movie review
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Hogwarts Pals Return for More Magic
One thing I love about Harry Potter movies is that they appeal to all age groups. We saw “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” last night, and the people in the theater spanned at least eight decades, kids from 8 to 80. Aside from that, it’s just a really great production with beautiful cinematography, stunning locations, and thoughtful performances. And oh yeah, a fantastic storyline that hooks you from beginning to end, even if you’ve never read the books by J.K. Rowling. My only complaint is that at 153 minutes, it’s a little long. But it’s not an egregious enough reason to give it less than five Reels.
We catch up with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and and his pals Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) well on their way to young adulthood. Along with the spells, wands, and broomsticks, we’ve got three kids dealing with hormones and young love (and lust!). It’s been fun watching them grow up on screen, and it’s like seeing old friends again in this latest installment.
Harry, once a confused young wizard, has grown into a charismatic young man ready to face down evil with a vengeance. He also has a thing for young Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright). Ron has evolved beyond just the comic relief character, though we still get some of that, thank goodness. And Hermione, who started out as a stern young student only interested in obeying the rules and scoring high on tests, is now a lovely young woman with a certain wizard on her mind – a wizard who’s too dense to see the truth, thus causing Hermione much heartache.
Along with the teenage angst, we have the magical storylines that audiences will undoubtedly eat up with glee. The evil Death Eaters are attacking the Muggle world, and Harry and pals are headed back to Hogwarts. Harry comes into possession of an ancient Potions textbook with all sorts of helpful notes written in the margins and text. It once belonged to the mysterious “Half-Blood Prince,” as noted in the front of the book.
Professor Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambone) takes Harry further into his confidence and shows him some memories involving a creepy young Tom Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin at age 11; Frank Dillane at age 16), whom we know grows up to be the darkest wizard of all, Lord Voldemort.
Dumbledore also asks Harry to befriend the school’s new professor, Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), who holds a particular memory that’s key to saving the world as they know it. The loyalty of Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) continues to be in question, and he finally shows his true colors. And Harry’s arch-nemesis Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is more than just a bad, bad boy. He’s truly a tortured soul, torn between good and evil. A tragic figure, really.
Helena Bonham Carter’s Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange is deliciously evil, with her mass of wild hair and dark shenanigans. I’d say she’s soul-less, but she definitely has a soul. It’s just very, very dark.
We also get a good amount of visually fun scenes with stunning special effects: a visit to the elder Weasley boys’ magic shop; a trip to a dark cavern where Harry and Dumbledore fend off Gollum-like creatures creeping out of the murky water; an attack on our friends by Death Eaters in an earthy field of windswept wheat; a wild and wooly game of Quiddich; and plenty of beautiful spires, staircases and dark alleys.
All of this is intermixed with slower-paced scenes of the characters talking things out, and that’s ok. We see that they’re maturing and growing, and their lives involve more than just magical hijinks.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is my favorite movie in the series so far, and I can’t wait to see the battle between good and evil play out in the final two movies. Two installments of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” are scheduled for release in 2010 and 2011.
Comments on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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hey mom! haha i thought i would post a comment and surprise you… SURPRISE! :D
i think “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” sounds like a great movie, and im looking forward to hopefully getting it on DVD and watching it with you sometime!
~ Marissa =D
Posted by Missy on Jul 20, 2009
Hey Girl! Thanks for the comment. Can’t wait to watch the new Harry Potter with you.
Mom, a.k.a. Jane
Posted by Jane Boursaw on Jul 20, 2009
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