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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2009 > July > 14 > Entry
Crowning Potter’s ‘Prince’ among Harry’s best
About half a year ago, one couldn’t find much good press regarding Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
First Warner Bros. had the GALL to delay the film. Why, there HAD to be something wrong with the movie, people groused. Rumors flew that the movie had tested poorly and that director David Yates and company had botched the book’s famously heart-rending climax.
As of July 2009, those complaints are officially bollocks.
Not only is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince a considerable improvement over the last film, Order of the Phoenix, it’s the second best film of the series, behind only Alfonso Cuaron’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
While I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that film felt like the first time the series had taken a major step backwards. While its best moments worked very well, overall it felt too compressed, too rushed. One of this blog’s readers put it very well when she said the filmmakers made a major mistake turning the longest book into the shortest film.
This time, however, those shortcomings have mostly vanished. Regular screenwriter Steve Kloves, who sat out Phoenix, has returned, and so has the confidence in the storytelling. The direction, too, is much bolder and more assured, with Yates turning in some of the most visually striking set pieces in the entire series.
By now it seems almost a habit to say the series is growing increasingly darker and more foreboding, but it’s especially true in Half-Blood Prince, the somewhat questionable PG-rating notwithstanding.
The armies of the villainous Voldemort are gathering strength, even to the point of invading our Muggle world. To stop the dark lord, Harry and his allies must discover secrets of Voldemort’s past - secrets so deeply buried that uncovering them portends dire consequences.
One of the major drawbacks of Order of the Phoenix was that it felt too episodic, rushing through sequence after sequence, thereby glossing over what really makes this series work - not all that magic razzmatazz, but the interaction between Harry and his closest confidantes, Ron and Hermione. That chemistry is back in full force this time, with each actor playing to their strengths, and sometimes revealing new ones.
Daniel Radcliffe grows ever more confident in the title role. No longer playing the straight man to all the wild things around him, the actor legitimately commands the screen. Rupert Grint, who has always worked best as the comic relief, does some of his funniest work here, and Emma Watson, my favorite from the beginning, shows increasingly impressive emotional range, particularly when Hermione comes to grips with the fact that she just might be in love with Ron.
Of the new faces in the cast, Jim Broadbent is, unsurprisingly, a standout. He’s ideally cast as the somewhat befuddled but ultimately steadfast Professor Slughorn, who holds the most crucial key to Voldemort’s past - one he does not give up so easily.
Just as Radcliffe has grown into his role well, so has Yates. Deftly balancing the comedy and the drama of the story, he very cleverly segues between the scenes, making Half-Blood Prince flow much easier than its predecessor. The director’s visual command is impressive too, thanks in no small part to the imaginative cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel (Amelie, Across the Universe). They create some surreal visions and tense action scenes that are peaks for this series.
As for that famously emotional climax, I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say it is true to the spirit of the book, even if it is staged rather differently. The audible sniffles I heard from the crowd told me the ending did its job. It’s a powerful setup for the final chapter, Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows, which has been split into two films, again directed by Yates.
Any complaints I have are barely worth mentioning. The second half has a few minor lulls that keep this film from matching my favorite, Azkaban, but I’m not going to quibble when a film delivers as well as this one does. From here on out, the press on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ought to be nothing but good.
