HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009) (***1/2)
14 07 2009 |
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The HARRY POTTER series of films will stand as the strongest extended series in film history. Their success however rests on the shoulder of J.K. Rowling’s wonderful novels. So it’s not surprising that the weakest novel has produced the weakest film. But the weakest film in the HARRY POTTER series could easily be the best in any other. So what does it really matter? HALF-BLOOD PRINCE is still funny and exciting and features a lot of snogging.
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has sort of come to terms with his Chosen One status and the pain that it brings. He’s less angry at his fate and more accepting, even when it gets in the way of getting dates. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon, GOSFORD PARK) has a special task for Harry this year. He needs the Boy Who Lived to recover a memory from the returning potions teacher Prof. Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent, IRIS), who taught Lord Voldemort when the dark wizard was just a student named Tom Riddle. Slughorn is a collector of promising students. He’s not psychic, but he knows that it’s good to know future top wizards when they’re young.
In between his covert operations with Dumbledore, Harry has romance on the mind. And so does everyone else at Hogswart’s. Harry has developed a crush on his best friend’s sister, Ginny (Bonnie Wright), who has been in love with him since he first saved her in the Chamber of Secrets. But she’s dating someone else. This is the same dilemma that Harry’s best female friend, Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), finds herself in. She’s no longer denying her feelings for Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), but how can he withstand the whirlwind that is Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave)?
While love seems to be the ruling factor in most everyone at Hogswart’s this term, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) has other things on his mind. A mysterious meeting between his mother Narcissa (Helen McCrory, THE QUEEN) and the always-shifty professor Snape (Alan Rickman, ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES) hints at a role for Draco that he might not have the nerve for. Fellow Voldemort follower Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter, SWEENEY TODD) doesn’t seem to think Draco or Snape have the nerve. Snape changes her mind. Has Dumbledore put his faith in the wrong man?
As in the book, this film sets up more questions than it answers. The film doesn’t spin its wheels as much as the novel, but it focuses a lot of time on the romance subplots. While for fans, it’s fun and often funny to see the beloved characters growing up, but there are less unique internal struggles or relationships. While it’s true that 16 year olds would be obsessed with the opposite sex, the film doesn’t have the time to get into the nuisance of Rowling’s book, while handling the plot as well.
Something both the book and the film don’t do is take full advantage of the developing mentorship of Dumbledore to Harry. Dumbledore has protected the young man for years now, but he’s been hands off. It might have been interesting to better contrast how Slughorn, who is played brilliantly by Broadbent, mentors students to better himself, while Dumbledore mentors students to help them.
In the end, the film works as the book, it sets up the final chapter. It actually telegraphs future events less than the novel. Director David Yates sets the mood well. He creates a foreboding beginning with a carefree middle, which ends in tragedy. The epic finale on film will come in two parts and HALF-BLOOD has set up those films well. Who is good and who is evil? Can Harry follow Dumbledore’s example? With Ginny giving him something to live for, can Harry face death against Voldemort? Will Ron wake up and snog Hermione for goodness sakes?
I’m psyched to see this, especially as I just finished reading the book. I still liked “Order of the Phoenix”, because of how well it captured the essence of the book without being 5 or 6 hours long.
I agree with you Paul. “Order of the Phoenix” was the best of the films about it condensed the essence of the book into a manageable sized movie. While “Half-Blood Prince” is still very good, it still feels like set up for the finale, instead of its own story.
OK, we saw this on Saturday, and I agree with your rating. I have to start by saying that stepping into the HP world is like seeing old friends after being away, and having read, over the last month, all but the last book (which I’m halfway through), I appreciated more than I have before, the details brought to life on screen. The performances were spot on, esp. Broadbent, and Helena Bonham Carter (who seems to be channeling Heath Ledger’s manic Joker in most of her scenes). Alan Rickman as Snape is perfectly menacing … master of the pause, if ever there was one. I like how the scene with the lake in the cavern was imagined, and the attack by the Death-Eaters on London was a nice upgrade from the book.
I’d also add that it reminds me of “The Empire Strikes Back”; like you said, a set up for a finale that we all know is coming. For a true beginner, this movie has so many things going on (or hinted at), that the ending would seem a bit abrupt or rushed. But it doesn’t matter, truncated though it & other events were, the movie did a fine job at least capturing their essence, and moving us closer to the end of the series.
However, unlike “The Empire Strikes Back,” there is no emotional arch for its main character. Harry is resolved to be the Chosen One at the start. Luke learns a great deal about himself and the Force over the course of Episode V. That is what was lacking in “Harry Potter 6.”