Wizengamot Web: A Potterverse Pandemonium: 2009

It's time for me to lay down some thoughts about Warner Brothers latest installment of the Harry Potter series, The Half Blood Prince.

Before we go on, you should know that this is going to be haphazard, unorganised and completely biased! Half Blood Prince is my favourite book, and I was bound to love the film regardless of what they chose to put on screen, however I feel that, despite this obvious lean towards delight at every frame, it was a damn good film. Any changes that were made seemed to be either unimportant, or necessary in order to efficiently translate the story from novel to film.

From this point on, if you haven't seen the film... STOP READING....

It's almost hard to know where to begin. First and foremost, if you're a casual fan, particularly one who hasn't read the books, you may very well be disappointed. This film certainly isn't the series' crowning moment for action/adventure. What you will get, however, is character. Much time is taken exploring the nature's of the residents of Hogwarts, and die-hard Potter fans like myself will be thrilled to note that there is very little discrepancy between page and screen. The characters we fell in love with all those years ago on the page are represented here with detail, accuracy and care. Throw in some romance, mystery, a touch of gruesome, thrilling horror and a lot of laughs and you've got yourself a well deserved blockbuster. That's even before you bring in the stellar cast (Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman are worth every cent), unbelievable costuming, believe-you're-actually-there sets and stunning cinematography.

I'm going to talk character, beginning with the main trio.

Dan Radcliffe as Harry Potter: It's great to see him get to vary his moods again a little after Order of the Phoenix, in which Harry spent most of his time yelling or

having some kind of whinge. Here, there's all kinds of situations which Daniel gets to have fun with, especially a lot more comedy, and a much more substantiated romance. (Believe it or not, the girl isn't crying when they kiss!) I think he did a very good job, and his strength lies in how well he is able to depict Harry's relationships with those around him, especially Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, Slughorn and Draco. I guess I'll talk about that more when I get to those characters. I do not, however, like the impression given at the beginning of the film, that Harry is somewhat of a ladies man. The Harry Potter I know is a boy who is seriously lacking in confidence with girls, and is for the most part, fairly manogomous. Don't do it again, Harry. (Plus, is it just me or does that waitress look to be at least 5 years older that Harry?) I'll just leave it at the acting has improved a lot, and he will be (poor guy) forever synonymous with Harry James Potter to me.

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley is pure gold. There's so much Ron and it still isn't enough. Many of the grand comedic lines and moments in the film are at his hand and they are delivered superbly. Ron's grown up a bit and spends a lot of time 'snogging' the vile Lavender Brown, but he's not above petty arguments with his longtime secret paramour, Hermione. His love-potion scene is a highlight, but we also see a dramatic side of his talents when he is poisoned, as well as the familiar inferiority complex that comes with being the sidekick to The-Boy-Who-Lived. Grint does a great job showing that Ron can be a cocky little bugger sometimes, but he's definitely one solid, good guy through and through.

Emma Watson has certainly relaxed in her acting after the last film. I feel that she finally shows Hermione as a concientious student, who always likes to work hard and follow the rules, but first and foremost as teenage girl, who is capable of relaxing and laughing with her friends, but also

possessing a great deal of emotion. Her perfomance in the Oppugno scene, greatly anticipated by many fans, myself included, was touching. I feel that this scene really showed Hermione's vulnerability, an aspect which is often glossed over in the previous films. Furthermore, this scene highlights the platonic relationship between herself and Harry. For so long we've seen Hermione be there for Harry whenever he needs it, whether its checking over an essay, giving him advice about girls, or even being his best friend when Ron won't speak to him. It was fantastic to see Harry being there to support her, showing that there is significant depth to this friendship, and she is not a character conveniently placed to assist Harry when he needs, with no other traits. There is an intimacy in their relationship, and I feel this heartwrenching scene is particularly set up to forshadow the events in Deathly Hallows, during Ron's absence, in particular, Godric's Hollow, when all the pair have is one another.
(Also, I like how they did her hair!)

Tom Felton has surprisingly little dialogue for such a main character as Draco Malfoy, but despite this, he certainly does a lot of acting. I feel that he does a magnificent job conveying Draco's emotions in regard to the task he has been set. I can see a boy who believed in an ideal, b

ut is forced to confront the reality of what is involved in its pursuit. He shows us his dawning realisation that he was chosen not for the 'merits' he possessed, which he was assured to be the reason why Voldemort chose him, to an understanding that he is entirely unimportant and utterly disposable to the Dark Lord, despite these things. He learns that being a Death Eater rarely involves personal glory, and that doing what it takes to become one is easier said than done. His growing apprehension, his resistance and his fear make his character wonderfully compelling to watch. While on Draco, I thought the Sceptumscempra scene was particularly impressive.