GRADE: A
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Reviews
Comments
By Jean
July 20, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this
I enjoyed the movie but was disappointed in the ending. I have been waiting to see the battle at the end on the big screen with the funeral being one of the final scenes of the movie. The ending would have had a bigger impact if they had kept true to the book. Will I watch it again? Of course.By MJ
July 18, 2009 3:39 PM | Link to this
I liked the movie… BUT… the complete change in the ending, the lack of a battle, and making Harry look to be a weenie of a bystander is UNEXCUSABLE. The rest I can forgive because I understand the need to change things for movies.By Val
July 17, 2009 3:37 PM | Link to this
I loved it!! It is the best yet yes there was alot of elements left out but for the aloted time it was awesome I cant wait to see it again! any true potter fan knows the entire story anyway (my half blood prince book literally fell apart at the seams I read it that many times!)By BETZ
July 17, 2009 11:07 AM | Link to this
I HAVENT HAD THE PLEASURE TO SEE IT BUT SO FAR I HAVENT BEEN TO DISAPOINTED IN THE MOVIES CANT WAIT TO SEE IT.By Ladyanne
July 17, 2009 7:29 AM | Link to this
My last post, I got on a roll and then forgot the summary: this movie makes me think of a screenwriter who portrays the story of Noah’s ark thusly: (thusly…did I really use that word??) - “There was a guy who built a big boat. There was a storm and a flood, but they all lived. Oh yeah, and there were animals…”By Ladyanne
July 17, 2009 7:19 AM | Link to this
Loved: the look, the atmosphere of the movie. Loved the development of Snape’s character (Alan Rickman - oooh, that voice!). Loved Dan Radcliffe cutting loose as Harry buzzed on “Felix Felices.” Loved Ron Weasley’s character development. Hated: the butchered storyline i.e. the screenplay, which completely edited out some of the more interesting backstories (Bill & Fleur, Tonks and Lupin, the other Horcruxes, the Gaunt family etc; which added a major episode that wasn’t even IN the book, and completely changed the actions of Harry at the time of Dumbledore’s death. Yes, I’ll see the movie again; no, it’s not my favorite, that title belongs to Prisoner of Azkaban. I just hope they don’t butcher up the final installment(s) in a similar fashion…By ME
July 16, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this
I haven’t seen it yet, but can’t wait. Here’s the thing I’ve not read one book on purpose - I want to appreciate the movies themselves first. They are movies they cannot follow the book word for word - not enough time and it wouldn’t keep the audience. But I understand how that hurts someone who has read the book. I plan to read each book and will be so grateful when all the movies are out and done so I can get started. Then I can treasure the books separately while reading them to our daughter. By the way Freedomlover … give me a break. Don’t you think your belief in the devil is a bit magical in itself? Does he have horns, a tail and is red in your mind? The definition of occult “comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine, hidden, secret), referring to “knowledge of the hidden”.” Obviously you are the minority as the world loves Harry and so continue to be pathetically foolish.By Kim
July 16, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this
Sometimes I wish I could watch these movies without my knowledge of the books - though there is no way I could stand not to read them! :) First of all - I did LOVE this movie and I want to see it again - and again just like I have the other films - but this one will be among my favorites. Heck - I like them all - I am hard pressed to pick a favorite. I think I like GoF more than most - but the last film definitely had me scratching my head. This one was much improved and I understand there have to be changes when translated from an incredibly detailed book to a film. But I again found myself scratching my head at key elements that were left out while new ones were added. Like PotterFan - I find myself wondering how they are going to reconcile things that were left out that are key to the plot of the series conclusion. And I found it interesting that an epic battle was glazed over - they showed very little of the confrontation going on. It’s so hard with this series because it’s so rich with interesting characters - Seamus and Neville were mere cameos, Tonks, Lupin, Hagrid and the non-Ron or Ginny Weasleys weren’t much more - but I agree that the films work best when the “big three” are on screen - love their dynamic! I guess it boils down to the fact that I adore this series and can’t get enough! :)By disturbed1
July 16, 2009 2:48 AM | Link to this
i read the half blood prince til the pages started falling out it was my favorite book and then i go see the movie last night and was very disappointed honestly i didnt make any since really and truly it suckedBy lawabider
July 16, 2009 1:25 AM | Link to this
I didn’t like the film. It could have been great, but the ending was flat. I don’t see where Freedomlover is saying anything about banning the film. It’s a scary comment on our culture that having a negative opinion about something is assumed to mean wanting to ban it.By PotterFan
July 16, 2009 12:46 AM | Link to this
