was explained in sufficient detail in book 6, so that in book 7, this didn't necessarily have to be addressed, however their omission in the movie might mean that they will go into that in the DH-movie). As far as people complaining about the high school-ness of the movie, quite frankly, book 6 was all about the teenager-ness of the main characters (which I think makes their quest in DH that much more impressive).All in all, I enjoyed it for what it was.

• Wonderful adaptation that brings the comedy and magic back posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Girls, Quidditch and a mysterious potion book distract Harry Potter (Radcliffe) from the dangerous events outside Hogwarts whilst Dumbledore sets him a difficult task.After the controversial switch from last November to this Summer the sixth instalment to the best selling book series of all time is finally here and, you may have heard this before, it is bigger and better than its predecessor.At the end of book 5 the Ministry had come to terms with Voldermort's return and so the beginning of The Half Blood Prince, the novel, showed a meeting between the Prime minister and The Minister for Magic. Oddly left out here and so we are treated to a dramatic collapsing bridge and Death Eaters destroying everything in sight. But this has the best opening of them all with a slowly played flashback of Dumbledore taking Harry's arm after the previous events at the Ministry. It sets the perfect tone for the mood of the picture. An underline sense of sadness but with hope.As with all Potter films, there are plenty of elements missing and new parts included. The beginning is equally fun to observe as a waitress chats Harry up but there are no Dursleys again. The Christmas period has a new element of a Burrow attack but no Minister Potter argument. The ending showdown with Malfoy and the Headmaster is changed quite dramatically also.When reading these fantastic books we dive into our own imagination and inevitably the film impairs that vision and we can agree or disagree. So when the final dramatic changes in the Astronomy Tower take place, I personally felt a minor twinge of annoyance. The big structure in the middle hinders the showdown quality, with the crucial spell not as quick as the book played.But it is tricky to really fault this film on anything else because it is blissful enjoyment. The book is darker but this is oddly funny. There are funny relationship scenarios with Rupert Grint on perfect comedy form and finally getting some limelight off Radcliffe. The central star has some equal comic influence, particularly the scene with the lucky potion.The star of this film is probably Grint as it is so grateful to see him more frequently than any other film. But plaudits must surely go to Jim Broadbent who has made Slughorn his own with a stumbling and curious personality that generates comedy and tension at the same time.The plot is well adapted with all crucial elements added. The whole memory/pensive subplot takes a back seat as we learn little of Riddle's true past but the book, the Malfoy scenario and the teenage social aspects get a full thorough working.The teen stars have never been better and this, like we seem to say every year, is the best Potter so far.

• Magic Returns to the Series in the Best Installment Yet posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Harry Potter's sixth movie recently hit theaters. As always, the films are good, but this one is my favorite so far. Though the film relies a bit too much on teenage romance, the action scenes are so well done and the film is beautifully shot that it is possible for anyone not to like it. Fans of the book may be a little disappointed by it because it cuts key scenes, but I have read the book and still loved the movie.The characters in this movie are also what make it so great. Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry if you didn't know, is excellent as usual. The downside to this is that he's gotten a bit old for the role. We all know that Radcliffe has been in Equus and that the actor who plays Ron has been in Cherrybomb (search it in IMDb). Of course, they're all still so lovable including the brilliant Luna Lovegood. The actress definitely brings a great odd characteristic to her character. Emma Watson definitely is great as Hermione Granger and actually seems young enough to play her.As anyone would tell you, the Harry Potter series is always fun and this movie is no exception. See the magic for yourself and watch as the brilliant colors fill the screen. The Half Blood Prince is definitely my favorite movie so far. Can't wait till The Deathly Hallows!

• The most highly anticipated movie of the summer is worth the hype! posted on 30 Aug 2009

