Matt’s Review: ‘Harry Potter & The Half-Blood’ is Another Great Potter, But Still Disappointing

I completely agree in being disappointed in the movie's final moments. By placing Harry voluntarily under the floorboards (rather than bound and under his cloak) completely changes the mood of the scene. Additionally, the "invasion" of Hogwarts was completely ignored and I was excited to see the war in the Great Hall come to life on screen. I do agree with much of your praise, however, the end left much to be desired – and doesn't inspire a NEED for the next one as soon as possible.

Obviously I will be revealed as a Potter Purist here. I like everything with the special effects and production of the on screen visuals. Everything looks how the wizarding world should. However, it is an understatement to say people will be disappointed by the faithfulness to the book. The most glaring is wasting time on the soap-opera love story that was elevated to a secondary plot. The seriousness of Voldemort's growing threat is right on, but I was distracted by a clear over-emphasis of the lovey-dovey stuff. I understand the need for comic relief to balance out the heavy themes, but I can think of a long list of things to provide that for the film besides another tired scene with Lavender drawing a breath-heart on the glass. The scene at the Weasley house was the most ridiculous, and rightfully so. What did making up that event add to the story or movie? Why not take the time to show us the Gaunt memory?

Also ridiculous are the conversations between Dumbledore and Harry. Dumbledore is a grandfatherly figure in the books. In the movie, he comes off as a crazy uncle. They are about to head off to the cave, the start of the climax of the book/movie, and he tells Harry he needs a shave? Absurd. It is forced and out of place, as were many comments. Then, the death eaters kill Dumbledore and walk out of the castle? The book emphasizes top notch security at Hogwarts, including members and Aurors. We even see Aurors outside the great hall at the beginning, apparantly they were sleeping by the end. The fourth and fifth movies were spectacular and I expected the sixth to build on it after the first three dissapointed. While you cannot argue with what you see visually on screen, the script was the worst of the six. Ultimately, I cannot be impressed with the visuals if the story isn't right. I accept that everyone takes different things from the books, even amongst "purists" but this was way off the mark. Yates should consult the Peter Jackson school of direction before the final 2 movies.

i'm sorry Jordan. You had many good points, unfortunately I can't take the post seriously. You called the Fourth movie, Goblet of Fire, spectacular (maybe outta context), but that movie was a complete and utter waste of film. The dialogue was forced and awkward, the scene transitions and plot development were lightning fast, thus leaving out important details, and to top things off, Ron and Harry looked like a hideous pair of chuds. Please defend if you feel the need, but I just had to take a shot at the complete piece of GARBAGE entitled Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

While a staunch Harry Potter book fan, I agree with Travis. This film was great. The only piece missing was an epic chase/spell shoot out at the end as the infiltrating Death Eaters retreated after Dumbledore's execution.

My bad. Spectacular was not the right word. I would amend that to say that starting with the fourth and continuing with the fifth, the movies finally met my expectations and approval of what was important to translate from book to movie. From there, the sixth took a HUGE step back. Additionally, the only interest I have in the movie is to see how they think the text would play out in real life. I don't mind knowing whats going to happen. I know what to expect and merely wish to see it depicted on screen. Thats what was so strange with this movie. Its like they thought- everyone knows the books, lets throw surprises at them! I'm all for artistic license, (i.e. the students using "lumos" to erase the dark mark), but not making stuff up (Burrow attack scene) at the expense of more important events.

First off, I'm sorry for the ridiculously long post, but I just felt very strongly about some things in this movie.

Obviously, as a HUGE Harry Potter Purist, I had issues with the additions of the center scene (at the Burrow) and the failures to do justice to the battle within Hogwarts, the scene at the top of the Astronomy Tower, the fact that Ginny hid the potions book herself (which leads me to wonder how Harry will find the diadem in the final book) as well as the major change at the end where they decide to hunt horcruxes on the Tower vs. at Dumbledore's funeral (ridiculous). Now, I honestly am willing to accept these changes because they don't necessarily cause huge issues in terms of the plot or quality of the current movie. However, my biggest issue is that this movie had by far the best acting, with Michael Gambon FINALLY properly portraying Dumbledore's calm and serene attitude, as well as the best storyline of the books, yet Yates seemed to create a movie as if he is not actually a fan of the books. I wonder if he had even read the 7th before creating this movie.

