Byfar the best of the movies so far. But the book's epic ending was absent in the film, so the last quarter or so of the film felt rushed and unsatisfying. But if they maintain this level of quality for the last films, then I have high hopes.
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Discussion
- Thread starter celticpride678
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Here's the weird thing with me and the Potter movies. While I've enjoyed them all, I couldn't tell you the plot of any of them. It's very strange. I see them and instantly forget them. I don't know why that is.
That said, I'll be seeing this one as well.
That said, I'll be seeing this one as well.
In honor of this thread, I bring you a post from nerdist.com:
http://www.nerdist.com/2009/03/hogwarts-snaps.html
http://www.nerdist.com/2009/03/hogwarts-snaps.html
3 comments about this film...
1) AMAZING!!!! Definitely a must go see.
2) The MPAA members must have been drunk when they rated this film because it is WAY more intense than the other films and the romantic aspects of the film are taken up a notch. (Spoiler alert) The part with the inferi rise out of the lake and attack Harry and Dumbledore was way too scary for smaller children and even shocked some of the adults in the theatre.
3) They totally butchered the ending of the movie, so you really don't feel like there's much of a conclusion. (yes it's part of a series, but leaving out Dumbledore's funeral and shortening the ending sequences was not a smart move in my opinion.)
I'm not a movie critic, just my 2 cents.
1) AMAZING!!!! Definitely a must go see.
2) The MPAA members must have been drunk when they rated this film because it is WAY more intense than the other films and the romantic aspects of the film are taken up a notch. (Spoiler alert) The part with the inferi rise out of the lake and attack Harry and Dumbledore was way too scary for smaller children and even shocked some of the adults in the theatre.
3) They totally butchered the ending of the movie, so you really don't feel like there's much of a conclusion. (yes it's part of a series, but leaving out Dumbledore's funeral and shortening the ending sequences was not a smart move in my opinion.)
I'm not a movie critic, just my 2 cents.
I agree - this one was a lot grimmer than the previous entries, and deserved a PG13 rating. I'm sure there was lots of back and forth between the studio and the rating agency - the studio's bottom line is served by served better keeping it PG, and I'll wager they fought hard to keep it there. Might have been interesting to see what a PG13 version looked like... maybe they'll do a Director's Cut.
I didn't miss Dumbledore's funeral, but I did miss that wrap-up in the infirmary after the final battle.
I didn't miss Dumbledore's funeral, but I did miss that wrap-up in the infirmary after the final battle.
While agree that this one was intense and very "PG-13," I can't help but feeling like it was different than the more recent ones. Meaning, it feels like the first couple of films, where we're back at Hogwarts with the trio, and while it's kind of a slow story to tell, that's part of the charm. I like that a lot of it was about their love lives, and funny jokes, and just hanging out at the castle. I don't know, it's hard to describe, but this was the first one since "Chamber" to not look "blue" to me. It felt different than the others. Does anyone get what I'm trying to say?
I absolutely loved this one, without a doubt, and I've had issues with the movies since "Goblet." SEE IT. SEE IT. SEE IT.
The movie was ... fair. A 7/10.
As said before the Christmas scene was not only not in the book, but the book proves it to be impossible (Dumbledore and the Ministry had enchantments around the burrow, if I recall correctly). Death Eaters couldn't just fly in.
The ending was horrid. Horrid. Not only was Dumbledore's death just messed up in that Harry would have tried to stop it and not stood by, the death eaters just walked through Hogwarts without as much as a fight. The funeral I will have to wait and see if it will be first in the next movie. If not, this movie goes down another notch.
As said before the Christmas scene was not only not in the book, but the book proves it to be impossible (Dumbledore and the Ministry had enchantments around the burrow, if I recall correctly). Death Eaters couldn't just fly in.
