So, I just got back from the theatre and my thoughts are all over the place. The most present feeling is one of enjoyment. This movie is REALLY FUNNY. It's almost too funny when I think about it, because it seems that the filmmakers thought that being funny was more important than being cohesive.
I say that because I think, if you look at this movie as an actual film, you'd find it falls short in a lot of arenas. Important aspects of the plot are either non-existent or way too obvious. What needed to be explained wasn't and what needed to be a mystery was basically revealed by the half-way point. Things are brought up at one point and ignored at the next, and when you're looking at the proper structure of the whole thing, you can't do that and expect to have a perfectly sensible story.
But I also feel it's important to say that I'm not an objective viewer. After the third movie, I've just learned to let plot mishaps go. Having read, loved, and basically devoted myself to the story in the books, I don't really give a flying flip about the plot in the movie. If they mess up some really important story detail (Hey! The Maurader's Map was really made by Harry Potter's father and his friends! Hey! Neville could have just as easily been "The Chosen One" instead of Harry! Hey! The Half-Blood Prince is someone who's half muggle-half witch/wizard and who's mother's maiden name was actaully "Prince!") what do I care? I know what happened. I just enjoy seeing it on the screen.
And speaking of seeing this movie on the screen; oh my stars, it is GORGEOUS. This movie's cinematography is stunning. Random unnecessary fight at the burrow? I don't care! Harry running through the cornfield (corndfield, what?!) was beeeaaaaaauuuuuuutiful. Death Eaters destroying a muggle bridge? Wait - WHY? Who gives a shit? Man, is it impressive looking. And there's just some beautfully staged scenes...I won't say which ones because I'm trying not to give away major spoilers.
And then there's the actual actors/characters. Some were just phenomenal (Malfoy/Tom Felton, Harry/Daniel Radcliffe) and some just didn't live up to what I wanted (Dumbledore/Michael Gambon, Snape/Alan Rickman). The good first. Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy is just wonderful. I'm really happy that Tom Felton got the chance to really take Malfoy's character somewhere. Maybe it's because I haven't read the 6th book in a while (which may also have something to do with why I did enjoy this movie so much - I don't remember all the little details they ignored), but I really felt more sympathetic towards Malfoy than I ever remember being in the books. The scene in the bathroom where he just rips his sweater vest off and cries at the sink I totally bought. Without even a second thought I was feeling sorry for Malfoy. For the whole story with Malfoy I felt that way.
And then there was Harry, who I thought was super hilarious this time around. It seems like a lot of characters got to be funny in this movie (especially, no surprise, Ron), but Harry stole the show when he was under Felix's spell. The bit about the pinchers had me literally slapping my knees. I think Daniel Radcliffe is a really talented actor...I think he just gets better with every movie. I still find his crying a bit uncomfortable, but just about everything else he does I love. But the line about the pinchers with his voice and his hands...ahahahahaha.
And now or the ones I didn't like. It's too bad I was disappointed with Dumbledore, because he's kind of crucial. Don't get me wrong, I cried at the end, but for a lot of it I didn't buy it. That big important cave scene, where I really wanted to feel for what was happening to the old wizard - I just didn't. I didn't believe that any of his pain was coming from an honest place, and part of that isn't Gambon's fault. It's the fault of whoever wrote his experience as more physically painful than emotionally painful. And if you've read the book, you know it's really coming from an emotional place.
And then Snape. Again, my disatisfaction with his character isn't necessarily Alan Rickman's fault so much as it is the person who decided to downplay all of the emotions going on with Snape in those final scenes. Part of the reason Snape's character is so contrary is because of how he handles that final showdown with Harry. To have him remain so calm and cool with Harry totally downplays what his character is really experiencing. If they had kept him as furious as he is in the books, I think it would have helped to totally make the viewers stop and consider his earlier actions. If Snape had completely lost his composure, as he originally does, it would have made the audience stop and think, wait...what could have possibly made Snape so unstable? As opposed to just making him as collected as ever, not giving the audience a chance to stop and consider the motive behind the night's events.
But ultiamtely, at the end of the night, I still have to totally reccommend this movie. It's a great way to spend a couple hours. If you're not someone who pays much attention during a movie, but instead gets caught up in what's happening the moment it's happening (like me) this movie probably won't seem lacking to you. If you're someone who pays attention to all the little details, you'll probably wind up both unsatisfied by how simple the main plot was, yet confused by the intention of other parts of the story. Either way, I laughed. I laughed a lot.
