 Grade: A
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon & Jim Broadbent
Rated: PG
Growing up can be a real pain...
To me, that is what the Harry Potter series is all about... growing up and dealing with both the joys and harshness of the everyday. Sure, you get these great allegories mixed with fantastic special effects and great characters, but the true strength of J. K. Rowling's creation lies in its underlying message... that we must all come to terms with struggle and our own mortality.
 Of all the films thus far, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the darkest and most introspective. There are no big action scenes, so if you are coming to see more wizard duels like the ones in Goblet of Fire or Order of the Phoenix, then you will be disappointed. However, if (like me) you have enjoyed watching these characters grow (both literally and metaphorically) then you will greatly appreciate Half-Blood Prince.
No time is wasted on bringing everyone up to date. So, don't expect any exposition when the film starts. We cut straight to the chase with an attack on the Muggle (human) world by the forces of Lord Voldemort. The stakes have been raised, and Professor Dumbledore (a fantastic Michael Gambon) knows that the time for stopping the forces of darkness from triumphing is running short. In order to finally defeat Voldemort, Dumbledore recruits Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) to help him retrieve a clue from an old friend, Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent). This clue will prove vital in the defeat of Voldemort and his Death Eaters; without it, there is no chance of victory. No pressure... oh yeah, Harry also has to deal with his growing affection for Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright). Adding to ALL of that, his best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) a Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) are also experiencing their own problems with a blossoming romance. Needless to say, Harry has his hands full. Meanwhile, with his father imprisoned in Azkaban as a result of the events in Order of the Phoenix, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is tasked with a mission from Voldemort himself... help the Death Eaters infiltrate Hogwarts.
 Director David Yates (Order of the Phoenix) has no problem with jumping right back into the world of Harry Potter. In fact, his visual style has evolved greatly from his work on Order. Yates even allows whole scenes to play out without the use of dialogue. He lets the actors' expressions tell the whole story; that is a great testament to the trust that Yates has in the story and the actors. Speaking of which, the kids we were introduced to in 2001 with Sorcerer's Stone have come a long way; watching them mature over each subsequent movie has been fun. Radcliffe in particular has shown a growth over the years that has been impressive and here in Half-Blood he gets a chance to show his lighter side with some off-color humor. Rupert Grint has taken what could have easily been a sidekick role and made Ron Weasley a very loyal and brave confidant to Harry. Equally so, Emma Watson shows her emotional side more so than ever here in Half-Blood; her scenes with Hermione's heartbreak over Ron are very touching. The once colorful world we were introduced to in the first Potter movie has become tainted by jade green and heavy grays. Thanks to Bruno Delbonnel's exceptional cinematography every scene has a great sense of dread and death, but as any fan of the novels can attest... this is nothing compared to what is coming in the final installment. Also worth of noting is Nicholas Hooper's score; it maintains a sense of subtlety but remains very moving (especially in the finale).
 Half-Blood Prince is not a crowd pleaser in the sense of Sorcerer's Stone or Prisoner of Azkaban (which remains my favorite of the series) but neither was the book. In fact, I would label it (perhaps tiredly so) the "Empire Strikes Back" of the Harry Potter world. It is a dark film that addresses many adult themes that may be heavy for a summer blockbuster, but it is a very good movie and a great addition to the Harry Potter saga.
OFFICILA TRAILER LINK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96QRVfto7OM
(SORRY MISS EVA I DONT HAVE A TEAM(T.T) )
|
{ HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE }