Confession: I have never read a Harry Potter book. And the only Harry Potter movie experience I’ve had was sneaking into “The Chamber of Secrets” one night as a teenager. (Shh!) Everything you’re about to read was written by a man uninitiated. I don’t know how the story begins, and I don’t know how it ends.
That being said, kudos to the team behind “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” for bringing me up to speed so quickly. With Lord Voldemort back from wherever he’s been banished to for all these years, his creepy minions are free to wreak havoc not only in the magical world where Harry and his friends reside, but also in our world (a.k.a. the Muggle world). For this reason, Lord Dumbledore (a.k.a. Gandalf) recruits Harry to dig up some dirt about Voldemort’s past, hoping to figure out how to destroy him.
“The Half-Blood Prince” opens with an aggressive and visually-stunning sequence, featuring Voldemort’s black-smoke riding minions terrorizing London. Following that, we’re treated to a delightful little scene between Harry and a very flirty waitress. It’s this little injection of romance that makes the movie worth seeing.
For the first time in the series, screen writer Steve Kloves (taking cues from the book authored by J. K. Rowling) plunges Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his sidekicks, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) into the dangerous waters of adolescence, jealousy and love. I counted three love triangles, which managed to entangle nearly every member of the cast under 20. For a story based on magic and wizards and broomsticks, it feels strange to say that “Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince” succeeds most as a romantic comedy. But it does. I felt like I was watching a stylized episode of Saved by the Bell and, from a guy who grew up in the 90’s, that’s a very big compliment!
A big part of these elements succeeding the way the do is the scene-stealing performance given by Emma Watson. She’s the best part of this movie and definitely has a brilliant career ahead of her.
But even Emma Watson’s star power couldn’t save the poorly realized action sequences. Maybe it’s because I’m not a fan of the book series, but watching wizards flick balls of magic light at their enemies was not the thrill the director probably hoped it would be. Another disappointment was the drag-me-through-the-book script: plenty of things happen but unfortunately the story goes nowhere.
This is the sixth entry in the eight-part Harry Potter motion picture franchise. (The seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, will be made into 2 films, releasing 2010 and 2011.) Harry, Ron and Hermione have worked hard over the years, learning how to use their magical powers. As we look forward to the blockbusting bonanza and merchandising mania that will consume the conclusion of Harry Potter’s adventures, we can only hope that the wizards behind the camera learn to use their magical powers a bit better as well.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review
Confession: I have never read a Harry Potter book. And the only Harry Potter movie experience I’ve had was sneaking into “The Chamber of Secrets” one night as a teenager. (Shh!) Everything you’re about to read was written by a man uninitiated. I don’t know how the story begins, and I don’t know how it ends.
That being said, kudos to the team behind “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” for bringing me up to speed so quickly. With Lord Voldemort back from wherever he’s been banished to for all these years, his creepy minions are free to wreak havoc not only in the magical world where Harry and his friends reside, but also in our world (a.k.a. the Muggle world). For this reason, Lord Dumbledore (a.k.a. Gandalf) recruits Harry to dig up some dirt about Voldemort’s past, hoping to figure out how to destroy him.
“The Half-Blood Prince” opens with an aggressive and visually-stunning sequence, featuring Voldemort’s black-smoke riding minions terrorizing London. Following that, we’re treated to a delightful little scene between Harry and a very flirty waitress. It’s this little injection of romance that makes the movie worth seeing.
For the first time in the series, screen writer Steve Kloves (taking cues from the book authored by J. K. Rowling) plunges Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his sidekicks, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) into the dangerous waters of adolescence, jealousy and love. I counted three love triangles, which managed to entangle nearly every member of the cast under 20. For a story based on magic and wizards and broomsticks, it feels strange to say that “Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince” succeeds most as a romantic comedy. But it does. I felt like I was watching a stylized episode of Saved by the Bell and, from a guy who grew up in the 90’s, that’s a very big compliment!
A big part of these elements succeeding the way the do is the scene-stealing performance given by Emma Watson. She’s the best part of this movie and definitely has a brilliant career ahead of her.
But even Emma Watson’s star power couldn’t save the poorly realized action sequences. Maybe it’s because I’m not a fan of the book series, but watching wizards flick balls of magic light at their enemies was not the thrill the director probably hoped it would be. Another disappointment was the drag-me-through-the-book script: plenty of things happen but unfortunately the story goes nowhere.
This is the sixth entry in the eight-part Harry Potter motion picture franchise. (The seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, will be made into 2 films, releasing 2010 and 2011.) Harry, Ron and Hermione have worked hard over the years, learning how to use their magical powers. As we look forward to the blockbusting bonanza and merchandising mania that will consume the conclusion of Harry Potter’s adventures, we can only hope that the wizards behind the camera learn to use their magical powers a bit better as well.