The ending was horrid. Horrid. Not only was Dumbledore's death just messed up in that Harry would have tried to stop it and not stood by, the death eaters just walked through Hogwarts without as much as a fight. The funeral I will have to wait and see if it will be first in the next movie. If not, this movie goes down another notch.
I totally agree, I liked neither of those books. I wonder if I see the movie again if I'll like it. That's what happened with the Chamber of Secrets, I hated the movie but when I saw it again I didn't mind it. But yeah, I just wasn't that "into" the movie.
@hellomoto4 I was with the black curtain people, but my friend and I got free tickets to it because she works at fox. We get advance tickets to a lot of things, it's awesome
I know exactly what you mean. Goblet of Fire, because there was so much essential action to cram into it, suffered from montage syndrome. I mean, all three of the Tasks had to be in there, so the film wound up being really jumpy and senseless. Order of the Phoenix was the same way, because for some bizarre reason David Yates decided that the longest book should be the shortest movie. That film was essentially just one long montage of Umbridge being evil and Harry teaching spells. Yuck. That said, OotP did capture the characters very well, and the mood was spot on, but it should have been more fleshed out.
HBP is fantastic because, like PS and CoS, it really captures the magic of the books. It feels like a natural progression from the end of CoS in that respect - and PS and CoS were the best films up until now, so that's a good thing.
I went for a midnight show. I could describe the movie in one simple word: Fantastic!
I do honestly think that Half Blood Prince is my favorite of all the HP movies so far. I can't wait to see it a second time...in IMAX, hopefully.
I haven't read the books, yet....but am waiting for the last of the films to come out.
I do honestly think that Half Blood Prince is my favorite of all the HP movies so far. I can't wait to see it a second time...in IMAX, hopefully.
I haven't read the books, yet....but am waiting for the last of the films to come out.
Holy crap. That movie sucked. My daughter fell asleep half way through and I was jealous. A couple good action shots, however they where ruined by the terrible plot. Some really bad acting. 3 out of 10. Don't waste your money wait for dvd. I sat in amazement as a few people laughed like crazy at every stupid joke. Thank god for the iphone, at least I could surf MR. Well until the battery died.
BCS
BCS
I liked the tone of the movie, I liked all the little sweet moments that really made the movie feel less rushed than the last three...but the messed up plot stuff sort of ruined it for me. The ending was so emotionally unsatisfying and I didn't much like it. If the Burrow scene and the ending weren't there, it would be the best one.
I agree. I thought it was a great movie and am going to go see it again very soon!
I went into the movie expecting them to have changed things, but didn't expect things to be changed to this scale.
OK, let me start by saying I haven't read the books. My wife has read them all and she tells me little bits and pieces to fill in what the movies leave out. So, I did enjoy the film, but I can't shake this feeling that it was sort of a stop gap or filler just to move the plot from point A to point B so they can set up the final two movies. It did advance character relationships and provided more insight into the history of Voldemort, but I guess I expected more. My wife has been so excited about this movie saying that it was one of her favorite books and that it really cranked up the story. She was extremely disappointed by the ending and how they handled the climactic battle. (Kind of fizzle ... pop when you were expecting a blowout fireworks show!) From what she tells me about this book it just seems kind of odd that they chose to leave out certain things while putting in others. For example, while the quidditch match was fun, it didn't really seem necessary as opposed to more important stuff that was left out. I mean after six movies we've all seen quidditch. So, overall, good movie and worth seeing, but I guess I just expected more.
Can anyone explain what they mean by the ending being butchered compared to the book? I forget the details of the end of the book and I could have sworn the book ended in a similar fashion...
Maybe its been said before, or it hasn't lol, I didn't read the whole thread...
Anyways. So, far the only Potter movies I've really liked are the 2 first ones. Simply because those are the ones that have been more consistent from one another and the most consistent with the books.
