Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince--SPOILERS!!!

[Wetanut]

Liked Broadbent (who couldn't?) but agree that he was much more likeable in the film than in the books. I woulda liked to have seen him a bit more smarmy.

Rickman is an acting god to me so I've relished every single moment and pause and look he's had on screen since movie #1. More shown of him in this one, but was disappointed that Snape's and Harry's duel at the end was so very short. I remember reading that duel sequence and being engrossed by the emotional pain Snape showed in it.

 

[KitFisto]

I liked this movie a lot - maybe my second favorite after Azkaban. The kids are turning out to be pretty decent actors, even Watson, who I always thought was the weakest of the three. And I really liked the girl who played Lavender Brown - very funny.

It was disappointing that we didn't have more with Tonks/Lupin, but I really missed the menace of Fenrir, who is really the big bad in the 6th book. I'd imagine that most movie goers wouldn't even recognize him as a major player in the story.

I did feel that the breaking into Hogwarts was a bit unnecessary, now there doesn't seem to be any point to it, except maybe to instill fear - to show the wizarding world that there is no place safe from the Deatheaters. Not seeing the DA come into their own was a big disappointment, but in the next movies hopefully we'll have some good moments with them. I think Luna had some great beats in this film though, as did Ginny.

And Rickman was great as always, he had more to do and he does it very well.

I look at it as them being there if Draco fails. They were a back up plan if needed. In the book they of course were in the battle of Hogwarts which kept the good guys busy while Draco was supposed to be carrying out his mission. In the movie I tend to look at them as not "needed" as you said, but more of a back up plan if they were needed.

 

[The Mike]

For me I remember reading the book right after hearing the rumor that Bob Hoskins was going to play Slughorn so I always pictured him, bigger and slightly grumpier. When I read that Broadbent was cast it was a bit of a disappointment, seeing him on screen he was very good but I got a weird channeling of Mr. Bean by his performance. While I liked him I would have to say I wish Hoskins was cast as well as the rumor that Naomi Watts was going to be Narcissa Malfoy.

 

[Entropy]

I look at it as them being there if Draco fails. They were a back up plan if needed. In the book they of course were in the battle of Hogwarts which kept the good guys busy while Draco was supposed to be carrying out his mission. In the movie I tend to look at them as not "needed" as you said, but more of a back up plan if they were needed.

But Snape's the back up plan, he plainly states it during the unbreakable vow. It's ok to try and rationalize and explain it away, but in cutting the assault it's now unclear at best why they need to get into Hogwart's in the first place which is why adapting and editing a story can be a tricky task. It could have easily be remedied by cutting the cabinet sneek in or preferably sticking closer to the carefully crafted source material and if not a full battle at least include some sort of confrontation with the DA (which also has the benefit of referencing what and building on what we saw in the previous film, something I feel they don't do enough of) and reduce the awkward teen hormone stuff in favor of fleshing out the central mysteries - who's the half blood prince? what's voldy's plan? what's dumble's.

 

[tomandshell]

Hogwarts was strangely deserted during the climax. I think we saw one auror blasted, and other than that the Death Eaters encountered absolutely no resistance or witnesses as they marched throughout the castle and out the front door. They built up the idea of heightened security throughout the movie, but Harry seems to be just about the only guy awake when the villains arrive. Where was everybody?

 

[The Mike]

I wouldn't have minded the empty Hogwarts except after the fall from the tower, everyone in the whole school including the professors seemed to be just below to mourn. I know Hogwarts is big but big enough to hide the entire students and staff from the one area?

 

[KitFisto]

But Snape's the back up plan, he plainly states it during the unbreakable vow. It's ok to try and rationalize and explain it away, but in cutting the assault it's now unclear at best why they need to get into Hogwart's in the first place which is why adapting and editing a story can be a tricky task. It could have easily be remedied by cutting the cabinet sneek in or preferably sticking closer to the carefully crafted source material and if not a full battle at least include some sort of confrontation with the DA (which also has the benefit of referencing what and building on what we saw in the previous film, something I feel they don't do enough of) and reduce the awkward teen hormone stuff in favor of fleshing out the central mysteries - who's the half blood prince? what's voldy's plan? what's dumble's.

I know Snape is the back up plan to kill Dumbledore, but if they ran into trouble and were needed like they were in the book then they are there to back up Draco/Snape. They just decided to skip the battle in the movie. I am just saying that's WHY they were there.