I was surprisingly impressed by Jessie Cave as Lavender Brown. I was worried she would entirely overdo the role, making it simply not believable. At some times she pushed the boundry a tad, but it definitely could have been a lot, lot worse.

I really liked Jim Broadbent in his role as Slugorn, which I expected to, as he was my first choice for the role. One thing I love about the character of Slughorn is that he shows that all people come in shades of grey. He shows us that Slytherin ≠ EVIL!!! He is, in fact, fo

rmer Head of Slytherin House, and true to their desired qualities, he is ambitious, proud, often cunning and very self-promoting. However, when it comes to the crunch, he is not a bad person. He assists Dumbledore, and eventually the Order, guides Harry, cares for all students in his care and harbours no desire to join forces with the Death Eaters. Broadbent does a great job displaying this, with his reluctance to help Harry, but coming through when it really counts. (I love the way he says "O-ho!")

Let's talk Michael Gambon.
He's not Richard Harris. He never will be. He used to suck big time. Dumbledore doesn't yell, he isn't gruff, and he isn't cold. He's serene, quirky, fiercely caring , dedicated and lovable. Richard Harris was all these wonderful things. While Gambon will never truly succeed in portraying Dumbledore to many, he made a definite improvement in this film. He didn't yell, he went for serene (even though it came out a bit 'bored' sometimes) and I even saw his smile after Lavender's departure in the hospital wing. The Harry/Dumbledore relationship was much better established, and, contrary to the previous film, we could tell he really cared about Harry. Although, I don't think Dumbledore would've ever asked Harry who he was dating. (He probably wouldn't have to.) I even found myself tearing up when the students surrounded his body at the foot of the tower. He's such a wonderful character.

Finally, here's a quick hit list of some likes and dislikes.

Likes:

- How even though they were barely in it, the Tonks/Lupin relationship was still included, using the one word, 'sweetheart'.

- How Snape's betrayal of Harry was doubley accentuated by him silencing Harry below the Astronomy tower. Harry feels relieved and reassured at Snape's appearance, feeling briefly that Snape will control the situation, only to be horrified at the actions that follow.

- Weasley's Wizard Wheezes

- The 'Frances the fish' story

- The Oppugno scene, particularly 'It feels like this.'

- Luna's ridiculous dress and Spectrespecs

- Julie Walters as Molly Weasley

- Making the Draught of Living Death

- The Sherbert Lemons on Dumbledore's Desk

- Ron's quidditch tryouts

- Cormac - he's so disgusting! :P

- Hermione's Hair

- Teen Riddle, very smarmy and unnerving

Dislikes:

- Not enough Neville

- How they felt it necessary to put in Regulus Black, but not the diadem in the Room of Requirement (or the locket before it)

- What a stupid final line.

- How Ron and Lavender STOLE the Harry/Ginny kiss.

- Why are the following students in 6th year potions? Neville, Katie Bell + Leanne (7th year), Romilda Vane (4th or 5th year?), Crabbe & Goyle

- No Gaunts

- Harry getting dragged INTO the water on the lake

- The weird, stylised crystal rocks in the cave.

- That stupid, stupid waitress.

- Uh-hem, where was the line "DON'T CALL ME A COWARD!" ?

Anyway, I loved the film, I hope you did too.

In regards to the aforementioned celebratory features for Half Blood Prince Day, I'm afraid that due to a ridiculous amount of technology errors, including the demise of my laptop and content on it (fingers crossed, it MAY be saved), camera problems and file corruptions, it doesn't look like these will be up and running anytime soon. I've decided it must be because I've become so unmuggle that I, like Hogwarts itself, repell muggle technology. The computer I'm using right now is so old it barely counts. Rather than the now unplayable Half Blood Prince videos I had in store, you will have to make do with a written film review, which I will complete asap.

You will also have to make do with a photo of myself with Dawn French, who played that Fat Lady in Prisoner of Azkaban, and is also an amazing comedy godess. (Really, I just want to show it off, despite that link to Potter relevance.)