The other ones have vaguely been tied to what the book says and have inconsistency from film to film. Example, Hagrid's cottage. One film shows it right next to the castle, the other one shows it down the mountain and having to cross a bridge. I think all of these inconsistencies are caused by the fact that you are trying to cram a 500+ page book into 2 hours or less. Trying to do that makes the action be merged, key scenes spread out through out the whole movie, and giant smoothie of things.
In any case, the 5th movie has been ok, it stayed to what it was (lacked some elements, but got better). Choice for Umbridge couldn't be better I'd say and looking forward to seeing her in the 7th and 8th movie.
I don't have high expectations for the 6th one. But I do hope it improves as did the 5th one. As for the final movie, I am glad to hear it is being split. I re-read the final book and clearly no better choice to split them has been made. I find the last book's action and scenes to be too dam specific and important to merge or mess around with.
I know many people have stopped ready my long wall of text. In any case, my last hope is that director for the first two movies directs the final two.
Anyways. So, far the only Potter movies I've really liked are the 2 first ones. Simply because those are the ones that have been more consistent from one another and the most consistent with the books.
The other ones have vaguely been tied to what the book says and have inconsistency from film to film. Example, Hagrid's cottage. One film shows it right next to the castle, the other one shows it down the mountain and having to cross a bridge. I think all of these inconsistencies are caused by the fact that you are trying to cram a 500+ page book into 2 hours or less. Trying to do that makes the action be merged, key scenes spread out through out the whole movie, and giant smoothie of things.
In any case, the 5th movie has been ok, it stayed to what it was (lacked some elements, but got better). Choice for Umbridge couldn't be better I'd say and looking forward to seeing her in the 7th and 8th movie.
I don't have high expectations for the 6th one. But I do hope it improves as did the 5th one. As for the final movie, I am glad to hear it is being split. I re-read the final book and clearly no better choice to split them has been made. I find the last book's action and scenes to be too dam specific and important to merge or mess around with.
I know many people have stopped ready my long wall of text. In any case, my last hope is that director for the first two movies directs the final two.
Saw it last night. It was good, but I'm sure I'll forget it after two weeks or so.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but all the Potter movies seems to follow the same plot:
1. Kids go to Hogwart's after summer.
2. There is a dinner table scene.
3. Kids go to maybe one or two classes and learn spells or potions.
4. There is a Quiddich match.
5. Voldemort or something related to him shows up and does evil things.
6. Harry saves the day, or some important character dies.
Again, these movies are good fun, but I feel like I watch the same film over and over, just with slightly older kids each time. Am I wrong?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but all the Potter movies seems to follow the same plot:
1. Kids go to Hogwart's after summer.
2. There is a dinner table scene.
3. Kids go to maybe one or two classes and learn spells or potions.
4. There is a Quiddich match.
5. Voldemort or something related to him shows up and does evil things.
6. Harry saves the day, or some important character dies.
Again, these movies are good fun, but I feel like I watch the same film over and over, just with slightly older kids each time. Am I wrong?
Yep, pretty much spot on as far as the plots are concerned; although Quiddich wasn't in every movie.
I saw your comment about forgetting the movies and it made me curious..have you had a chance to read the books? I know a lot of people who are planning on reading after the series of films are complete. I tend to think that watching the movies are like a caveat to completing the book series.
Personally I loved the film; everything seemed more mature as it should be by now. Yea there were some flashbacks that could've stayed in but overall I felt like the translation from book to film was pretty good.
Yep, pretty much spot on as far as the plots are concerned; although Quiddich wasn't in every movie.
I saw your comment about forgetting the movies and it made me curious..have you had a chance to read the books? I know a lot of people who are planning on reading after the series of films are complete. I tend to think that watching the movies are like a caveat to completing the book series.
Personally I loved the film; everything seemed more mature as it should be by now. Yea there were some flashbacks that could've stayed in but overall I felt like the translation from book to film was pretty good.
I've enjoyed all the movies, including this one. I just think they're all pretty much the same. I think that's why I always forget them. And no- I have not read the books.