The failure to include Scrimgeour, Bill and Fleur's relationship, as well as have Tonks and Remus develop their's (vs. already being together), really eliminates almost 1/4th of the most important scenes in the final book. Without these characters, we lose the wedding (where the Ministry finally falls) and Shell Cottage w/ the planning of breaking into Gringotts (which occurs at the cottage). Now, even Travis agrees that by losing these major portions of the 7th book, we as fans will not get to see justice done to some of Rowling's best writing. At the forefront of this idea is the death of Dobby, which, as Travis agrees with me, is among the best parts of all Harry Potter events as it allows us to see Harry really suffer and Dobby give his final act of devotion.

On top of this, Dumbledore NEVER explained what the other horcruxes are in this movie. The end of the sixth book really shows a determination in Harry and his inability to let go of the the Locket, the Cup, the Snake, and something of Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Thus, unless you are a fan of the books, you really are left wondering what the hell Harry is going to do next. And if you are a fan, you should be pretty upset at this failure. Also, just a short note, Dumbledore is the most important character in the books outside of Harry, and Yates' change of the funeral really shows a failure to understand the value of that character to not just Hogwarts, but the entire wizard world and the fan base of the books.

So, I guess, if I was gonna rate this movie, you really have to look at it in 2 ways. As a stand-alone movie, Yates does a fantastic job drawing in audiences and the actors phenomenal performances succeed at bringing together a movie worthy of an A-/A.. But, as the book that lays a huge foundation for the entire end of the series and a book within a 7 story sequence, it falls woefully short of success and does no justice to the fans who expect, at the very least, visual representation and inclusion of crucial scenes from the book even if the Director opts to change minor things and add bits and pieces. Lavender was pretty good and funny, but if you cut out 5 minutes of her and ten of Bellatrix, the time could've been used to make this movie perfect. Yates did what he wanted, without really doing what was necessary.

Conclusion: 15 more minutes and this could've been one of the best movies really ever made, for both fans of the books and non-readers.

I really wish that, like Lord of the Rings, they could've gotten one great director to do them well. These really should've been the best movies ever made, and they all fall short. Order of the Phoenix was good though, not gonna lie.

I am going to agree with Kobes. I really loved the movie and its many wondrous scenes brought to life. I thought Yates direction really brought the emotion of the characters to the forefront. Acting great was great and so on.

But the almost disregard for the book almost feels like a slap in the face to fans. I'm not talking about omitting story lines to make it a movie script, but the failure to stay true to the scenes you are showing us. I agree the shave quote from Dumbledore was out of place with the task laid directly before them. I also will agree that Gambon did not come off as the grandfatherly like character the book portrays. The relationship between Harry and Dumbledore flourishes in the book, and that is why his death is such an unreal devastation at the end. In the movie, I just did not feel completely sadness watching Dumbledore die. Partly because they writers changed the tower scene, and partly because Harry and Dumbledore never have those mentor and apprentice moments, even fatherly moments that Harry so desperately longed for minus parents. I was also pissed about Harry below instead of under the cloak. In the book Dumbledore sacrifices precious time to cast a spell to keep Harry safely hidden and only then Malfoy is able to disarm him. In the movie Malfoy just disarms the greatest wizard of all time straight up. Lame. It just makes Dumbledore seem like a pussy (even though he was in a weakened state).

The absence of more of the memories was a let down too. What the hell were they thinking leaving out Dumbledore's memory of when Voldemort comes back to Hogwarts seeking employment?? That is a dynamite Dumbledore/Voldemort dialouge, especially because without this scene you completely leave out the UBER VILLIAN as he actually has transitioned to evil and no longer the handsome Tom Riddle…and in course leaves Ralph Finnes OUT OF THE MOVIE!! (wtf?)

