Discussion: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Film)

[amanuensis1]

Half-Blood Prince.

Short version: Hooray for the film doing a great job with a book I thought was badly flawed. It came much closer to selling me on its story, and I only felt the absence of perhaps one element from the book. I enjoyed it lots, and a good portion of it felt perfect.



No secret I was badly disappointed in the book of HBP. Summary of my ranty reasons:

1. All those Pensieve trips. Pure exposition; so much so that I thought, "There has to be something else going on with these." I tried to make plot out of it.

2. As soon as Dumbledore explained horcruxes I said, "Harry's one," and expected Dumbledore to try to off Harry by the end of the book. I thought that's what all the exposition and the cave and Dumbledore's odd behavior was leading to.

3. Snape's loyalties are spelled out right from the Spinner's End scene, so for Harry to remain in ignorance at the end of the book insults the reader.

4. Emotionlessly-done Harry/Ginny, all tell, no show.

So I've been looking forward to the film a lot, because I had nowhere to go but up from there, and thought it was likely that the film could tell the story in a more credible way. Maybe Snape's motives could be better concealed, maybe they could develop the Harry/Ginny visually in a way the book couldn't.

And I was really pleased with how hard they tried. Reducing the Pensieve jaunts. Thank god. Only one major scene of that, and a minor one which instantly began to drive scenes that followed (Harry pursuing Slughorn), and the last one then moved directly into the final action sequence. That part in particular was gratifying because it gave a sort of "quick, don't linger on this" glossover to the whole "is Harry a horcrux, is Dumbledore taking Harry somewhere to kill him" --but did you notice how Dumbledore's eyes flick up to Harry's when he says, "I may have...found another one," tellingly? In the books Dumbledore's known about this all along, but perhaps the films are trying to make that a dawning moment for Dumbledore. Harry has that weird flash-scene moment when he touches the dead ring, immediately before. Innnnnnteresting.

This film flowed, with almost every scene leading into another, and less of the change-of-seasons lightness that marks the earlier films. This film should be effing dark, and Harry sober as they made him to be, following Sirius's death as it does, and I didn't have the feeling of irreverence in this film as I did in the book, not once. (Even Harry chatting up the café waitress seemed cynical and nihilist.)

Harry/Ginny, I'm giving them all kinds of credit for working on it, putting Harry and Ginny together as much as possible in emotionally connecting moments. Recognizing that they had none of those from the first five films (because there were almost none in the first five books) and doing what they could. They even did their best to put the kibosh on the Harry/Hermione chemistry in a, "Please, everyone, we're going to spell it out for you that Harry thinks of Hermione as just a friend, because even we think this one is going to need an anvil of 'No!' We're going to have to ask you to stop going there." I didn't quite buy the Harry/Ginny, still. By the time Hermione asks Harry, "What do you feel when you look at Ginny and Dean? I've seen the way you look at her," I thought, "Ah, nope, too early. If you'd asked that at the end of another hour of this I think I'd've bought it. I'm sorry, I know you just didn't have that hour." But credit for doing their best, and I like to think they might have sold a lot of the audience on it nonetheless.

Snape's loyalties--I've never disliked the scenes that lay his loyalties bare, I've just argued that you can't lay all that groundwork and then pretend it's a secret you're keeping for the next book. And I don't see how the filmmakers could subvert that without completely rewriting the last book. So one could suggest that his loyalties should be made more obscure. But the film's brought me to the point where I see that's just not possible, it cheapens Snape not to give the audience his story. I still think it's wrong for Harry not to be given it as well at the end of this chapter. It turns Half-Blood Prince into half a book instead of a book, and I hate that, BUT I think they did what they could to display how Harry is being kept in the dark and even say, "Yes, it's unfair, isn't it."

Before the film I would have argued (did argue) that removing the Spinner's End scene was the wisest way to make his motives less obvious. By abbreviating it as they did, removing Snape's laundry list of excuses that keep him in Voldemort's graces, it was at the least much less a wet fish in the face. Nevertheless you still felt Snape was roped into it, felt his bravado as he steps up to the Vow, felt his "Oh, I'm fucked," as he hesitates before part three of the Vow. And the scene where Dumbledore and Snape argue, I'm glad they kept that, because it can't be helped, Snape's loyalties are meant to be gleaned by the audience, that's all there is to it, and to do less is to cheat him.

