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| Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince |
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is a 2009 fantasy film.
Directed by: David Yates.
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Tom Felton.
This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince.
Year six at Hogwarts and it already seems like Harry won't be having an easy year either. Then again, when has he ever had a steady school year? After loosing a precious loved one in the previous film, his life has been filled with nothing but death, and being later proclaimed "The Chosen One". Dumbledore becomes more involved with Harry in this installment rather than just be on the sidelines and give an overall life lesson at the end of each film. For you see, this entry into the saga is the supposed explanatory story behind Voldemort's past and the development of Severus Snape. However, the movie doesn't do the plot justice with it's overall focus on relationships.
But the details to Voldemort's Resurrection and how he managed to survive the night he tried to kill young Potter emerge. Formed from the cloth of the blackest magic: a Horcrux. By killing another, the wielder's soul would split thus attaining the ability to hide that piece of life into his object of choice, making them practically immortal; unable to die should their original body perish, the Horcurx would serve as their return. if we remember correctly, Harry has already destroyed one back in The Chamber of Secrets.
I've always been fascinated on the kind of life Tom Riddle had lived. How his childhood might have been or how he ever met Hogwarts headmaster. By resurfacing the liquid memories and witness the first interaction between the light and the young darkness. We see a very young Tom, almost as young as Harry before he was chosen, only this version of Voldemort is haunted by his own demonic powers, he fears his unknown abilities. But even back then, no one knew he'd become the dark lord all would fear. And over the years, his lust for the Dark Arts increased and his lust for immortality.
However, the film takes a break in between Voldemort's past and focuses more on Ron and Hermionie's relationship and of course Harry and Ginny Weasley. While it serves to produce interesting and well performed character developments, they almost dragged on a little too much which nearly bored me to death when it was released. Guess that is why I lacked the enjoyment I had from the other five and that it wasn't my fault for have almost fallen asleep during the screening. I will say this, it was about bloody time those four got together, despite the immense amount of time it took for them to get there.
Draco Malfoy finally becomes a worthy antagonist at last. There's a reason why I haven't mentioned him in my reviews. Now he's been chosen to carry out the dark lords wishes without question. A side of Malfoy we've never thought possible becomes a reality. Again, fear makes it's way in the wizardly world where everyone is forced to do anything to survive. Tom Felton delivers a great performance and makes me forget all the insults his character dished out ion the past.
We reach the climax of the film ,where Harry and Dumbledore discover a Horcrux and nearly risking their lives to acquire it. The struggle that Harry had to face in order to complete the mission, fighting the pain his teacher underwent was the only scene worth seeing throughout the whole feature. And Snape revealing himself to be the Half-Blood Prince. And that tell's us what? It was just the name on text book and nothing more. Hopefully when I reach the time to read it, I can get more out of it than here.
The Actors:
Michael Gambon: Taking the final breath as Albus Dumbledore was great. He will be missed.
Tom Felton: A performance I enjoyed. About time his character shined, even if it was a dark light.
The ensemble trio have mastered their characters over the years so well they make it seem natural.
The Visuals:
Some scenes looked green to send the dark tone of the film, but then again, the book cover is green so, it fits I guess. The sequence on finding the necklace Horcrux was pitch black perfect.
The Bad:
The adaptation lacked what the other films had. They weren't boring and this one dragged to reach the moment we wanted to experience. The character development was great but too much on the kids and not enough on the villain.
Overall:
We say goodbye to a powerful wizard. The battle may be Voldemort's...but the war, will never be in his grasp.
