Review: Half-Blood Prince (New Harry Potter)

[OhMissScarlett]

And another thing:

Fenrir Greyback was never even mentioned by name. He's such an integral part to the story. He was in a few scenes standing around in the background, but wasn't even mentioned.

He's the one who bit Lupin. He mangles Bill in the book. Bill and Fleur aren't mentioned in the movie, but their wedding and the cottage are important parts later on. Greyback is one of the leaders of the group in the final battle scene that never made it to the screen.

One thing I would have love to have seen would be the opening scene of the book where the new wizard PM comes to see the muggle PM. I think it would have been great if they'd gotten Tony Blair to play the muggle PM. LOL. But before the movie came out, I didn't think they'd include that scene for time constraint purposes.

The more I think about the movie, the more disappointed I become in it.

When Harry, Ron and Hermione are following Draco down the alley, there's a wanted poster with Greyback on it and then you see him in the store with Draco and his mum. I agree, they should've mentioned him by name because it's not exactly obvious who it is. Another thing that annoyed me was Tonks referring to Lupin as "Sweetheart" but then they don't go into their relationship. I hope they don't gloss over the whole thing with Lupin and Tonks in the next movie. That would really cheapen things in the end.

 

[CharleyH]

I'd like to add by the way, that I can't believe they've still got two movies to go! They'd better get a move on.

I must agree on this point, but WHAT A WASTE OF TIME THIS MOVIE IS! It's 2 and half hours of nothing. It's half a story and the producers are dragging it on for what reason? Oh, yeah, money. So, what happens? NOTHING! A bit of romance, no action and not even a real suspense ending. DISAPPOINTED.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

wildcard, i'm curious about something. you already understand i presume that not everything in the book can appear in the movie, correct? on some level, any script is bond to be an abridgement of the original work. what key elements of the book that were missing would have needed to be present in the film for you to have been happy with it?

the scene involving bellatrix and other death eaters torching the burrow lasted maybe 3-4 mins, so there's a decent amount of time you could re-purpose.

ed

I've already hit on what I thought should be there, but I'll re-cap:

The end battle should have been there in some form.

They should have at least given Greyback a few minutes. The time devoted to burning the burrow would have been perfect to set up Greyback and his part in the story.

I knew time wouldn't allow it, but I would have loved to have had the opening scene in the book between the PM's. LOL. That would have been much better than the time spent on Romhilda and her love potions for Harry.

Bill has never been seen in a movie. He and Fleur play a huge role in the final and no one has even seen him yet. I saw something online yesterday that showed the Shell Cottage they've built for filming the movie. I guess we'll have to meet Bill this time. However, I doubt he'll be mangled in the movie. Greyback hasn't been mentioned in the movie, so no one would understand his disfigured face.

I understand the need to condense things for movies, but they've omitted some pretty important stuff. However, I'm more upset with the things that changed, not what was omitted. The changes were namely at the end: Snape seeing Harry and shushing him before he kills Dumbledore, and Harry taking the Elder Wand instead of it being buried with Dumbledore.

 

[DesertPirate]

I've already hit on what I thought should be there, but I'll re-cap:

The end battle should have been there in some form.

They should have at least given Greyback a few minutes. The time devoted to burning the burrow would have been perfect to set up Greyback and his part in the story.

I knew time wouldn't allow it, but I would have loved to have had the opening scene in the book between the PM's. LOL. That would have been much better than the time spent on Romhilda and her love potions for Harry.

Bill has never been seen in a movie. He and Fleur play a huge role in the final and no one has even seen him yet. I saw something online yesterday that showed the Shell Cottage they've built for filming the movie. I guess we'll have to meet Bill this time. However, I doubt he'll be mangled in the movie. Greyback hasn't been mentioned in the movie, so no one would understand his disfigured face.

I understand the need to condense things for movies, but they've omitted some pretty important stuff. However, I'm more upset with the things that changed, not what was omitted. The changes were namely at the end: Snape seeing Harry and shushing him before he kills Dumbledore, and Harry taking the Elder Wand instead of it being buried with Dumbledore.

All of that was wrong. I was very dissappointed in the ending. I wonder how they will bring in Bill for the finale after forgetting to have him bit by Fenrir this time.

The leaving out core elements of the story started in movie 3 when they left out the origins of the Marauders Map. That was the core of the book! It seems to have gotten worse with every movie since.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Huh. I wasn't aware they were doing that. They'd better step it up.



What is a grand slam but hitting the ball out of the park at the just the right time? I agree she wrote the right books at the right time, but I say a billion dollar franchise from seven books and multiple movies, and getting a generation of kids excited about reading is a grand slam.

Like many times, the film often lets the book down. From the beginning the Warner films dwell too much on action and not the philosophical issues between the muggles and the sorcerers. The latest film is a travesty of Rowling's writing, even though she is not as fresh as with the Philosopher's Stone.

The same happened with 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Narnia'. Despite everyone needing to make a buck, the cinematic representation is a shallow image of the books. Try 'Da Vinvi Code' and 'Demons and Angels' as well.

The interplay between good and evil that Rowling played with is diminished into a kind of Indiana Jones/Pirates in the films.

An advert for Lit: writing is much more influential than porno vids.