Did many of you feel cheated by the omission of "Don't call me coward" at the end? I think it was (blasphemy!) a wise elimination. This is the line that dangles a shove of meaning in front of Harry, and by keeping that from Harry (Snape's coldness during that scene, omigod, that was incredible), it's the grim look of the filmmakers out the fourth wall, saying, "Yeah, we know. It couldn't be more unfair that they're keeping Harry in the dark, isn't it." Snape didn't get the least hint of passion, the implication that he cared at all what Harry thought of him, without that line. Nothing upon which Harry could pick up. Yes, I think they were wise.


Okay, on to other points. How have I got this far into this and not mentioned Draco so far? Well, because Draco's part in this book is the gleam of rubies beneath the rubbish, and if the filmmakers didn't know that, sheesh, no one could help them. This was the good stuff, and they knew it, and it was beautiful. I adored that the Borgin and Burkes scene was turned into "an intitiation," because we deserved that, that sort of dark ceremonial feel to this plot. (And I'm not speaking of Death Eater initiation orgyfic for once. Wasn't even going there.--I know, I must not be feeling well.) Draco's progressive scenes with the cabinet were haunting. (Anyone else flash on Jeff Goldblum in The Fly?) By the time we reached the crying-in-the-bathroom scene Draco's terrified frustration just pulsed off the screen, and I kiss every one of the film's creators for what they did with the Draco-sees-Katie-Bell scene and making the Sectumsempra scene work that marvelously. Draco on the tower was the unhappiest and most miserable of young men, as he should have been in that scene, and the inclusion of Harry analysing Draco's actions at the very last ("No. He was lowering his wand,") had me swooning with how utterly attentive they'd been to the core plot. Yes, I'm a thesaurus of superlatives for this. Deal.

I mentioned I felt only one real omission; in general, much as I did with Order of the Phoenix, I watched this film all the way through without any litany of, "Oh, they cut that...oh, they left that out." At the least if I did notice something I didn't think, "How dare they cut that." (Though the absence of the "I'm his head of house, and I shall decide how hard..." line did have me thinking, "Ah, shit, femmequixotic must be crying buckets.") Y'gotta judge a film on how it works as a film; them's the rules. But I did jaw-drop a little that they didn't explain "half-blood Prince," and left the audience to believe it's some pompous title. It's the TITLE OF THE FILM, fergoshsakes. I really expected Hermione to say to Harry, there on the tower at the end, "I looked it up...Prince was Snape's mother's maiden name. And his father was a Muggle." 'S all it would have taken.

Can we talk about the slash? Of course we can, it's my journal. Yes, there were all those Harry-stalking-Draco moments (how fitting that Harry laments that the ache of unrequited love "feels like this," just as they cut to a shot of Draco slinking), but the two unsurpassed moments for me were actually not between the boys (though they involved each of them).

Harry: You said Slughorn would try to collect me.
Dumbledore: Yes.
Harry: ...Do you want me to let him.

ALDFJAS;LKFL RENTBOY!HARRY HOMG. ALBUS YOU PIMP.

Second, when Snape has Draco up against the wall, and the camera pans off of them to eavesdropping!Harry just as Snape is oozing, "if you let. Me. Assist. You," I swear I heard the zipper. NOT HALLUCINATING.

Bits and pieces:

-I did not like Lavender's performance. She was a caricature. I much preferred the flirtiness shown by the Patil twins in the previous film, and expected Lavender to be more along those lines, not nearly so over-the-top. Even the glimpse we had of Romilda was realistic, and Luna, for all her loopiness, is nevertheless grounded. It was as if they'd pulled Lavender in from some cartoon. (But I blame the directors, not the actress.)

-The pensieve-memory effect was visually arresting, just beautiful. And I loved how
luminescent Riddle looked.

-Harry watching Malfoy on the map while he's in bed, OH WHAT IS YOUR RIGHT HAND DOING HARRY. BIT OF A TOSSER INDEED. Okay, that one's almost up there with the other two unsurpassed moments.

