D. JonesHarry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
July 17th 2009 00:20
So, two nights ago, my friends and I found ourselves in Middletown (next to Newport) in Rhode Island, on vacation. We lived in Newport, but drove for about 20 minutes (yeah....we got lost) to get to the closest movie theater that had a midnight showing of the new Harry Potter movie.
Three of us were HP enthusiasts, while one of us didn't read past the 4th book and didn't even watch the fifth film. He was the one that I found myself talking to before the movie started. I told him about how this one was rated PG and that it would be worse, by default, since the only good PG and G movies are Disney, Dreamworks, or Pixar (Lion King, Shrek and Toy Story, respectively came to mind first), and were always animated (Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc. to name two recent ones that I thought were good). I walked in thinking that this one was going to be like the 5th movie, that was a struggle to get through. The only thing that got me through the 4th was Fleur, and let's just say that the only thing I remember about the 3rd movie is that I was outraged at the uniform changes and seemingly random and not so minor stylistic changes to Hogwarts.
The first scene, which was a first person perspective of three Death Eaters flying around England and Diagon Alley blew me away. The first thing I thought was that there had to be a new director. This thought was confirmed as the movie went on and scene after scene, I was blown away. The cinematography in particular was amazing. I thought that they must've tried something completely different with this movie, because it felt so much better.
This movie made me laugh, it made me cry. It evoked all emotions, and even had some good action. I've read that there perhaps wasn't enough, and that it had a much lighter feel, but walking out of that movie theater, I couldn't help but feel sad that it was over. It was epically long, but still, completely enjoyable. The only other time I felt that kind of emptiness and outrage at the end of a movie a was Godfather. I just felt like, where did it go? That's how enjoyable this movie was. It sucked me in and kept me in.
The best part for me was to see the "remade" Quidditch scene. As a rabid sports fan, especially of (American) Football, I love watching people in pads collide at high speeds. The Quidditch we saw in this movie was the best we've seen so far, and the most physical. This sport was always...well...magical to watch, but it felt so much more real than before.
***SPOILERS***
Another great scene, which I have to mention is when Dumbledore and Harry go after the first Horcrux. This scene sickened me. When I read it, and watched it, I could barely keep my eyes on the screen. I'm not a fan of the grotesque or sadistic, but I can recognize when they have merit. This scene was B-E-A-UTIFALLY done. I always imagined it to be in this black, dark cave, with like these zombies coming out of the water to attack Harry and Albie (just had to make that rhyme...didn't I?). Instead we saw this crystalline setting with a bunch of Gollum-looking Inferis. Still, the music and direction made it truly, a sight to behold. It seemed like exactly what Rowling would've wanted it to be. It was amazing to say the least. This added characterization made me feel the ending even more, even though I knew what was coming, I literally almost cried. It was like when Michael had Fredo killed. Just the shock of what happened, after all that was built up in the first parts of the movie.
We also get a glimpse of the Elder Wands. If my guess is correct, this is the first movie that came after the 7th book, so the foreshadowing was also a step above the last 5. BTW, the Elder Wand looks amazing. I think that it's one of the most creative things they did in this movie as well as the better directing.
One thing I could criticize to no end though, was a scene in which Fenrir and Bellatrix attack the Burrow (home to the Weasleys) and burn it to the ground. I think this will have some significance in the later movies and was done because of some sort of plot alteration made later which was probably necessary to cut down the time for this movie. To be fair, I don't complain much about it since it wasn't a bad scene overall and didn't affect the movie or the plot too much. Keep your eyes out for this one since it is one of the only things not in the book that showed up on the screen (in this movie).
END SPOILERS
After the movie, I found out that David Yates (His Wiki) in actuality, directed this one as well as the fifth movie. I couldn't believe that, but then again, Gus van Sant directed two movies I loved, and one or two I couldn't stand, so I see how that happened. I think that after this movie, if the next two live up to these standards, David Yates will be IN DEMAND. He is AMAZING. I don't sing praises for Directors very often, but this time, I totally will since, let's face it, good movie adaptations are good to come by, and with this series, we are seeing one of the greatest of all time. I think as a whole, this is more of a success than Lord of the Rings.
Now for the debate...
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Comment by Shriya Nevatia
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but i loved the 5th movie too so i disagree with you there, but this was definitely far more spectacular.
the 5th felt like "another great harry potter movie!!" (i feel like that after all of them, even though i liked the 3rd less once i thought about it and saw it again after, and the 1st & 2nd seemed a little infantile now but were great when I was at the age of the characters) but this felt like "wow, that's one of my favorite movies in general"
Comment by Fremen
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My issue was with the rest of the movie. After Brannagh took Gilderoy and made him one of the best characters in Harry Potter, the movies just declined until we hit this Golden combination of Yates finding his mojo, and the rest of the special effects and plot falling into place. The other (3-5) movies didn't really draw out the same emotions that this last one and the first two movies did.
Comment by Anonymous
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has Dreamworks suddenly become Dreamcast and I didn't notice?!
im reading your post though and it's so well written
i think someone told you when you were in elementary school that youre bad at writing and for a while mamaji would walk around saying that to us but i was like vicks smart why is he bad at writing
you're NOT, i think people just tried to keep you in a box after that initial judgement, probs from a dumbass teacher because so many elementary school teachers are such idiots (you know that of course)
what are elder wands
i read those books and then forgot all the details fast :C
ok for the burning of the Burrow, was it not burned down at all in the books? I thought it was destroyed somehow eventually right? I'm probably just altering my memory after the movies because i really don't remember jack shit from the books
Comment by Fremen
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Dreamcast - A video game console in the Early nineties that had great graphics and was way ahead of it's time.
Dreamworks - Movie Studio.
2) Once again, don't use my name.
3) I had bad handwriting, not writing.
4) That scene was added in general. Ginny chasing after Harry, Fenrir and Bellatrix. It was all written in. Maybe Rowling did it, maybe not. I'm sure it's a set up for the next two movies though, because it didn't really add anything other than take away from the reputation of the Aurors and add to the relationship between Harry and Ginny at that point.