Half Blood Prince

In less than twelve hours, I and hopefully all other good people will be watching the midnight show. I know there is an HP forum, but since this is DM lets debate on the movie. I know there are many HP fans out here on DM too. We will just keep it a bit serious and DM ish. 😛

Points to ponder and debate

How does Half Blood Prince rank in comparison to the series so far?
Is the movie true to the book or not?
Criticisms for deviating from the book, commencements for staying true to the book?
Growth of characters, and their acting? Casting choices, portrayal of characters?
Is this the darkest movie so far? Is it appropriate for kids too? Would young kids enjoy it or be frightened?
Is it the summer blockbuster of the year? Will it beat Transformers.

Anything else you wish to seriously debate.

Oh my. I am super excited. In fact, I was supposed to read the sixth book before watching the movie, and I'm running out of time.

Hmm, for some reason, I always found the sixth book to be one of the lowest rank in the series. Everyone thinks I'm crazy, but I feel that Rowling used this book as a transition and added things that would spice up the last book of the series. Or perhaps it is Albus Dumbledore's death that breaks my heart, and therefore I refused to accept this book.

Is the movie true to the book? Hmm, well, I believe the movie's already out in the UK (correct me if I'm wrong, word of mouth isn't quiet reliable). I was told that some of the reviews online said that this movie is the closest representation of the any book thus far. I guess only time will tell.

Obviously, we can't expect them to fit everything into a 2 hour, 30 minutes long movie, but it makes me sad to see the smaller bits of the books go. The small, cute, perhaps irrelevant scenes, are what add to the book. And then seeing them being considered insignificant breaks my heart.

I think all the actors are very carefully picked out. I say that most of them suit the role quite magnificently. My favorites would have to be Professor Snape and Luna Lovegood, of course Daniel Radcliffe does a splendid job of being the "chosen one". One actor that I can't stand is Ginny Weasley. I think a differnet girl should have played that role. In fact, I'm quite annoyed.

Darkest movie so far? Hmm, I don't know. Perhaps it will be. The movies have a tendency of getting darker and darker. The book is pretty scary, I think, the inferi scares me. But my 10-year old sister says that there is no way that I can stop her from watching the movie, she didn't read the whole series for nothing. Though she did hold my hand through the last scenes of the Order of Phoenix, at the ministry.

Summer blockbuster of this year - heck yes.

OMG Ajnu, you have not read the book yet. I bought it at midnight and was done by 10 Am the next day. I think the makers of HP should have done what Peter Jackson did. Create shorter length movies for the theater and extended editions for hardcore fans.What is sad is book one is the shortest book and longest movie.

Anywho, will be watching the movie in twelve hours. Will be able to add more then.

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

OMG Ajnu, you have not read the book yet. I bought it at midnight and was done by 10 Am the next day. I think the makers of HP should have done what Peter Jackson did. Create shorter length movies for the theater and extended editions for hardcore fans.What is sad is book one is the shortest book and longest movie.

Anywho, will be watching the movie in twelve hours. Will be able to add more then.

Oh- urgent need for clarification. I've read the book a few times, just not any time recently, therefore needed to reread it. 😆

Originally posted by: *Woh Ajnabee*

Oh- urgent need for clarification. I've read the book a few times, just not any time recently, therefore needed to reread it. 😆

Whew! That sounds much better. You make me proud. 😃

Originally posted by: return_to_hades

Whew! That sounds much better. You make me proud. 😃

Well thank you. I read each book again before the movie. And made a point to read all the books before the seventh one came out (oh that means, that's when i last read the sixth book, hmm). I'm a hardcore fan. 😆

I'm 27 and wait in line 😆.

I loved the books... I saw the first movie and thought it was so bad.. My imagination was so much better so decided not to watch any of the other movies...

Hiya guys...

I'd have to somewhat agree with Anju on the first point. Those who have read the last book of the series (though those who haven't have missed out on a lot I believe! hahaha) will definitely say the Half Blood Prince is just the booster behind the culmination of the series. Rowling needed one book where she could express feelings, emotions and certain things from the first 5 installments. The Half Blood Prince isn't my favourite, again maybe because of Dumbledore's death, because for me, he was one character that I thought would never perish, simply because people like him made us realise that the most important things in life are often the most simplest, the main one being Love... So its definitely a good book, all of those in the series have been, but its just not my favourite... Not meaning I don't like it... Of course I do, I still feel its a brillant class of work...


Is the movie true to the book or not? ~ Obviously don't know about this one as I think it has been out yet, or has it?... But from the British Press Reviews I've read too, everyone has been saying its the best representation so far, the truest and closest to the actual story in the book. Though I feel as well, we've discussed it in friends even, that had the made, lets say somewhat a kind of serial out of it over one year or something, it would have been a treat to watch... Instead of movies, where many titbits are removed or modified, highly reducing the overall charm!...


Growth of characters, and their acting? Casting choices, portrayal of characters? ~ Definitely a highly apt cast for the required specific roles... I've always felt Mrs. Weasely and Rupert Grint were magnificent actors for the Weasely family. Obviously THE Hary Potter, Daniel is good, very good even... Just at times, I felt a few pinches here and there where he wasn't up to the mark, but then, maybe I expect too much as well, for the Harry Potter in the book is definitely a character apart!!... Emma Watson is nice, very confident and extremely suits the parts she does. All the rest, Dumbledore even, do their roles up to the mark!... Snape is definitely one character I love watching when all the others don't, especially because of his acting skills, and the way they show the growth of his character. I'd like to add somehow, that the book describes the growth of the characters far better than the movie does, or maybe the one releasing tonight will give us some exciting surprises!...


Is this the darkest movie so far? Is it appropriate for kids too? Would young kids enjoy it or be frightened? ~ From what I've watched, I mean from the trailers etc... I definitely feel its the darkest.... I felt excited like never before watching simply the trailers... For the kids I don't know truly, today's kids are undescribable... For the most younger ones probably yes, but for those a bit older, maybe after 12 years or so, I don't think they'll be scared... On the contrary....


Is it the summer blockbuster of the year? Will it beat Transformers. ~ For me, as well as for many researchers I guess, that is not even a question, its an affirmation!!... 😆


Cheers,
Sneha

PS. Shantu Dii, I definitely feel you should watch the movies once, even if you don't like them... Because when you do, it makes it better to read the next book... You have a certain image of how the characters are, of how they would evolve... I just feel it gives a whole new dimension to the scenes when you read them, because you know the faces as such.... But definitely, I am with you on the point that the films never, ever were able to provide what the books have... ;))

It hasn't officially released yet, the premiere has taken place a few days ago. I remember thelondonpaper giving it 3*.