-I wince to imagine the number of screencaps that will feature Ginny rising from tying Harry's shoelace with her head at just...THAT...height.

-Harry high on Felix Felicis merits ROFLing. Hippy Dippy Weather Harry. And the scene with Aragog's dead body would have felt wayyy too long if not for the fact that we were seeing that Felix Felicis just makes things CRAYZEE.

-Am still convinced that Rickman could make a rock orgasm just with his voice.

-DRACO GOT DADDY'S PIMPSTICK.

-I was worried that Harry would not feel like the center of this film from the way the previews seemed to show everything but him. Shouldn't have worried. He still carried the film, was its center, even as other characters seized the spotlight at every turn. It's still about Harry.

-Even as the scene showcased the woes of Neville, I had to laugh that it carried through on Belby falling out of Slughorn's graces. Nice, that.

-HELLO LUCIUS'S PICTURE.

-Dumbledore: "I'm sure you must be wondering why I brought you here, Harry." Harry: "Actually, sir, after six years, I just sort of go with it." Sometimes Lampshade Hanging is perfect, yes.

-The Burrow-burning scene has been dubbed Wizards of the Corn.

-Man, I liked Hermione's Christmas Party dress.

Lots of other stuff. Just because I didn't mention it doesn't mean I didn't like it.

I've already heard a lot of criticism of the way many scenes were changed, but here I am, sitting back and saying, I thought it worked for me as a film, and none of the abbreviations or deletions, save one, bothered me in particular. The floor's open to discussion for any dissenters. ^_^

Comments

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Your review reassures me--I've got tickets for Sunday for me and my mom, the hardest-core Potterfan I know, so I was hoping this would be enjoyable. :-D

"Harry/Ginny, I'm giving them all kinds of credit for working on it, putting Harry and Ginny together as much as possible in emotionally connecting moments."

Thank God for that, because the book version? Um...I have absolutely nothing against Ginny but even after I found out they married and had three kids together I still wasn't buying it.

"They even did their best to put the kibosh on the Harry/Hermione chemistry in a, 'Please, everyone, we're going to spell it out for you that Harry thinks of Hermione as just a friend, because even we think this one is going to need an anvil of 'No!' We're going to have to ask you to stop going there.' "

I still remember going to see Sorcerer's Stone and near the end of the film, this middle-aged guy in the next row who didn't "look" anything like a fanboy (no T-shirts, etc.) turned to his seat partner and confidently declared, of Harry and Hermione, "Those two are gonna get married someday." I realize Harry/Hermione got colonized by the crazies but I'm glad it wasn't just me, LOL.

"I did not like Lavender's performance. She was a caricature."

She made me cringe in the book so I am actively dreading the "comedy" scenes with her in the movie. How was Bellatrix, BTW? Frankly I thought Helena Bonham Carter was a bit shit in the last movie and most of the audience was laughing when they weren't meant to because she came off so OTT.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

(Short reply before running off:) I actually thought HBC's crazy worked very nicely in this film, especially in the Spinner's End scene and on the tower. I agree I wasn't sure I loved her Bellatrix in the last one, but now perhaps I'm used to it.

ETA: I do hope the two of you like it! I'd say that even if I hated it, because people should enjoy the media to which they are subjected, and all. Happier world that way. But I think if you look at it as "does the film work as a film?", it does do that pretty well. There were moments when I thought, "Even my mom, the total mundane, would enjoy a lot of this."

[dmlpacker.livejournal.com]

*excited* I'm going tomorrow with my brother. Heehee, I figured spoiling myself didn't really affect anything considering I've read the book *rolls eyes*

I will be sure to watch out for accidental, unzipping, sexual tension :P

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

ACCIDENTAL MY TUCHIS.

[carakaye.livejournal.com]

Thank god!

I thought I was going to be the only one who actually liked and enjoyed this film. I wrote a brief review on it the morning after watching it at the midnight premiere, and got a slew of replies (in person) about how I was bonkers, and the film was utter rubbish. Ridiculous, really. They all criticize the little things, (adding in the burrow getting attacked by death eaters was a big point of contention) and simply felt they could not enjoy the film for it's lack of this-or-that thing, that they felt was important.

