Half Blood Prince Review
Jul. 20th, 2009 01:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miramira(x-posted)
I was going to give people a little more time to read the other fandom review I've got posed below, but since I've now seen the movie twice over the span of three days, I suppose I should share my impressions before they go stale - and before everyone else has moved on. I haven't read a lot of other people's reviews, so apologies if I repeat anything that's been discussed ad infinitum already.
Strengths:
- Slughorn. Sluggy Sluggy Slughorn. Jim Broadbent is going on my list of longshot Oscar nominations I don’t really expect but would be thrilled to see. The monologue about Francis in particular was exquisite, but he had me at the armchair.
- Speaking of the armchair, as several professional reviewers have noted, the incidental magic in this installment is really enjoyable. I’m especially fond of the little chandelier bit that got trapped under Harry’s foot.
- I do admit that I liked some of the bigger set pieces, though, including Katie getting flung into the air and Dumbledore warding off the Inferi with the flames. (Even if it did make him look like Gandalf, and prompted some jokes about “Albus the [Redundantly] White” from those at the second showing.)
- The pacing for about the first three-quarters of the film is a really nice balance between humor and suspense, and several of the transitions (like the slow revolve up the tower after Ron and Lavender’s kiss) are stunning.
- The trio has both fantastic chemistry and solo performances in this one. They’ve all really grown as actors since the last film.
- Props to Emma Watson in particular: this is the first time in a long while she’s really felt like Hermione to me. Maybe that has something to do with the fact this is the first time in a long while she’s been given an opportunity to do more than spout exposition and beam at her own brilliance. (Then again, it could just be the hair.)
- I can't say I cried for Dumbledore, but somehow Michael Gambon managed to play things in a way that didn't have me muttering "manipulative bastard" under my breath.
- All right, all right, maybe I got a bit of a lump in my throat when Harry was kneeling over the corpse. But only a bit, and it was pretty much all for Harry.
- Tom Felton looks exactly like his eleven year-old self when Draco confesses he's afraid to die. It was a nice little touch that brought home how much of a kid Draco still is, despite how much he wants to be all grown up.
- I will probably never get to see another actor in a role I cannot imagine anyone else playing even before it is announced they will be playing it, and yet I am fine with this. For I have been given Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix, and one can only demand so much perfection of the casting gods.
- Honestly, though, I liked Helen McCrory (who, as I recall, was originally supposed to play Bellatrix) as Narcissa. Don’t know what was up with the hair, but the performance was fine.
- If Hermione doesn't want Cormac, I'll take him. (Purely in a distant, decorative fashion, of course. I'm not looking to wreck my good shoes.)
- Same goes for Blaise.
- I really liked the music in this one. It's distinctive without being overpowering.
- To quote![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ldymusyc, "THE PINCERS OH GOD THE PINCERS." I don't know what it is about this series and spider jokes, but if they scrap the plot for the eighth movie and make it two hours of arachnid references instead, I predict it will be the finest installment by far.
- Actually, that whole sequence redeemed the concept of Felix Felices for me. I still think it's a plot cheat, but at least it's an amusing one.
Weaknesses:
- The pacing from the Horcrux retrieval onward. Granted, there are few if any places to inject levity, but certain setups - Harry being dragged underwater (didn’t we already do that in Goblet of Fire?) and the wands to the sky in particular - could have been tightened to compensate.
- I do not approve of the Burrow-burning sequence. Not because it wasn't in the book, but because it doesn't bring home the sense of danger the way it was (presumably) supposed to. Just the opposite, in fact. After seeing Ginny ward off the Death Eaters so effectively, it's going to be difficult to explain why Harry won't let her come, or why she'd let him talk her out of it. And frankly, she shouldn't have been all that effective. None of them should have. It's hard to believe the Death Eaters would go to the trouble of blowing up the place and allow everyone to escape unharmed, unless you look at the scene from a GM perspective: "Okay, can't risk killing off the PCs just yet. Gotta give them a chance to level up."
- On top of all that, I may have totally misinterpreted what Tonks meant by "the first night of the cycle," but how come Remus was able to stay in human form while outside?
- Of course, this GM was way too nice to the NPCs, too. Why didn't any pedestrians fall off the bridge? It was only a PG rating! There has to be some wiggle room!
- And while I'm on the subject, why does Voldemort only appear to have three minions? One of whom isn't even playing to his strengths?
- To cut the baddies some slack, I have similar issues with Harry escaping from the bathroom without remark after the Sectumsempra incident. In character actions = in character consequences.
- Alan Rickman's. Pauses are. Getting. Vaguely...Shatnerian in their. Ex-ag-ger-ation. The body language is lovely, though.
- Bonnie Wright also does a capable job with the nonspeaking bits, as well as the parts that require her to be stoic, but the fact that she's had less screen time and therefore less practice than the other major characters shows.
- Also, count the Room of Requirement kiss as another change I didn’t like. I suppose it works if they’re going to argue that Ginny can’t come with Harry because he doesn’t feel they’ve gotten close enough yet for him to ask/allow that, but when I’m more focused on why they’re not more curious about the vanishing cabinet than happy for them, something’s a little off.
- Earlier in this review, I praised the way the trio got plenty of time to shine and interact with each other in meaningful ways in this installment. So wtf is Ron doing sitting off to the side for 99% of the finale?! I get that he’s supposed to be sulking over Ginny, I get that it’s foreshadowing, but he should still get up and walk over there when Hermione’s promising that they’ll both help with the search at the latest. Who cares about watching the damn bird?
*ahem*
So, yeah. Nitpicky details aside, I'm quite pleased, especially with how well it held up on the second showing. Not sure I've got a third in me, though.