  The eagerly anticipated sixth installment of the Harry Potter franchise has arrived! Fortunately, the waits and delays were worth it. Although none of the Harry Potter movies have come close to the brilliance of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, this is probably the first film that actually surpassed the book in quality. Though it helped that I found the sixth book to be the weakest in the entire series, it is also a compliment to the film-makers, in particular the director, David Yates, and its stars, with special mention to the three main actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.Not surprisingly, the special effects are excellent. The world created in the movie feels real yet still retains a slightly magical quality. The attention to details on the set, props and costumes is astounding. Once the movie begins, you really feel as though you've been transported into an alternate universe.Of course, while the mystical aspects of Harry's world are enchanting, Yates and the screenwriters must be credited with the fact that much of what happens is not completely different from real life. Harry and his friends have entered the high point of adolescence, ergo the many romantic subplots and teen angst. Some of the film's most touching scenes are the ones in which they struggle to overcome the commonplace obstacles of teen love and of growing up. The romances feel realistic and convincing, benefiting from the fact that there are no sex scenes like in Twilight. The relationships really do work, in large part thanks to the young actors, many of whom have been around since the first movie and almost all of whom have grown considerably, talent-wise, since then. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and the others are probably among the more talented of the young actors nowadays, and if lucky, their careers should blossom and live on long after the final Harry Potter film is released.Of course, the adult cast is exceptional as well. That is only to be expected since the Harry Potter films have had the good fortune of being graced with the presence of some of the finest British actors today, from newcomer Jim Broadbent to Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon and Helena Bonham Carter, all of whom have been present in previous films. They work well with the younger actors and the entire cast has a sort of natural chemistry.Gradually, the Harry Potter films have grown darker since the beginning of the series and this film is no exception. Though there are undeniably scenes of lightheartedness and even humor, a sinister tone permeates the majority of the movie, and I must admit that it was handled well. Most of the more somber scenes center around the young Tom Riddle, played by first by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin (a nephew of Ralph Fiennes who plays the adult Voldemort but does not appear in this movie) and later by Frank Dillane; both of them do a fine job of developing a creepy aura about Tom without making it too overwhelming. The movie's grave, gloomy atmosphere helps create a sense of urgency that is all-too-often absent from fantasy films. Like the makers of Lord of the Rings, the film-makers here recognize that fantasy is not a territory solely for kids and that it can - nay, should - be treated with the same respect as any other "more mature" genre. It helps too that, like Sauron in The Lord of the Rings, Voldemort has become an iconic villain.Although fans of the book may be slightly disappointed since there are some changes from J.K. Rowling's much-acclaimed source material, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a satisfying, occasionally moving film that moves quite seamlessly between the universal humor and cheeriness to be found in teen relationships to the more darker material. Equipped with a capable director, a talented screenwriter, an outstanding cast, a brilliant technical team and a beloved source material, the Harry Potter series has deservedly grown into one of the better fantasy franchises in recent years. Fans of the book should worry not. They are in good hands.

• Harry Potter and the Halfwitted Director posted on 30 Aug 2009

  OK...so we're reaching the final chapter of the franchise, and the inevitable confrontation between the forces of good and evil are ever fast approaching.The sixth installment of the books really set up all the obstacles that were to be overcome in the seventh as well as giving Harry the necessary tools to overcome them.This crucial element is almost completely omitted from the movie leaving at the end, Harry with almost no clue as how to defeat lord Voldemort. The adaptation and execution of this book to film is appallingly bad. As someone so correctly wrote in here it DOES feel like the director only read the cover and decided to make a movie based off that.I still wonder why David Yates was chosen for the last four films - his constant insertion of pointless action sequences, omitting of crucial information for the development of the last films as well as his prioritizing the least important aspects of the books to extents that they are downright disturbing to the plot, makes you wonder if he has the WB executives and JK Rowling under the imperious course.I simply think that it comes down to laziness, an attempt to set his own mark on the franchise or a combination of the two. I can see the predicament of having to bring one of the most loved book series to the screen, being true to it as well as doing what a director is supposed to do namely bringing his own vision to the screen. On one aspect it is obvious that he has not understood the task he has undertaken, is in the characters. Perticularly Emma Watson, Michael Gambon and Alan Rickman aren't given the room to find the Rowling version of Hermione, Dumbledore and Snape.To start with Watson: Hermione seems through most of the movie shrill and not at all as daring though scared as she is in the book. This was a problem for her even in Order of the Phoenix and it seems that Yates has a specific idea as to how Hermione should be that Watson can't really show her true potential as an actress. I feel she showed better acting in the first four movies before Yates was invented.Michael Gambon was never properly introduced to his character and his acting is considerably hindered by it. Rowling's Dumbledore is a man of incredible humor and softspokeness and above all, he has a very academic approach to the world around him, meaning that he does not get emotional at all but remains calm and collected. All through this movie he seems scared and unaware of the dangers lying ahead as well as totally oblivious to the real magic behind Horcruxes. This is just wrong: Dumbledore knows all there is to know except the real memory of Horace Slughorn, which he needs Harry's help to retrieve. It gives the impression in the film that Dumbledore is losing his touch and this is further illustrated by Hermione's statement that people feel Dumbledore is getting old. He is not getting old...he is dying from a terrible long lasting curse that eventually will kill him. But his mind is as sharp as ever.Now for Alan Rickman...one thing you can't blame the man for is stealing the show as he hasn't had much screen time in any of the movies. With the title of the movie being "HP and the Halfblood Prince" you would think that the Halfblood prince would get more screen time this time around. However, the execution of revealing Snape's identity is done as almost an afterthought and has basically no importance for the plot in the film. Like Draco Malfoy being under severe strain so is Snape, and it would have been good to see some emotion in this regard. It feels, however, that Rickman has been told to keep the same face of throughout the movie making his two pivotal scenes at the end where he kills Dumbledore and again when he confronts Harry flat and pointless. He was supposed to be really upset and close to vomiting as he is made to kill the only real father he has known. Then was he supposed to become almost insane when Harry calls him a coward, as he at this point is near a total mental breakdown. This does not happen and anyone who has seen Alan Rickman in other movies, Robin Hood and Die Hard knows just how insane he can act, therefore it was sad to see the direction Yates has . the bottom line of this review is that Yates completely missed the point of the book and he has set up as many obstacles for himself as Voldemort has for Harry. I give three stars for Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Tom Felton.