And while this is ongoing, I sit back and think to myself- I thought it was beautifully done, considering the time they were allotted, and the massive amount of plot points and subterfuge that is required to get the point across without spelling out the ending.

But my favorite part about how they changed the film, is that, like you said, "This film flowed, with almost every scene leading into another, and less of the change-of-seasons lightness that marks the earlier films. This film should be effing dark." But for all that this was quite possibly the darkest of the books, they made it (in my opinion) the funniest of the films. And I loved it. Things like Luna's Christmas party dress and Lavender's over-the-top fawning. The vomit-worthy utterances of "Won-Won" made me laugh so hard, I thought I was going to pee my pants.

But I'm going to be honest and say that I thought all of the Harry/Hermione content in the film melted me. They did make it somewhat of a point to say that they are friends. The scene where they are discussing how it feels watching their loved ones be with others, in particular. But Harry and Hermione's friendship is just heart-warming and gorgeous. Because if there is and over-arching theme to the books, it has to be that friendship is important. I love it. *Gushes*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

they could not enjoy the film for it's lack of this-or-that thing, that they felt was important.

Yeah, we're FANS, and we care so much about our darling moments--I mean that without any sarcasm--that if we don't get them we can have a hard time forgiving. But (see icon) we're the hardest to please, being fans.

I too can love the Harry/Hermione for being warm and caring. While I admit, no qualms, that I saw Harry as having a larger emotional connection with Hermione than with any other female in the books, and that that makes it easy to put them together romatically, I also like them as being best friends.

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

Heh. Well, I see we disagree about some things (see my rambling thoughts here, if you're so inclined, but no worries either way!), but so agree about the flow. It was a beautiful film and beautifully made. Can I help it that I'm a hardcore lover of the backstory, though? CAN I, A???

... No. I can't.

[dementedsiren.livejournal.com]

I have to say, your icon is fantastic.

[itsirtou.livejournal.com]

-DRACO GOT DADDY'S PIMPSTICK.

Yes yes yes yes yes. "It's a WALKING STICK."

And you -- actually sold me on the idea of taking out Snape's rage and the "don't call me coward" line. I was kind of upset at first that they took both that AND a lot of the Spinner's End scene out, but even if I still don't like it, I guess I do understand why they did it.

But yeah. It almost made me feel like a bad HP fan (there were people all around me going WELL I NEVER, HOW COULD THEY LEAVE THIS OUT) but I really did love it.

Sad about Bill and Fleur being left out, though.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Their reasons for taking out the "don't call me coward" line may not be mine; they just might not have thought it had such significance to the fans. But that's how this version of it does work for me. The passionless Snape is less of a clue to Harry.

I love Fleur's speech to Molly at the hospital like crazy; I think it's a pinnacle of Rowling's ideas. But I see how they said, "This is just not a plot we should cover if we want the film to work as seamlessly as it can."

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

I quite enjoyed it, too. Especially the strange interactions between Snape and Draco and Snape and Harry. To be honest, I was so tired by the time we got to see it last night, I wasn't really capable of doing any thinkythinky about it. And yes, when Ginny dropped to her knees, my eyes almost rolled out of my head with the stupid. *sigh*

Are you in San Fran, BTW? This stupid hotel has no public spaces, so it's almost impossible to find out who's actually around.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I hope I can find you again today! And yes, I knew I wasn't gonna be good for anything at a midnight showing, so I'm glad some of us went to an evening show instead.

I think the film will be SO MUCH FUN in IMAX. I want to see it that way.

[orpheus-samhain.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the film yet, but I it has a major flaw - no Christian Coulson, not even in one scene *cries*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I did like him lots. Too bad! *has one CC icon*

[demonqueen666.livejournal.com]

I wasn't particularly happy with how they did the ending on this one - I understand what you're saying about characterization and motivations etc., but still to in the film the flee from Hogwarts and the confrontation between Harry and Snape just fell sort of...flat.

