Harry Potter movies mean different things to different people. I was reminded of this after I exhaled a long face-heavy yawn two or so hours into Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and noticed the sound of sobbing – not crying, but sobbing – coming from someone in the row behind me. After six movies and a cumulative running time that makes the Lord of the Rings trilogy look like something you watch before breakfast, an iconic elderly character had eventually carked it and the sobbing girl, who presumably had that bit in the novel bookmarked in the broken chambers of her Hogwarts-hemmed heart, was clearly going through some tumultuous moment in her cultural coming of the age. As my mind contemplated dinner and the brunette sitting next to me I realised that perhaps I was not as emotionally invested in this movie as other – presumably far younger, and more well-read, as in more JK Rowling-read – members of the audience.
At IMAX we watched the first 15 minutes of The Half-Blood Prince in glorious 3D but the remaining 138 minutes were presented in plain garden variety flat screen viewing, and this incentive proved a smashing way of making a well shot movie look visually disappointing for everything bar the opening few scenes. The cinematography is dark and gloomy, the look of a once vibrant shirt faded after years of going through the wash. Critics naturally gravitate towards words like ‘brooding’ to describe it – ‘bright,’ ‘colourful’ and ‘glossy’ inapplicable for most of the franchise past the Chris Columbus-directed send-off which was, well, bright, colourful and glossy. The moodiness of the Potter aesthetic gives it a visual panache traditionally considered too stylised for kids movies, and this occasionally leads to some bewitching flourishes, notably the sumptuously stylised framing of the Alfonso Cuarón directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
But in the latest adaptation of Rowling’s monolithic book series this visual moodiness damn near takes over everything else. The characters drift around in the shadows, up and down darkened hallways muttering in an esoteric English-ish vernacular while intermittently under the influence of potions and spells, like half-stoned layabouts hungry for a midnight feed. Even the story feels moody and noncommittal, hazily wafting along with little regard for the three act structure or even for coughing up a rousing action scene or two (there are none).
One of the quiet pleasures of the Potter movies – at least for the sceptically minded and the Hogwarts care-nots – is watching the actors age ahead of their characters. The Half Blood Prince takes place in Potter and co’s sixth year at Hogwarts; the cast get away with it but they can’t for much longer. There is one Rowling book left, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, though the producers have shrewdly decided to turn it into two movies, which is a little like slicing a bar of soap in half and selling it as a two for one but charging the client double anyway.
According to the The Half Blood Prince’s official synopsis a war of wizards is raging around Harry, brewing a Confrontation in which he will Win or Die – but never has a war been so bereft of action, so wholly consumed by corridor-walking. Even the shoestring-budgeted Australian WWII film Broken Sun had more action scenes despite a difference in production costs of, oh, two or three digits. The story snakes, curls and peters away plot tangents, which involve love spells, a book of potions filled with notes by the eponymous prince and, most crucially, a chapter during which Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) – ever the most dignified character with ever the goofiest of names – reveals to Harry the memories of an old student called Tom Riddle, whose future identify is no such thing (starts with V. I am too frightened to type his name). The visual inventions in the Harry Potter movies are the franchises most striking splashes of innovation and here we find a lovely otherworldly touch to add to the broth: Potter visits Riddle’s memories by plonking his face in a bucket of water. Or memory juice. Or whatever the hell it is. There is another bizarre moment of liquid imbibing, this one arriving smack bang where an action scene would have snugly fit in a more conventional crowd pleaser: through some inexplicable twist of logic Dumbledore decrees he must drink a large container of psychotropic fluid, Harry sternly instructed to ignore any last minute pleas for help. Half points for weirdness but a rousing action scene would have been nice. This one reminded me of the peyote drinking scene from John Safran vs. God.
Directed by David Yates, The Half-Blood Prince is the most leisurely paced of the Potter movies and, by no coincidence, also one of the blandest. The script is stuffed full of yakkety-yak, characters gabbing profusely about the extreme importance of whatever force is currently threatening the magical equilibrium, but the words that come out of their mouths feel airy and vapid. This is especially bad news for those who don’t much fancy books – or don’t fancy these books – but enjoy basking in big screen spectacle, because there isn’t much sense of spectacle in The Half-Blood Prince. Jim Broadbent is wonderful, and Alan Rickman worth his weight in gold, but the actors in Harry Potter inevitably feel low impact, small parts of a very large equation. It’s a shame John Cleese didn’t reprise his role as Nearly Headless Nick, because the presence of a comedian could have really lifted the spirits of The Half-Blood Prince. Harry Potter movies, it is true, mean different things to different people. And while this one might mean a helluva lot to some fans – particularly the girl sobbing behind me – they should never mean “boring” to anyone.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’s Australian theatrical release date: July 16, 2009.
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16 Comments
Y’know, I’ve never been overmuch of a Potter fan (never read the books, seen each film once apiece in cinemas), but I really took to this one.
Also, “…reminded me of the peyote drinking scene from John Safran vs. God”? Gold.
O, Mr B. Very good, beautifully turned. Nice.
John Safran vs Dumbledore : ladies and gents, we got ourselves a movie!
Some valid criticism, but I still loved it. That is what you’ll get from most potter fans- blind adoration! One thing your review lacks is a mention of the sexual tension that punctured this film. The actor who played lavendar was hilarious and there was a good handfull of giggles to be had. Anyone else notice how phallic a broomstick can be?