And why add the death eaters destroying the Burrow when you could have taken that scene, changed the setting to Hogwarts, the time to the end of the movie, and left the best part of the entire book playing out in the finale. The absence of the Order in the castle makes the good guys seem weak. That fight gives readers a sense of complete insecurity. No one is safe from the Dark Lord and his followers, not even at Hogwarts. I was also pissed about the cut dialogue between Snape and Harry outside Hogwarts, we want more!! The movie is based around Snape secretly being The Half Blood Prince!

NO FUNERAL FOR DUMBLEDORE…RETARDED!

And I will also agree that anyone just seeing the movies really have no sense for what there is to come. The movie did not even discuss the other Horcruxes which makes it a lot harder to introduce them in the very important final installment. The book uses the Horcrux storyline and the impending face off with Voldemort to wrench up the tension going into the last chapter. . The movie really failed to make very clear of what lies ahead for Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

No Scrimgeour will really hurt too, bad move.

Why can't they just make the potion in the cave GREEN like the book?? What is the point of changing it? What?

Finally, I will once again agree with Kobe is saying that it felt like the writers of the script didn't really understand the most important elements of the book. I would also rate the movie higher strictly on a movie viewer basis, and rate it lower as a Potter fan. I believe this is the second best Potter. Second to the best movie/book adaptation and best overall project, The Prisoner of Azkaban.

You know what I want? A CGI series of Harry Potter that is the exact books word for word played out in front of our eyes with the beautiful computer technology. Wouldn't it be awesome to see every part of every book??

As a huge fan of the Harry Potter series (both movies and books) i have to state my opinion. Now, i did not read this book or the last one but i have read 1-5 and have so far loved the movies. With all movies you have to look at it differently than a book because no matter what, it is going to be different in some way. This movie was the best one of all. I went with a friend who has read all of the books and he has also said he loved it. The only things bad i have heard so far are some some nitpicking about some scenes which is understandable, but it is a movie and i think the cast and David Yates did an amazing job on this one.

I definitely agree that you have to look at it as a movie and not as the movie FOR the book, but I think that the real issue isn't nitpicking, but that major plotpoints are missing. Now, they can fix this in the 7th book (they'll have to) by using the same starting scenario as this movie, which I actually really liked, but we just have to wait and see. Regardless, the acting really was phenomenal and it was a good movie, just disappointing when I expected so much more, especially from this book.

mkay. i can understand that. i havent read this book so i see why you can say that. whatever is missing im sure will be explained in the last 2 movies

And once again i'll state that i loved this movie. I saw it again last night and thought it was better the second time. the only grievance i have is that it didn't inevitabily end in an action sequence, say a wizard shoot out/ chase scene. Under the circumstances I'd say that's not hopin for too much. That's just a good ending to an otherwise methodical and dialogue-progressed flick. I mean am I right =P

You guys are losers

how can you read 1-5 and not the last 2?!?! the last two books are the most sensational of the whole series…especially the last book, it will change your life. haha.

This is probably the lamest excuse ever, but i read the fifth book and that was in 2006 and i started getting busy and reading other books. Then the next movies came out and i didn't want to ruin the surprise of finding out what happens in the movies. I love movies and the anticipation for them coming out. But i am for sure going to go back and read them after the movies are done, which i gaurantee sounds dumb to you, haha.