Otherwise though, I think I might have liked this one the best out of any of the movies. Like you I thought they did a magnificent job with Draco (I'm so glad they actually showed the Dark Mark, too, instead of frustratingly leaving us in the dark). I actually thought Lavender was funny, but it was probably because I hated Lavender/Ron in the book and thought it was utterly pointless...so to me it was as if the film just went there straight from the getgo, admitting there was nothing really to the relationship and that it was just there to be silly. I really did love the silliness they found to work in in this movie - the high!Harry and high!Ron scenes were hysterical, and there were many other brilliant moments as well.

The Burrow-burning scene has been dubbed Wizards of the Corn

Hahaha, YES. I knew I couldn't be the only one thinking that.

Dumbledore: "I'm sure you must be wondering why I brought you here, Harry." Harry: "Actually, sir, after six years, I just sort of go with it." Sometimes Lampshade Hanging is perfect, yes.

I LOVED THAT LINE. That's exactly what I mean in this movie, with the right touches of perfectly-done humor. (What's this; direct link to TVTropes for the unaffiliated? Dangerous stuff, that.)

DRACO GOT DADDY'S PIMPSTICK.

YEESSSS. I was all gleeful when I noticed that. Oh, Draco. You go carry on those proud Malfoy traditions, of being big pimpin'. Yo.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm bewildered at the people saying the ending fell flat, myself--Dumbledore's death is the end, and the wrap-up on the tower is the denouement. It worked for me and I find myself puzzled why that discrepancy.

I think the best funny in these films are the lines that just show up out of the blue like the "After six years.." line and aren't in scenes that are trying too hard to be funny.

(Hee, I just won't be satisfied until the whole world shares my miserable TV Tropes addiction.)

[jya-bd-cp-ttgb.livejournal.com]

I refuse to go see it because I refuse to accept the last three books entirely, but dear Gods, I do miss Rickman's voice. I didn't see him in the part until he spoke the classic words in the first movie about "brew fame, bottle glory." That sealed his place in the Potternon for me.

I also miss Remus something awful. How'd he fair?

[persephone-blue.livejournal.com]

He appeared in the Burrow at Christmas; a little touchy and nervous, but Tonks (with whom his relationship is already established rather than built up out of nowhere, thank God) explains, "He's like this during this part of the cycle." (I giggled.)

[elsajeni.livejournal.com]

That was one of the things that drove me crazy in this one, too -- the failure to explain anything about "The Half-Blood Prince." I mean, yes, everyone who cares almost certainly already knows, but now the characters don't know, and it's not as if there's anything to gain by keeping them in the dark on that, as there is with Snape's loyalties. (I thought the whole "half-blood prince" mystery was stupid in the book, I would not have cried if they'd dropped the entire issue and changed the name of the movie, but doing it halfway seems like the worst of both worlds.)

What really drove me crazy was the cutting of the whole battle surrounding the final confrontation. If there's not going to be a fight, I feel like the grown-up Death Eaters shouldn't be there -- a, it seems like an unnecessary risk to them, and b, what the fuck is the Order doing not to notice when five escaped Death Eaters WALK INTO A KNOWN DARK-MAGIC SHOP, CLIMB INTO A CABINET AND DISAPPEAR -- and that eliminates the purpose of the Vanishing Cabinet scenes at all. Gun on mantelpiece = someone gets shot, they can't just fall over a cliff during the intermission.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

what the fuck is the Order doing not to notice *laughs* Oh, good point. You think with Harry's reports they'd have had the thing under surveillance!

I dislike the lack of explanation of "Half-Blood Prince" because now everyone thinks Snape's royalty or something. Or likes to give himself pretentious titles. Snape? Gimme a break.

[dementedsiren.livejournal.com]

Haven't seen the movie yet, but I've been reading all of the commentary I can find (I won't be able to see it until the first week of August) and I'm glad to see your impression. I've read a lot about what as left out (and I personally can't believe that they left out the explanation of HBP in a movie called H B P, but OK), but it seems like there's a lot of YAY in there as well.

And I think fandom far and wide is going a bit Draco crazy after this one (which is only fitting, I suppose).