I am a huge fan of the movie series and have read all of the books, but this movie left me feeling disappointed. Too much of the book was left out or poorly executed for a fan like me to appreciate. At the same time, I don’t understand how someone who hasn’t read the book would understand the motivation behind the characters actions as most scenes were very superficial. There were also huge changes or omissions that were implemented that will subsequently alter the remaining story. I understand that there are many fans that only see the movies and don’t care for all of the detail, but the alterations seem drastic to me. If you change the movie too much fans of the movies will miss out on what makes the story so enjoyable. You can cut slices out of an apple and accurately say the remaining portion is an apple. You cannot paint an orange red and say it is an apple.
The Half Blood price is a well shot, well acted film but the trouble is it bares little resemblance to the original story. Vital pats of the story and character have been left out. Odd scenes that were completely pointless have been added that were never in the book. This I could understand if in any way it progressed the plot, but Harry chatting up a girl on a station, what was that all about?
I’m not just being a purest to the book, but so much has been lost that made the book so great. And as for the next film we already know [and are dreading] how much will have to be changed because of the omissions from this film. For example deathly Hallows cant start in the same place as the book because in Half blood price there is no Fleur, Bill and the Wesley’s home is burnt down!! So bang goes any important conversations that take place at the wedding. And what about Kreacher’s role in Hallows ? Or the Black house?
But mostly I’m disappointed in everything about Dumbledore’s death. I was excepting that there would be few dry eyes in the house during those scenes but from what I could tell by the audience reaction, well lets just say there was no reaction at all!
Deathly Hallows is being made in two parts, would it not have been better to make three films which together overlapped and told the story of both books, rather than change the feel of the story so completely?
I’m a huge fan of the books and have seen all the films (and been mildly disappointed by the omissions in all of them) but this film just made me angry. Too much was cut out of this film and much of what was removed were details that are vitally important for the final films to have the same impact as the book. The remaining scenes were superficial and undoubtedly left those fans who had not read the books a little confused as to the characters motivation. Mr Buckmeister’s comments on HP’s use of the “bucket” and Dumbledore’s assertion that the potion in the cave must be drunk are further evidence that ommitting small details in favour of these more superficial scenes was a huge error of judgement on the part of the screenplay writer and the director. The addition of the burning of the Burrow and that ridiculous scene in which HP appears to be getting chatted up by the lovely waitress, who must be, what, 25? are entirely wrong and nonsensical. I also agree with Fan above me, these changes are so drastic that even those fans who only watch the films will be disappointed.
To end, however, on a positive note, I love the mood of the film. It has a dark, gritty feel that befits the Harry of the novel who was certainly not the comedian he appeared to be in the film.
I found the film very disappointing as it straid from the original book, the film was good and had awsome effects but I found it could have been better.
I with you, to lure people to pay extra for “select scenes in 3D” and then to show only the opening minutes – which might count as “scenes” for the lawyer who approved this ad – I felt ripped off to pay extra to hold my 3D glasses for the rest of the film. Not a great move – the advertising should have been more honest.
I have to agree that I was very disappointed by the end of this film. I was one of those who sobbed reading the end of the book… and was totally gripped (while reading the novel) by the incredible series of moments at the end: harry’s immobility, the moment of apparent revelation, the loss, with grieving having to be put off to deal with the battle and pursuit. I am stunned that the director didn’t make the most of such a suspenseful, emotional and dramatic sequence of events. I didn’t cry at all! I’m no fanatic, but was looking forward to some pathos that was needlessly thrown away.
I actually liked this one more than the others. I have read the books, and I guess to those that have done so the story has more of an emotional attachment. You have to actually care about the characters and themes to enjoy this one. To nitpick however, the wizarding war isn’t really in full swing by this story, and the purpose of The Half Blood Prince is really just to set up events for The Deathly Hallows. You can expect your moneys worth of action and expensive special effects in that one.
I was extremely dissappointed with this latest Harry Potter film. After the last battle in 5 I anticipated more action. To me it was empty and I left the theater very dissapointed glad that I had only paid 7$ for the matne. All the others were full. There was a story always some conflickt or mystery to solve. This one seemed to dwell to much on the hugs and kisses. I really was expecting more fire and brimstone. When it came to the battle harry might at as well stayed at home. What was the point making him out to be this teacher in five if he could not deal out more and there was nothing on lord voldormort. the half blood prince was the name of the movie but nothing really about him that did not last more then ten seconds in the movie. to me 12345 were 10′s and this was a 1. sorry The actors did a great job unfortunately to me the story was empty.
I saw HP & 1/2 blood prince today with two of my friends. We are all 50+ years old and have been avid HP fans forever. I had not read the book for this movie and we were at a loss to some of the holes in the plot and events not explained. e.g what happened to Sirius Black? It was mentioned that he had died a couple of years ago? Why? How? Why did the dementors burn Hagrid’s hut and where was Hagrid when this was happening? Where did Snape and the dementors go? Why did the Weasley’s house have to burn, what was the relevance to the plot? Why was there no confrontation with Voldemort? Was he on holiday somewhere? This was a disappointing movie and I feel I will have to read the book in order to answer these questions. Let’s hope the next two regain the excitement of the past movies.
Have to agree with most of the comments here.I am a Grandmother and have read all the books with Grandchildren .The books are wonderful and up to now the movies have followed the storyline as well as can be expected but this one really lost the plot ,its absolutely right that anyone who hasnt read the books will not be able to understand the rest of the stories however they handle them.There is so much to put into the films as it is without adding extra silly bits like the Weasly house fire that again is going to destroy what should be following on. I shall still be waiting with baited breath for the next 2 movies and hope hope they get back to what should be a thrilling and great ending.
the theater was absolutely full when I sat down with my son. Through out the movie I was of the same mind as expressed here. I have watched all the HP series and have loved them until know. I walked out before the end of the movie. I couldn’t grasp the plot it switched around to much and Dark, you know a Dark, Dark visible movie.