 

[KitFisto]

Hogwarts was strangely deserted during the climax. I think we saw one auror blasted, and other than that the Death Eaters encountered absolutely no resistance or witnesses as they marched throughout the castle and out the front door. They built up the idea of heightened security throughout the movie, but Harry seems to be just about the only guy awake when the villains arrive. Where was everybody?

In dorms? Sleeping? It appeared to be late when Harry and Dumbledore got back. It was very late in the book and appeared to be in the movie as well. Everyone came out after Dumbledore had been killed because the death eaters did disturb the scool when leaving "Bellatrix blowing out the windows in the great hall. That's when people started realizing that something was going on.

 

[Dementor]

No one thought that Draco would be able to "defeat" Dumbledore. They never expected Draco to even be able to disarm Dumbledore. That's why they were there. They needed to make sure the deed was done. They needed to make sure that Snape wasn't lying and was choosing to die instead of kill Dumbledore. Also, Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard. I'm sure Dumbledore would have been able to defeat both Snape and Draco if he had pleased. So, they were all also probably there to duel Dumbledore at the same time while Draco killed him.

As Kit said, the student heard the giant explosions from Bella echoing around Hogwarts and, just like in the book, they all went downstairs and found Dumbledore.

 

[Andr3w]

saw the movie. Was expecting much more from it. A bit disappointed

 

[darthjuan007]

Saw the movie last night and was a little disappointed. Dumbledore death could have been done better and a BIG character like him deserved a funeral scene. Maybe I missed it but...did they ever explain his black hand?? And where was Moody????

 

[Buttmunch]

Moody wasn't in the book so he wasn't in the movie. He'll be back for the next one.

And they only briefly mention Dumbledore's hand - the Horcrux ring is what did it. You don't really find that out until book 7, but they really did need to mention it here.

And supposedly Dumbledore's funeral will be the begining of the next film. It was the end of this book though so that is a bit weird. I guess they really did need more material to split Deathy Hallows into two films.

 

[darthjuan007]

Didn't one of Ron's brothers get mauled by a werewolf?? In the book anyway.

 

[Entropy]

I know Snape is the back up plan to kill Dumbledore, but if they ran into trouble and were needed like they were in the book then they are there to back up Draco/Snape. They just decided to skip the battle in the movie. I am just saying that's WHY they were there.

No one thought that Draco would be able to "defeat" Dumbledore. They never expected Draco to even be able to disarm Dumbledore. That's why they were there. They needed to make sure the deed was done. They needed to make sure that Snape wasn't lying and was choosing to die instead of kill Dumbledore. Also, Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard. I'm sure Dumbledore would have been able to defeat both Snape and Draco if he had pleased. So, they were all also probably there to duel Dumbledore at the same time while Draco killed him.

As Kit said, the student heard the giant explosions from Bella echoing around Hogwarts and, just like in the book, they all went downstairs and found Dumbledore.

Nowhere in the movie do they state this. It's just one of the muddy things Yates and Kloves do with the film's plot.

 

[Buttmunch]

Didn't one of Ron's brothers get mauled by a werewolf?? In the book anyway.

Yep. Bill (who gets married in the begining of the next book) got bitten by Fenrir Greyback. That was really one of the main things Greyback did and they completely cut it out of this film. Heck, unless you read they books you wouldn't have known he is a werewolf at all. He was very poorly handled in the film - no lines even!

 

[blue_rogue]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Yes but she was pink haired Tonks and there wasn't a lot explained. Her look in this film was very different than her appearance here and looking at her it would be easy to miss.

Tonks in OotP:

Tonks in HBP:

I hated Tonks' look in OOTP. She looked nothing like I expected the character to look. Her look in HBP is a much better fit for the character.

 

[Anzik]

Took my son to see this today.
It was a good representation but the books contain far too much to encapsulate in a film. I felt it was a bit odd that the 'half blood prince' was barely touched on.

 

[azurepred]

just saw it today as well.........man theres way too much snoggin in this movie!

 

[Susala]

The film was way better than the 5th one, but still a bit disappointing. For my mum (she didn´t read the books) the film was a bit confusing, especially because they haven´t explained some important things. Why was Dumbledore´s hand black? Who´s this ugly hairy Death Eater? Why is this film even called the Half-Blood Prince? ...


And Dumbledore would have deserved a funeral scene!


But apart from this I liked the film.

 

[IronFingaz]

I saw it yesterday and i thought it was really good, 8.5/10 Though i was a bit dissapointed by the ending. It needed some action. Also, as has been mentioned, some things went by without explanaition and other things were left out but still, a very good movie. Can't wait to see it again soon. And Slughorn