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Draco, Draco, Draco. HBP really was his book and now it's his movie, and I'm thrilled about it. Not because I love Draco as a character in the books so much as I loved the potential for Draco and it finally came through in this book. It was one of the only parts of the book I thought worked.

[submissionadict.livejournal.com]

i spat out all my coffee at the Draco/Snape mention. it's THAT hilarious. :D

but yo know what i felt was sorely lacking?
MURTLE.
where was Moaning Murtle fangirling over an Angsty!Draco? i felt it's loss like a hole to the head.

DRACO CERTAINLY HAS GOT DADDY'S PIMP STICK. AND SNAPE WANT'S TO SHOW HIM HOW TO USE IT PROPERLY.

thankyou for making me feel less of a oddball for thinking that Riddle looked like a smirking 12 year old vampire...(who's actual age is unknown, but very old- just look at his eyes. they know things no hogwarts student or teacher could ever even dream of!)

<3

exesandohesxo

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I didn't miss Myrtle at the time and (forgive me) now I think Myrtle was perhaps just too comical a character for those scenes to have the impact they wanted them to have. So sorry!

Vampire!Riddle is a fact of life. :D

Slash and Harry/Ginny on my mind.

[persephone-blue.livejournal.com]

"Even Harry chatting up the café waitress seemed cynical and nihilist."

In the context of Harry dealing with the loss of Sirius, yes, but the scene felt charming on its own. When Harry pops a breath mint afterward, I was happily muttering to myself, "YAY, YOU'RE ACTUALLY SIXTEEN." I had the same reaction during Ron and Harry's discussion of, uh, "clear skin." *COUGH*


"Harry pursuing Slughorn [...] ALDFJAS;LKFL RENTBOY!HARRY HOMG. ALBUS YOU PIMP."

I THOUGHT IT, TOO. I'll be trolling the interwebs for fanfiction in a couple weeks because, you know what? It's an awesome concept. If not present, I will gravely consider correcting the matter myself.


"The Burrow-burning scene has been dubbed Wizards of the Corn."

I'd also say this is officially the producers attempts to build up Harry and Ginny as a partnership. Ginny, in her pink bathrobe, launches after him into the mucky fields. Together, they are fighting, working, and depending on one another.

The book rushed them into a relationship; the film has wisely opted to give them a partnership. (With flirting. And a smooch.) The producers aren't going to force them into being soul mates. Even Jo, with the underlying realism of her work, never forced the subject in a flowery way.

If Harry has a canon soul mate in the film, it's Draco, NON-ROMANTICALLY, MAY I ADD. (For once. Seriously. I'm a slash fangirl, but lord, I know canon when I see it.) They are set up to reflect one another very well. Harry, during the movie, is coming to the conclusion that he is only human, and struggles with forcing a confession from Slughorn, honoring his parents, and failing to save Dumbledore; Draco struggles with being subject to Voldemort's whims, honoring his parents, and failing to kill Dumbledore. I see them as more emotionally connected, mirroring each other just a little more completely than Harry and Ginny.

This film makes a functioning, happy, future marriage between Harry and Ginny more plausible, though Harry and Draco still have all the chemistry of perfect rivals.

Re: Slash and Harry/Ginny on my mind.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

If you're a member of pornish_pixies, don't miss this fic in particular: Attempt #32 (http://community.livejournal.com/pornish_pixies/325163.html) by biichan. It was written (I think) the very day the book of HBP was released and describes exactly what we're all thinking about the Harry/Slughorn.

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Um, I have loads to ramble on about the film (and the book, which I didn't like) - but basically this comment is my ridiculous fangirly SQUEEEE that I just got to meet you (so much more dignified than doing it in person, right?).

:D

*hugs*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I JUST SAW YOU AGAIN AND IT WAS SO COOL. IN THE BATHROOM. BUT YOU DID NOT SECTUMSEMPRA ME.

