DISQUS

avenir labs · 4 months ago

Great job by Harry potter in half blood prince.I can't wait more for for this exciting movie.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 4 months ago

I've already bought a ticket for next Thursday. It cost me $11.50 because of a $1 convenience charged issued by Fandango.

Peter Donohue · 4 months ago

This is probably the most analytic review of a Harry Potter movie I have ever seen. Nice job. I really can't wait for this one.

Chrystal K. · 4 months ago

I have yet to see a Harry Potter movie.

Wyler J · 4 months ago

Well, thanks for that mindblowing insight there, Chrystal!

Excellent review, Cole, nice to hear from you, and other critics, that there's a true artistic stamp to the proceedings. Should make for an interesting/entertaining movie.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 4 months ago

Hey Cole. Did you happen to ever review the previous Potter films? I'm interested in what you thought about them. Also, have you tried submitting this review to Rotten Tomatoes or is that not how it works?

And excellent review. It's very well written.

Cole_Abaius · 4 months ago

I actually haven't formally reviewed any of the other Potter films (another reason why this was a little difficult), but I could talk all day about them. I'm pretty sure the way I see things is how most do - that Columbus created a fun family film, made a decent family film, and then Newell and Cuaron began darkening the movies and building the artistic integrity. Now Yates is taking that baton and running with it.

I've liked all of them but really enjoyed Order because I'm a political junkie. Half-Blood is probably the best one of the series, but it's a tight race between it the the latest few - and it still has a few problems that it seems like all the films have to deal with. There's just so much damned detail in Rowling's writing...

Oh, and I'm on RT, I just never update because I find it mildly pointless. Thanks for the kind words - they keep me going in lieu of any real friendships or honest human connections in life.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 4 months ago

I still think you should add it so others can read your review. Of course the RT comments will be hilarious because someone will attack you instead of your arguments but that's par for the course on RT.

Reebee7 · 4 months ago

Great review.

As to the progression of films, I really appreciate that that's how the books seemed to progress as well. The first two were child-friendly fairy tales, and about halfway through the third you realized it was changing, and then the fourth came and you were having snakes kill people and suddenly the "shit got real" so they say.

I liked the style of Order (which makes me excited for the sixth, sense you say it's even better), but I thought the film was kind of a mess. They also focused in too hard on Umbridge, who stole the spotlight from some aspects of the novel I felt more important.

Just me though.

Lynn · 4 months ago

I liked the review going to see it the day it comes out so i pumped for the good grade. I nominated you for a BoB award that could score you 1000 bucks

Greg · 4 months ago

Nice review. Can't wait to see it on Wednesday.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 4 months ago

SPOILERS FOLLOW SO DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!

Cole, during the duel between Draco and Harry, is that annoying Nigel character in the bathroom?

Namsla · 4 months ago

I've been hearing everywhere that this is the best Potter film so far and blah blah blah, is there anything actually new in this film that separates it from all the others? Or should I just expect a convoluted pulp mystery unsure if it wants to have a super serious tone for the wizard holocaust or a comedic tone for the gossipy slice-of-life parts?

Aaron · 4 months ago

How WB could even hire Steve Kloves again astounds me. He sacrificed way too much movie seven foreshadowing for a poorly written Potter rom-com. How Harry will understand how to go after the horcruxes, or even what they can possibly be will require a large suspension of belief.

A lot of people were angered by all the small details left out of movie five, and how Kreacher had to be added last minute. But atleast with Kreacher, prior to book seven, he filled no purpose. Not to mention, book seven wasn't even out. With full knowledge of how the series ends, exchanging small, yet crucial details, for terribly awkward romance scenes is agrivating. With this I'm refering to the room of requirements with Harry and Ginny, where was that Diadem? If you have two movies to adapt book seven, why not use part of that movie to develop relationships?

This movie was beautifully made, the best looking Potter film yet. But the writing is pathetic, and deeply upsetting.