I was going to give people a little more time to read the other fandom review I've got posed below, but since I've now seen the movie twice over the span of three days, I suppose I should share my impressions before they go stale - and before everyone else has moved on. I haven't read a lot of other people's reviews, so apologies if I repeat anything that's been discussed ad infinitum already.
Strengths:
- Slughorn. Sluggy Sluggy Slughorn. Jim Broadbent is going on my list of longshot Oscar nominations I don’t really expect but would be thrilled to see. The monologue about Francis in particular was exquisite, but he had me at the armchair.
- Speaking of the armchair, as several professional reviewers have noted, the incidental magic in this installment is really enjoyable. I’m especially fond of the little chandelier bit that got trapped under Harry’s foot.
- I do admit that I liked some of the bigger set pieces, though, including Katie getting flung into the air and Dumbledore warding off the Inferi with the flames. (Even if it did make him look like Gandalf, and prompted some jokes about “Albus the [Redundantly] White” from those at the second showing.)
- The pacing for about the first three-quarters of the film is a really nice balance between humor and suspense, and several of the transitions (like the slow revolve up the tower after Ron and Lavender’s kiss) are stunning.
- The trio has both fantastic chemistry and solo performances in this one. They’ve all really grown as actors since the last film.
- Props to Emma Watson in particular: this is the first time in a long while she’s really felt like Hermione to me. Maybe that has something to do with the fact this is the first time in a long while she’s been given an opportunity to do more than spout exposition and beam at her own brilliance. (Then again, it could just be the hair.)
- I can't say I cried for Dumbledore, but somehow Michael Gambon managed to play things in a way that didn't have me muttering "manipulative bastard" under my breath.
- All right, all right, maybe I got a bit of a lump in my throat when Harry was kneeling over the corpse. But only a bit, and it was pretty much all for Harry.
- Tom Felton looks exactly like his eleven year-old self when Draco confesses he's afraid to die. It was a nice little touch that brought home how much of a kid Draco still is, despite how much he wants to be all grown up.
- I will probably never get to see another actor in a role I cannot imagine anyone else playing even before it is announced they will be playing it, and yet I am fine with this. For I have been given Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix, and one can only demand so much perfection of the casting gods.
- Honestly, though, I liked Helen McCrory (who, as I recall, was originally supposed to play Bellatrix) as Narcissa. Don’t know what was up with the hair, but the performance was fine.
- If Hermione doesn't want Cormac, I'll take him. (Purely in a distant, decorative fashion, of course. I'm not looking to wreck my good shoes.)
- Same goes for Blaise.
- I really liked the music in this one. It's distinctive without being overpowering.
- To quote
ldymusyc, "THE PINCERS OH GOD THE PINCERS." I don't know what it is about this series and spider jokes, but if they scrap the plot for the eighth movie and make it two hours of arachnid references instead, I predict it will be the finest installment by far.- Actually, that whole sequence redeemed the concept of Felix Felices for me. I still think it's a plot cheat, but at least it's an amusing one.
Weaknesses:
- The pacing from the Horcrux retrieval onward. Granted, there are few if any places to inject levity, but certain setups - Harry being dragged underwater (didn’t we already do that in Goblet of Fire?) and the wands to the sky in particular - could have been tightened to compensate.
- I do not approve of the Burrow-burning sequence. Not because it wasn't in the book, but because it doesn't bring home the sense of danger the way it was (presumably) supposed to. Just the opposite, in fact. After seeing Ginny ward off the Death Eaters so effectively, it's going to be difficult to explain why Harry won't let her come, or why she'd let him talk her out of it. And frankly, she shouldn't have been all that effective. None of them should have. It's hard to believe the Death Eaters would go to the trouble of blowing up the place and allow everyone to escape unharmed, unless you look at the scene from a GM perspective: "Okay, can't risk killing off the PCs just yet. Gotta give them a chance to level up."
- On top of all that, I may have totally misinterpreted what Tonks meant by "the first night of the cycle," but how come Remus was able to stay in human form while outside?
- Of course, this GM was way too nice to the NPCs, too. Why didn't any pedestrians fall off the bridge? It was only a PG rating! There has to be some wiggle room!
- And while I'm on the subject, why does Voldemort only appear to have three minions? One of whom isn't even playing to his strengths?
- To cut the baddies some slack, I have similar issues with Harry escaping from the bathroom without remark after the Sectumsempra incident. In character actions = in character consequences.
- Alan Rickman's. Pauses are. Getting. Vaguely...Shatnerian in their. Ex-ag-ger-ation. The body language is lovely, though.
- Bonnie Wright also does a capable job with the nonspeaking bits, as well as the parts that require her to be stoic, but the fact that she's had less screen time and therefore less practice than the other major characters shows.
- Also, count the Room of Requirement kiss as another change I didn’t like. I suppose it works if they’re going to argue that Ginny can’t come with Harry because he doesn’t feel they’ve gotten close enough yet for him to ask/allow that, but when I’m more focused on why they’re not more curious about the vanishing cabinet than happy for them, something’s a little off.
- Earlier in this review, I praised the way the trio got plenty of time to shine and interact with each other in meaningful ways in this installment. So wtf is Ron doing sitting off to the side for 99% of the finale?! I get that he’s supposed to be sulking over Ginny, I get that it’s foreshadowing, but he should still get up and walk over there when Hermione’s promising that they’ll both help with the search at the latest. Who cares about watching the damn bird?
*ahem*
So, yeah. Nitpicky details aside, I'm quite pleased, especially with how well it held up on the second showing. Not sure I've got a third in me, though.