NOTE: This review is a repost from the first Reel Money Site. It was placed here to be included in our new archives.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince(2009)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson,Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman
Dir: David Yates
Writers: Steve Kloves, based off novel by JK Rowling.
When approaching books based off novels, especially highly popular, beloved ones like the Harry Potter franchise, it's natural, if not ill-recommended to draw comparisons between the two works. However, this franchise has had five movies in which to demonstrate that they are entirely different beasts than their literary predecessors, and we should assess them as such. And so it came to be that the one book from the series I truly despised became my favorite film.
Right from the beginning, director David Yates makes it quite clear that the tone of the movies has changed, and the rules have as well. No amusing Dursley abuse for us in the opening frames, instead we get a kidnapping and an act of wizard terrorism. Our first look at Harry shows that he's changed as well, hanging around train stations against Dumbledore's advice and hitting on waitresses. (This of course leads to a magical cock-blocking by Dumbledore.) It's clearly a darker, more cynical chapter in the Potterverse, and while not subtle about it at all, the cast carries this idea out with aplomb.
(Note: I'd really like it if someone were to find a way to make sure I go down in history as the first critic to ever use the phrase "magical cock-blocking" in a review.)
My biggest complaint with Half-Blood Prince, the book, was that it was the part of the series when everything became about relationships. It's this way in the movie as well, but it goes a bit deeper in the changing relationships of its characters than just their dating lives. The biggest evolution is the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore, one described by Radcliffe himself as transitioning from teacher-student to that of a general and his favorite lieutenant. Both Radcliffe and Gambon understand that, and as a result, their scenes together are spectacular. Of course, romantic relationships rear their head in the film as well. Ron gets a clingy girlfriend (played to neurotic hilarity by Jessie Cave) , much to Hermione's jealousy, and previously undocumented chemistry between Harry and Ginny Weasly pops up, basically out of nowhere. It's not handled poorly, though, mainly thanks to the talented young cast's ability to act like actual teenagers.
Which leads to the next reason the film succeeds. Since the series' beginning, people have debated the staying power of the young stars, basically wondering if they will ever be able to be anything other than the Harry Potter kids for their entire careers. In Half-Blood Prince, the caliber of acting is brought to an all-time high, showing the answer to be a definite "yes.". During some of the film's lighter moments, Radcliffe and Grint provide some of the most hilarious performances I've seen in a teen movie, Watson tones down her demeanor to show some real emotion, but the biggest surprise in the film is Tom Felton's portrayal of reluctant villian Draco Malfoy. After not having much to do in the last few films, Felton gets more of the spotlight in Half Blood Prince. His performance is mostly silent, spending much of his screentime alone, brooding. To his credit, though, it never stops being engaging. His character's conflict and turmoil is shown clearly in almost every scene, and he never has to say a word.
Half-Blood Prince is certainly the most intense in the magical series thus far, though towards the end the pacing starts to feel rushed. There's a lot happening here, and even with a run time of nearly two and a half hours, there's not enough time to get it all in. Even the film's climax, and a moment that should be wrought with emotion feels pushed through to bring the film to a large cliffhanger ending. Much like the book, this is very much "Harry Potter 7: Part 1" but even with it's rush to the finish, it feels complete. In the end, the main difference comes down to this: the film works because the characters and performances are rich and believable. Radcliffe, Grint, Watson and Felton are better at portraying conflicted teens than Rowling was at writing them.
Final Total: $30. An amazingly enjoyable, well-acted film that's definately got re-watchability, I still probably wouldn't rush right out and buy it on DVD immediately, rather wait until after Deathly Hallows has been released to try to catch a package deal.