I say that because I think, if you look at this movie as an actual film, you'd find it falls short in a lot of arenas. Important aspects of the plot are either non-existent or way too obvious. What needed to be explained wasn't and what needed to be a mystery was basically revealed by the half-way point. Things are brought up at one point and ignored at the next, and when you're looking at the proper structure of the whole thing, you can't do that and expect to have a perfectly sensible story.
But I also feel it's important to say that I'm not an objective viewer. After the third movie, I've just learned to let plot mishaps go. Having read, loved, and basically devoted myself to the story in the books, I don't really give a flying flip about the plot in the movie. If they mess up some really important story detail (Hey! The Maurader's Map was really made by Harry Potter's father and his friends! Hey! Neville could have just as easily been "The Chosen One" instead of Harry! Hey! The Half-Blood Prince is someone who's half muggle-half witch/wizard and who's mother's maiden name was actaully "Prince!") what do I care? I know what happened. I just enjoy seeing it on the screen.
And speaking of seeing this movie on the screen; oh my stars, it is GORGEOUS. This movie's cinematography is stunning. Random unnecessary fight at the burrow? I don't care! Harry running through the cornfield (corndfield, what?!) was beeeaaaaaauuuuuuutiful. Death Eaters destroying a muggle bridge? Wait - WHY? Who gives a shit? Man, is it impressive looking. And there's just some beautfully staged scenes...I won't say which ones because I'm trying not to give away major spoilers.
And then there's the actual actors/characters. Some were just phenomenal (Malfoy/Tom Felton, Harry/Daniel Radcliffe) and some just didn't live up to what I wanted (Dumbledore/Michael Gambon, Snape/Alan Rickman). The good first. Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy is just wonderful. I'm really happy that Tom Felton got the chance to really take Malfoy's character somewhere. Maybe it's because I haven't read the 6th book in a while (which may also have something to do with why I did enjoy this movie so much - I don't remember all the little details they ignored), but I really felt more sympathetic towards Malfoy than I ever remember being in the books. The scene in the bathroom where he just rips his sweater vest off and cries at the sink I totally bought. Without even a second thought I was feeling sorry for Malfoy. For the whole story with Malfoy I felt that way.
And then there was Harry, who I thought was super hilarious this time around. It seems like a lot of characters got to be funny in this movie (especially, no surprise, Ron), but Harry stole the show when he was under Felix's spell. The bit about the pinchers had me literally slapping my knees. I think Daniel Radcliffe is a really talented actor...I think he just gets better with every movie. I still find his crying a bit uncomfortable, but just about everything else he does I love. But the line about the pinchers with his voice and his hands...ahahahahaha.
And now or the ones I didn't like. It's too bad I was disappointed with Dumbledore, because he's kind of crucial. Don't get me wrong, I cried at the end, but for a lot of it I didn't buy it. That big important cave scene, where I really wanted to feel for what was happening to the old wizard - I just didn't. I didn't believe that any of his pain was coming from an honest place, and part of that isn't Gambon's fault. It's the fault of whoever wrote his experience as more physically painful than emotionally painful. And if you've read the book, you know it's really coming from an emotional place.
And then Snape. Again, my disatisfaction with his character isn't necessarily Alan Rickman's fault so much as it is the person who decided to downplay all of the emotions going on with Snape in those final scenes. Part of the reason Snape's character is so contrary is because of how he handles that final showdown with Harry. To have him remain so calm and cool with Harry totally downplays what his character is really experiencing. If they had kept him as furious as he is in the books, I think it would have helped to totally make the viewers stop and consider his earlier actions. If Snape had completely lost his composure, as he originally does, it would have made the audience stop and think, wait...what could have possibly made Snape so unstable? As opposed to just making him as collected as ever, not giving the audience a chance to stop and consider the motive behind the night's events.
But ultiamtely, at the end of the night, I still have to totally reccommend this movie. It's a great way to spend a couple hours. If you're not someone who pays much attention during a movie, but instead gets caught up in what's happening the moment it's happening (like me) this movie probably won't seem lacking to you. If you're someone who pays attention to all the little details, you'll probably wind up both unsatisfied by how simple the main plot was, yet confused by the intention of other parts of the story. Either way, I laughed. I laughed a lot.
For your viewing pleasure, heres the trailer:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince stars Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, and Alan Rickman
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