If Weenis took the time to read the comments and all he has to say is that the commentators are losers than I don't see why he read them in the first place. Going back to topic and leaving Weenis with a "deal with it nerd", I see where Jordan is coming from on a lot of levels. After watching the movie I did feel, let down would be the word after waiting for the battle scene at Hogwarts. It leaves the viewers wanting more as Travis said in his article. I do not know why they left out that scene because it is not a time issue concern since no Harry Potter fanatic would ever mind an additional 10 minutes of wizardry duels. As for the "need for comedic relief" there wasn't a need for it, it only made the movie that much better. Humor is not needed when reading a book because it can be picked up and put down at the readers discretion. While at a movie it is a constant play through, humor strengthened the appeal of the sixth movie and the plot. Jordan needs to look at the target audience for a movie like Harry Potter and that audience does not like to sit through three hours of a movie without a single humorous moment. My only advice is to stop watching movies like you are reading a book. It is the same problem I went through after watching the movies right after reading the book. The movies simply cannot be long enough to be watched the same as if reading the books. Expect things to be cut and to be disappointed with missing a few book moments that you wanted to be in the movie. After watching the movie for a second time it will take away from initial disappointments and I think you will stop your criticism. Overall, the movie followed the plot of the book exceptionally well, the only thing changed was the added destruction of the Burrow which is not really crucial when stopping to think about all the ways it is not needed in the seventh movie. The wedding is the only important scene for the Burrow and its location can be easily changed. The problems I have with the movie are more related to Kristin's views. I think that by putting Harry willfully beneath the rafters it takes away from the powers that Harry has developed throughout the years. Every curse he throws are easily deflected by even Fenrir, who in the book doesn't even have a wand. If there was one problem with the movie it is that they downplayed Harry's ability to fight Voldemort and his death eaters without a seventh year at Hogwarts. The fifth movie did the best at setting up Harry and the power Hogwart's youth has against the forces of evil. Without the battle at the end, I think we miss a set up that puts Harry ready to face what is out there as he is in the end of the fifth.

While the part at the Burrow was a lil superfluous, it did succeed in showing the audience that which Harry had been dreading all along, and his reasons for deciding not to come back to Hogwarts for his seventh year. The moment shows that Harry's loved ones and friends will always be in danger as long as Harry's with them.

It will be very interesting to see how they end the series with how many important plot points that have been left out in the films. The best part (I feel anyway) about this film was the ending. The ending was almost exactly how I had pictured it except for the wizard battle as the Death Eaters left Hogwarts. Other than that, this Potter film was quite worthy and surpassed many in the series. An A, it was not but Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was definitely a solid B film.

The lack of a scuffle at the end of this film is a very big, glaring problem but the fact that someone gave this film an A is a little unnerving as well. While not terrible, it is definitely not one of the best movies I have ever seen. An A movie, in my humble opinion, is a movie with very little flaws. It may have a few flaws but definitely not as many as this or any of the Harry Potter films have been allowed to have. I understand that the books are long and there is a lot of material to cut down into one movie (for the seventh, two) but an A movie, this is not. It's worlds better than Goblet of Fire and is probably the third or fourth most solid film behind the first two and MAYBE Order of the Phoenix. Half Blood Prince had some jokey elements which were ok, some serious elements which I just can't seem to take seriously in these films, and the exclusion of many main characters.

My last two posts are supposed to be flip-flopped so if someone does read them, read the bottom one first and then the top.

They changed so much about the cave, castle and death of dumbledore. I thought the ending was probably the worst part of that movie because it was so different from the book and it seemed a lot less dangerous than everything Jk described….why are we still discussing this? haha.

Also ridiculous are the conversations between Dumbledore and Harry. Dumbledore is a grandfatherly figure in the books. In the movie, he comes off as a crazy uncle. They are about to head off to the cave, the start of the climax of the book/movie, and he tells Harry he needs a shave? Absurd. It is forced and out of place, as were many comments. Then, the death eaters kill Dumbledore and walk out of the castle? The book emphasizes top notch security at Hogwarts, including members and Aurors. We even see Aurors outside the great hall at the beginning, apparantly they were sleeping by the end. The fourth and fifth movies were spectacular and I expected the sixth to build on it after the first three dissapointed. While you cannot argue with what you see visually on screen, the script was the worst of the six. Ultimately, I cannot be impressed with the visuals if the story isn't right. I accept that everyone takes different things from the books, even amongst "purists" but this was way off the mark. Yates should consult the Peter Jackson school of direction before the final 2 movies.