[salty-catfish.livejournal.com]

Yay just returned from the cinema! This film made me... slash everyone with everyone again OMG. This movie had the slashiest undertones so far, I swear I wasn't going in looking for them. (WTF WALLSEX??) I also seriously enjoyed heir handling of Draco and usually I don't care for him much. He looked so miserable and I really could sympathise with him, he definitely had the greatest emotional impact. And the pimpcane made me lol so hard!
I still dislike Rickman as Snape (even if his voice is perfect) and yes, I did feel cheated we didn't get the coward scene but now you explained your point I'm okay-ish with it. I'm so glad we got the "you're asking too much" scene because I was already sure it wasn't included when it finally came.
What I also missed was youngish Tom Riddle looking more handsome than ever+~* etc because I am that shallow. I kind of wanted this movie to be about the whole tom-snape-harry thing and I didn't get enough of that. :( Well, can't expect them to cut all of the quidditch and romance crap just for me, can I?
Everything I didn't like is pretty much in line with all the other HP movies so it's something that's already accepted once I go in.

The flow... I'm not sure about that... I felt too many of the cuts?
Well there were a lot more thoughts but now I must sleep D:

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Well, can't expect them to cut all of the quidditch and romance crap just for me, can I?

I know! When folk are talking about how miserable the romance is I have to throw up my hands and ask if they expected it to be left out. They really did the best they could, I say.

[theexecutioner.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. I actually wrote all the "subtley hidden" innuendos down. in the dark. with a light blue pen. XD Especially the collect me bit. I died. my boyfriend's laptop has very tiny keys and makes me want to stop typing even though i want to fangirl more. sigh. more later when i have a better keyboard!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I think most of us wanted so badly to take notes. You did what we dreamed about! :D

[perfica.livejournal.com]

Even Harry chatting up the café waitress seemed cynical and nihilist

There was so much from the book that couldn’t be explored because there’s not enough time and they show that? The girl was lovely but I was amused by the way they deliberately didn’t have them stand up next to each other. Poor short Daniel :-)

They even did their best to put the kibosh on the Harry/Hermione chemistry

At the first first interaction between Harry and Hermione in the movie, the SO turned to me and said, “These two end up getting married, don’t they?”

And my memory of the book was hazy but WTF was Ginny kneeling before Harry so she can do up his shoelaces? Is that how girls these days are supposed to show their affection for another person, by helping them dress?

Draco was absolutely brilliant in this. Kudos to Tom for pulling it off. (I wonder if we’re now going to get a huge number of fen getting Dark Mark tattoos?)

I swear I heard the zipper. NOT HALLUCINATING.

LOL. Must rewatch scene a million times!

There were plenty of things that I loved and just as many that I thought were unnecessary. But, in saying all that, it certainly fanned the flames of my HP love.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Hee, your S.O. is a wise one! Seriously, I'll never stop lamenting that Rowling didn't try to give Harry and Ginny some emotional bonding earlier in the series rather than just plopping the hitherto-ignored Ginny right in the middle of Harry's hormones six books into a seven-book series.

[fabularasa.livejournal.com]

Among the many things your review has given me, not the least is a new working title for my manuscript: An Anvil of No. (extra points for pretentiousness: THE Anvil of No!)

I have now appropriated this expression. It belongs to me. Go away.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

What? But I but I oh very well, it's yours, have fun stormin' the castle.

[gaaak.livejournal.com]

Aaand once again, Amy, thanks to you, I've spent way too much time over at tvtropes. :)


Thanks for the review; am looking forward to seeing it...eventually! :D

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I am the TV Tropes enabler, bwah ha ha!

[asiablue1342.livejournal.com]

I'm not normally one to post comments anywhere, but am I the only person irritated that they brought in Greyback without having him as more than a slightly menacing, dirty man? There's nothing, that I caught anyways, to indicate that he's the reason people fear werewolves. The only thing that is a nod to his lycanthropy is that he's kind of hairy. That's it. Ooh, look out, there's a hairy, dirty man on the loose....

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Ooh, look out, there's a hairy, dirty man on the loose.... *laughs* Actually I can see that being enough. "Kids! Keep away from hairy, dirty men!"

