Does anyone think Daniel Radcliffe will have a career after the Potter films? Just asking.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
starring Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, James Phelps
directed by David Yates
CAUTION: this review deals with HP6 as a film only; I have not read any of the books, so I will not be making comments on the transfer, nor aspects of the book that aren’t in the movie. This is a plan review of a two and a half hour movie about a kid named Harry Potter and what the film had to say in and of itself.
Now that we got that out of the way…
I’ve never been apart of the whole HP hooplah, but I have always respected it, and quite frankly, enjoyed the movies. Who doesn’t like a world were magic is possible and extraordinary things are commonplace? From time to time it is good to watch a representation of Good vs. Evil and actually enjoy the path of the righteous Do-Gooder on his/her way to victory. HP6 is no different; Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in their sixth year at Hogwart’s, and Voldemorte’s forces are still desperately trying to wreck havoc in both the wizard world and the muggle world. Dumbledore has taken Harry under his wing, and together they try to foil the Dark Master’s ultimate plan; destroy all of the Horcruxes.
I was never impressed really with the first two films. They were childish to me, and slightly boring. However, with the introduction of Sirius Black in HP3, I became intrigued. HP4 and HP5 gave us top notch action, and even made the kids seem like,… well, kids. The interactions between the students were excellent, and the flow of the plot was magnificent. I bought into the future of Harry and how the eventual defeat of the dark forces would come about.
Half Blood Prince has most everything that made the other Potter films good, but lacked some of the key elements. The film deals deeply with teenage love agnst and how we grow as people at that tender age. The infatuation was real, the friendship bonds believeable, and if not for the magic the cast could have been acting in a high school drama film. All performances were awesome, and Emma Watson really deserves to be called out her. Her acting is head and shoulders above the rest. You feel her every tear, and believe every line that is masterfully spoken in her voice. Ms. Watson has a future in acting, and I’m certain the HP films will not be the last thing we see her in. Radcliffe and Grint, however, will probably never see acting daylight again.
The direction was also done well, but I still wish the series could find a constant director. Changing directors so many times over the course of a story tends to add to the tragedy of loosing direction and focus of events, and leads to some of the story inbetween movies being jarred and disjointed. But still, no complaints here.
The main criticism here is the lack of action, suspense, and to be blunt, CGI awesomeness. The ending of both the Goblet of Fire and the Order of the Phoenix left me on the edge of my seat. Seeing Voldemort let loose, the Goblets games themselves, or the final battle when Dumbledore gets involved…I mean, how exciting and spectacular is that?! The ending in HP6 is more subdued, and though the finale is heart breaking and truly touching, it lacked much the punch it should have. Conversely, you’re left thinking “did I in fact just watch two and a half hours of high school drama for this?”
Furthermore, the Half Blood Prince himself is mentioned seldomly. And yes, when you do finally find out who he is, it is presented very matter of factly with no explanation given as to royalty, why he’s half blood, why he left all those notes in the text book, etc. Why was this called …and the Half Blood Prince when the whole story of the prince was more like a neglected subplot?
Over all, good movie and totally worth the watch. I personally believe no one of the series is worth purchasing alone, and the whole series needs to be watched in succession to trully benefit. So, I’m waiting for my box set. In the mean time, I hope they pull out the stops for the final…I mean, the two final Harry Potter films.
3 out of 4 stars
Harry Potter, Episode Six
Does anyone think Daniel Radcliffe will have a career after the Potter films? Just asking.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
starring Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, James Phelps
directed by David Yates
CAUTION: this review deals with HP6 as a film only; I have not read any of the books, so I will not be making comments on the transfer, nor aspects of the book that aren’t in the movie. This is a plan review of a two and a half hour movie about a kid named Harry Potter and what the film had to say in and of itself.
Now that we got that out of the way…
I’ve never been apart of the whole HP hooplah, but I have always respected it, and quite frankly, enjoyed the movies. Who doesn’t like a world were magic is possible and extraordinary things are commonplace? From time to time it is good to watch a representation of Good vs. Evil and actually enjoy the path of the righteous Do-Gooder on his/her way to victory. HP6 is no different; Harry, Ron, and Hermione are in their sixth year at Hogwart’s, and Voldemorte’s forces are still desperately trying to wreck havoc in both the wizard world and the muggle world. Dumbledore has taken Harry under his wing, and together they try to foil the Dark Master’s ultimate plan; destroy all of the Horcruxes.
I was never impressed really with the first two films. They were childish to me, and slightly boring. However, with the introduction of Sirius Black in HP3, I became intrigued. HP4 and HP5 gave us top notch action, and even made the kids seem like,… well, kids. The interactions between the students were excellent, and the flow of the plot was magnificent. I bought into the future of Harry and how the eventual defeat of the dark forces would come about.
Half Blood Prince has most everything that made the other Potter films good, but lacked some of the key elements. The film deals deeply with teenage love agnst and how we grow as people at that tender age. The infatuation was real, the friendship bonds believeable, and if not for the magic the cast could have been acting in a high school drama film. All performances were awesome, and Emma Watson really deserves to be called out her. Her acting is head and shoulders above the rest. You feel her every tear, and believe every line that is masterfully spoken in her voice. Ms. Watson has a future in acting, and I’m certain the HP films will not be the last thing we see her in. Radcliffe and Grint, however, will probably never see acting daylight again.
The direction was also done well, but I still wish the series could find a constant director. Changing directors so many times over the course of a story tends to add to the tragedy of loosing direction and focus of events, and leads to some of the story inbetween movies being jarred and disjointed. But still, no complaints here.
The main criticism here is the lack of action, suspense, and to be blunt, CGI awesomeness. The ending of both the Goblet of Fire and the Order of the Phoenix left me on the edge of my seat. Seeing Voldemort let loose, the Goblets games themselves, or the final battle when Dumbledore gets involved…I mean, how exciting and spectacular is that?! The ending in HP6 is more subdued, and though the finale is heart breaking and truly touching, it lacked much the punch it should have. Conversely, you’re left thinking “did I in fact just watch two and a half hours of high school drama for this?”
Furthermore, the Half Blood Prince himself is mentioned seldomly. And yes, when you do finally find out who he is, it is presented very matter of factly with no explanation given as to royalty, why he’s half blood, why he left all those notes in the text book, etc. Why was this called …and the Half Blood Prince when the whole story of the prince was more like a neglected subplot?
Over all, good movie and totally worth the watch. I personally believe no one of the series is worth purchasing alone, and the whole series needs to be watched in succession to trully benefit. So, I’m waiting for my box set. In the mean time, I hope they pull out the stops for the final…I mean, the two final Harry Potter films.
3 out of 4 stars