laura23 · 4 months ago

I saw it tonight and me and my friends who all read the books of course were disappointed, but we had mixed feelings about it. The comedy really was funny. It was hilarious. Jim was perfect, best ever...he captured Slughorn perfectly. The bit where the Slug Club are all eating ice cream is sooo hilarious. I felt like they didn't do Voldemort's memories properly - they did miss out the Merope one. I wished they had put Snape's actual reaction to been called a coward by Harry...he was meant to look inhuman and that would have been good to see how Alan acted that out. I think they focused a bit too much on the comedy and romance, but it was great. My friend and I agreed that Rupert was wonderful, he was so cute, even hot, and funny. My friend said we would make better directors (and I agree) ...she said she would fire Daniel and keep Rupert! HAHAH. But to be honest, it's true. Daniel is a terrible Harry. I didn't feel like the Ginny/Harry thing was natural, it was forced. I think they should perhaps have put Ginny's scenes from Order in the move OotP to make the romance better. Another friend saw it without us in another town today and she said it was brilliant, but that she'd have to read the book because it was hard to understand. I've always thought they would be hard to understand for people who haven't read them. I hate how there's a new director for every movie. People say it's great and brings a new vision, bla bla bla. Stop lying. All it does is screw everything up. The first two movies were the best, as they had the utterly perfect Dumbledore, and the same director! then after that, Hogwarts looks like a different Hogwarts every movie! Hagrid's hut moves every movie and this time, on the train journey in, the scenery looked like somewhere in Texas? as opposed to the usual green side hills we remember. And then why do they do stuff like make Luna instead of Tonks the one that finds Harry in the train? and as mentioned in the blog, a non reader of HP wouldn't have known Tonks and Lupin were an item. Since it was about Snape, being the Half-Blood Prince, I feel they should have had all of his book dialogue, so they should have included his lesson/s as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Every movie is done at lightning pace, everything is explained quickly...so ok, it might take a bit longer to actually have the actors speak the dialogue but Snape and Narcissa's vow was also forced and odd. They're needed to be that pleading, that begging. She was crying and grasping his hands...then Snape spun them his fake tale and that should have been included.

I was thinking non readers would think WTF at how Harry's suddenly captain without any mention, and that Ron's trying out...also, the Weasley's house never was invaded by the Death Eaters?! WHAT THE HELL?! why do they bother putting shit in that didn't happen and not bother putting shit in that did happen? instead of that scene, the Minister for Magic and Percy was meant to come! they didn't even have the Minister in it! and it is important, because in the next book, he comes to see Harry, Ron and Hermione will the last will of Albus Dumbledore...

Fans should direct Harry Potter. Surely they're are directors who are fans out there, and keep the same damn director for the whole thing. Fans like us really would direct them better because we would know what scenes we need, especially as they appear in the future book...for instance, with Ginny/Harry, we would have known to put the scene in Order where Ginny and Harry are eating chocolate in the library and get caught and yelled at and chased by Pince, because that's like an establishment for their future romance, to ensure viewers don't feel like "where the hell did that come from?" and to show that they got closer before they randomly fell in love.

Oh, and again they get rid of Dobby. Dobby and Kreature were meant to follow Draco around. GRR. And I soo didn't get the start, with Harry randomly already away from the Dusley's, flirting with the random lady...grrrr grrrr grrr! I think they didn't capture how this book was, as described by JKR herself, a bit like a detective book. Harry played detective, but it didn't show in the movie. And to think they put millions into these and that they're what the best selling movies...JKR should have had tighter rules to her agreement when she let them buy Harry Potter rights.

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 4 months ago

It's a goddamned adaptation. It doesn't have to have every fucking scene in the book. Quit being a whiny purist.

Sri · 4 months ago

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-yo...

Brent · 4 months ago

Well done review. I enjoyed reading your work.

I wrote this and posted it today. It discusses the possibility that the film might be nominated for best picture. What do you think?

http://www.examiner.com/x-15294-San-Diego-Film-...

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 4 months ago

Absolutely not. It will probably not even be nominated for an Oscar, even in the cinematography category.

Seda · 4 months ago

I have been a follower of the Harry Potter series since the first book was released. I bought all of the books and saw all the movies on the day of the release. The first 5 movies were outstanding. I found myself saying, they are just like the book. For the last year, I have been expecting the same for the 6th movie. When the movie was over I simply felt disappointment. There was no plot line, that made sense anyway. The movie was more focused on humor and hormones than continuing the dark story line that leads the audience into the final movies. So much of the content that is needed to understand the ending of the series was omitted and I can't understand why. I pray that they didn't take the same approach with the final movies as it would be disappointing the have followed the series for so long to be left with anything other than pure amazement. When I see comments that this was an outstanding movie, I want to say, "Did you even read the books?"

Kangaroo Be Stoned · 4 months ago

It appears you think that because someone read the books that must mean they should hate the film adaptations. Well, I have read "Half-Blood Prince" multiple times and I still like the film. I like the scenes they added and I think the scenes they took straight from the book are great.

aLL34 · 4 months ago

its the worst ending film that i ever watch.. im really dissapointed..

aLL34 · 4 months ago

aaa

Teeheez · 3 months ago

Nothing REALLY big in the movie happened. What were they trying to achieve? There was nothing big that kept me waitng. Worst movie yet =(

r4 dsi · 2 days ago

Hi,
I like this article but..
last night i went to the midnight premiere of harry potter and the half blood prince! I was honestly so disappointed! was it just me or did it seem very choppy and for some reason didn't feel like it was a harry potter movie. Don't get me wrong some of the parts in it were either really funny or somewhat scary but i really was not satisfied. I don't know, what did you think?? Am i wrong? Give me your opinions..