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

It rates with POA in my esteem, which is HIGH :D. It surpasses OotP by a million miles (other than the incredible fight scene at the end of OotP, which they totally capitalised on at the start of HBP and I think I might have cried a little during that opening scene) ...
Draco was wonderfully wussy yet stoic yet crap yet hot yet ... Sectumsempra'd. Hot.
Harry was hot. Very hot. The film didn't require him to smile too much so we got less stupid faces. He does pain so very very well. I thought the ending was a little flat but I can live with that in the light of today's press release stating that the Battle for Hogwarts in film 7/8 will be 30 minutes long. I desperately hope they big up Draco in the next films, because it would be a shame to waste him now and frankly Narcissa was crap so maybe we could have Draco in the forest scene rather than her?!

All in all I felt like olden days Anne - VERY excited (much more than I expected), very slashy ... and I missed with a seriously painful pang the intrigue of not knowing what was going to happen next. I almost managed to transport myself baxck to a time where I didn't know what a Horcrux was and didn't know what would happen to Harry, his scar, etc .... So big kudos to the film for bringing back that feeling.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

the Battle for Hogwarts in film 7/8 will be 30 minutes long

I didn't hear that but I had heard that the reason they went with cutting the battle at Hogwarts from this movie was for just that reason, that they didn't want to duplicate it in film 8, so, I didn't argue with that choice either.

I'm so with you on hoping they keep Draco as a serious player in the next films! It would be a waste if they didn't. They've got a little more free rein now, so, I guess we see.

[sra-danvers.livejournal.com]

OMG! The Fly! You too? I was waiting Fenrir to appear glorious naked ;-)

I like the scene in the party, when Snape make detention to McCormack for to hide behind a curtain with his Harry. Isn't it jealousy?

Girl, I laughted so much with your review... Thanks for share your opinion!

Kisses,

MARTA

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I was waiting Fenrir to appear glorious naked Omigod, now I'm laughing so hard and wishing we'd got that, too! :D

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Didn't read Book 5 so it was all news to me so, for once and unusually for me, I have no purist-book quibbles! *g*

So all the info you provided was also rather useful!

Felton/Malfoy is orgasm on legs, as are his skinny trousers. And omg, who is that Riddle actor?

And yes, Albus the pimp!! Loved reading your post.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

It's refreshing, isn't it, if you haven't read the book and have nothing to gripe about, isn't it? I remember being that way with a number of films that fans hated but I enjoyed 'cos I never read the books. ^_^

[dancing-moon.livejournal.com]

My smile just grew and grew as I watched this film. It's the best HP movie so far, in my opinion... The silly wonder of the wizarding world is there, yet the war is intensifying and people get _hurt_

Draco has horrible choices to make and it all goes wrong, Snape has horrible choices to make and he does pick the right thing and that also goes wrong...

The silly romances were great, I finally felt that I could buy Harry/Ginny and I don't even miss the last fight scene. Because lots of people whom they haven't had the time to introduce, fighting a bunch of side characters in the dark halls of Hogwarts? Doesn't really make a good movie scene. Whereas Dumbledore's final moments were EPIC, and this way they are what you take with you out of the theatre. They, and Draco's face twisted with self-doubt and hatred and "no no do not want!" feelings

And the slash, mmmgfmgkgnjnhfnkjgn

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I'm so so in agreement with you over the last scene! Dumbledore's death is the climax, the trio hashing things out in grief is the denouement. That's all we need. Funeral shmuneral. *points to icon* IF SIRIUS DIDN'T GET ONE DUMBLEDORE DOESN'T EITHER.

[aiji-yuywell.livejournal.com]

This review is brilliant. exactly how I'd have put it, were I able to write.

did you notice how Dumbledore's eyes flick up to Harry's when he says, "I may have...found another one,"

omgomgomg. I totally jumped out of my seat when Dumbledore said there were "traces" of magic or something and he's looking at Harry after he touched the ring and Harry does the Voldie!neck-crack. I was floored by the subtlety.

...Do you want me to let him.

this line killed me dead.

This review is brilliant. exactly how I'd have put it, were I able to write.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

and Harry does the Voldie!neck-crack. I was floored by the subtlety.

It was so deliciously subtle that I MISSED IT. I was all, "What was that?" and it wasn't until Dumbledore did the "I may have...found another one," that I realized where they were going with that. YES YES.

*smooches you*