I have to say I was disappointed in this film. Many key factors was left out of the film including the ending battle. Characters Bill and Fleur were left out of the movie and they are key characters in the 7th book. Because they left out the battle people aren’t going to understand how Bill got hurt or even who he is if they haven’t read the books. Too many factors from the book were changed in the movie without my understanding of why. That whole little scene at the burrow didn’t even happen in the book nor did the scene at the diner. The whole beginning was done incorrectly. Tonk’s and Lupin’s character’s were cheated. Way too much was left out. Considering this book was considerably shorter than Order of the Phoneix I don’t understand why so much was left out or changed. Severely disappointed. I am glad that they are splitting up the last book so that nothing is left out. It was a good movie but there are way too many gaps and holes.By PotterFan
July 16, 2009 12:44 AM | Link to this
I have to say I was disappointed in this film. Many key factors was left out of the film including the ending battle. Characters Bill and Fleur were left out of the movie and they are key characters in the 7th book. Because they left out the battle people aren’t going to understand how Bill got hurt or even who he is if they haven’t read the books. Too many factors from the book were changed in the movie without my understanding of why. That whole little scene at the burrow didn’t even happen in the book nor did the scene at the diner. The whole beginning was done incorrectly. Tonk’s and Lupin’s character’s were cheated. Way too much was left out. Considering this book was considerably shorter than Order of the Phoneix I don’t understand why so much was left out or changed. Severely disappointed.By Thomas
July 15, 2009 9:20 PM | Link to this
Freedomlover certainly has an ironic screen name. Ironic in that they want to limit everyone else’s freedom by controlling what they watch on film. Witches and the occult certainly did not hurt the “Wizard of Oz” back in 1939, 70 years ago! It’s entertainment, plain and simple. Get over it and get a life. No one is forcing you to watch.By SRCputt
July 15, 2009 7:13 PM | Link to this
Thanks for showing me the light, Freedomlover! I’m so worried about my daughter, who is a big fan of Harry Potter. Can you perform the exorcism?By Garrett
July 15, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this
I thought the movie was absolutely terrible. And I mean TERRIBLE. There were VITAL elements left out of the story, and HOW can you leave out the fight seen in the end?!By Ihateyourfreedom
July 15, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
It’s quite troubling that here in the 21st Century we still have intolerant bigots in this nation who rally against thigns they don’t even try to understand. Go burn a cross in your own yard, Freedomlover.By Allie D.
July 15, 2009 12:58 PM | Link to this
It’s a pity that well into the 21st century, we still have to deal with the narrow-minded, fear-fueled Puritanism exhibited by the rather ironically-named “Freedomlover.”By Freedomlover
July 15, 2009 12:49 PM | Link to this
It’s quite troubling that we as a nation are consumed with witchcraft and the occult. You can’t play around with the Devil and not get burned.By Tacos after Midnight
July 15, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this
I just want to be entertained or intellectually stimulated when I go to a movie. It’s good to know this movie should do that. Daniel Radcliffe is really broadening his acting chops with the non-Potter stuff he’s done, so I’m looking forward to seeing his performance.By SRCputt
July 15, 2009 12:16 PM | Link to this
Bruno Delbonnel’s camerawork is amazing. The young actors, not just the primary three but the supporting ones as well, have really grown into their roles. But the key is that the pacing of the first three films is back, so the abridged quality of the fourth and the rushed quality of the fifth is gone. This really bodes well for the adaption of the seventh film. Also, glad to have Steve Kloves writing again. His absence clearly hurt the previous film.By Janell Smith
July 15, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this
I agree totally with the person who did this review! I loved it, and rank it second to PoA as well. A buch better film than Order of the Phoenix could ever be!By Kim
July 14, 2009 2:06 PM | Link to this
Yay - I’m so glad to hear that they’ve done it well! Phoenix was such a disappointment in many ways - though I still enjoyed it immensely - and I am really looking forward to this one. Alas - as a poor working stiff I can’t make it the midnight showing as I’d like to (a little nap at my desk maybe??? maybe not…) - but I already have my ticket for the first showing after work tomorrow night - woo hoo! We are going to the 6:30 showing at the Dayton Mall - with a lot of others I’m sure!By Sir Critic
July 14, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
Allie: Well, I guess it was only a matter of time … ;)By Allie D.
July 14, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
I found this review to be highly anti-semitic. Shame on you, Sir Critic. Psssst… ;)By Rabbit
July 14, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this
Really looking forward to this movie. The book really was intense and had a lot of details that would keep everyone on edge for Deathly Hallows. I know Deathly Hallows is a huge finale book and they want to keep the storyline true to form, but just wished it wasn’t split up into 2 parts.