Popcorn Reviewss

White thumbnail popcorn reviewss
popcorn reviewss banner
White thumbnail popcorn reviewss
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince 2009 Fantasy Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Srijita Biswas Featured Writer Thumbnail
Rating
4 Star popcorn reviewss

Hey there! I think I went a little overboard when I got to discussing the political aspects of the previous movie. And I think you too will agree with me that that and Luna Lovegood were the only redeemers of a fairly average adaptation. However, this is not Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix we are talking about, it is Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. So let us just get to it.

With each passing day, we are building up to the final movie and I feel so privileged and glad that I got this opportunity. However, I will not think about that right now and just get to the review. So Harry and Co. are back again. It is their sixth year at Hogwarts and do I even need to say, things will start getting a lot darker? I don’t think so, but I will, anyway. Things are getting darker and sinister things are afoot. So you ask me what is different this time? Well I know, I keep saying things are getting darker, but trust me when I say that they will be getting a lot darker to finally become bright, maybe.

So yes, coming to what is different this year. This time, we have an ambitious professor, the death of yet another person Harry loved most, and oh yes, most importantly, a Hogwarts student who had only been annoying, so far, has decided to take a plunge into the darkness and prove themselves to be worth it. A dark conspiracy is afoot and Dumbledore and Harry have taken on a darker mission. One that might not end well for one or either of them.

Following the standards set by the first three and somewhat disappointments that we had faced in the next two, as Potterheads, we had great expectations from this one. But well, it was what it was and not many of us were happy about it. There were some scenes that stood out more than the others, however, it was what it was. And once again, we were left disappointed. Noteworthy mention must be made here of Helena Bonham Carter. She was an absolute delight to the eyes, even when she was busy raising hell for our Gold Trio and their loved ones. There is just something about her, the way she executes her madness and fanaticism, the little nuances, makes her the most appropriate Bellatrix Lestrange, in my opinion.

However, coming back to the movie, we get to see a lot of fast-paced action. The highlight for me was Luna Lovegood at the Slug Club party. But well, that apart, you get explore the characters in greater depth, except for Ginny. I absolutely hated the way Ginny was portrayed. You’ll know when you see it. Bonnie Wright remained greatly underused and unappreciated. Another character that I felt was grossly underused (in the books as well as the movies), was Peeves. I keep imagining all the mayhem he must have caused. But I will keep that particular chain of thought for another day. The team working on the special effects, sounds and surrounds were somehow able to save the visuals from completely killing the movie. And trust me I am so glad for it.

J. K. Rowling had done an absolutely stellar job with the sixth book in the series. However, as much as it kills me, David Yates could NOT deliver the same with the movie. I know that some things when you are too invested in something only work to kill your expectations. My only saving grace was that I read the book long after I had watched the movie for the first time. So I had no reference point to compare it with. But the more I read the book, the greater my disappointment was. The best parts, the most humorous comebacks and a few important plot points were compromised and Mr Yates, if you are listening, “Junta maaf nahi karegi!”

As an individual movie, it is a decent watch, however, as we grew with the books and the movies, we had come to expect greater things from it. Sometimes I wonder, would I feel such disappointment had this been the first movie I watched? Had I not been so invested in the series, would I feel similar thoughts of outrage against the director who could not adopt the story into the movie as successfully as his predecessors had? What could have been different had Chris Columbus directed all the movies? While I am still thinking these thoughts let me know what your logical, non-Potterhead brain thinks of the movie. I am up for a constructive conversation about them or we can just obsess over all things Potterverse, whichever you like better. I will be back again tomorrow with my take on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One. Till then take care!

Disclaimer: The above review solely illustrates the views of the writer.

error: Content is protected !!