Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

3.0

FANTASY/ADVENTURE
U.S. Release Date: 07/15/09
Running Length: 153 Minutes
MPAA Classification: PG (Violence)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham-Carter
Director: David Yates
Screenplay: Steve Kloves, (adapted—J.K. Rowling's novel)
Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel
Music: Nicholas Hooper
U.S. Distributor: Warner Bros.

Review by: Carter Moulton

07/16/09

If you follow the "Harry Potter" films through the years, you’ll see a film series that, like its novels, has matched the ever changing tone of its characters and actors. The first two installments, The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, had a juvenile innocence to them, a touch of youthful light that always shined through the cracks of conflict—this was notably due to Home Alone director Christopher Columbus’ approach. Alfonso Cuarón took over the reins for The Prisoner of Azkaban, a chilling twist of direction for the "Potter" series—and my personal favorite. Cuarón’s Potter provided the first real sense of darkness—darkness capable of overpowering the mystical whimsy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The Goblet of Fire continued that thundercloud tone, while slowly bending the darkness into horror. David Yates made his "Potter" debut with The Order of the Phoenix, and while many criticized the amount of material that was left on the cutting room floor, the film is successful at portraying the series’ longest book.

The Half-Blood Prince proves that Yates has the series under control leading into The Deathly Hallows I and II. Yates’ film is exciting, humorous, and heartbreaking—all at the right times. To go into the story is probably irrelevant for this review, but needless to say, there is trouble brewing at Hogwarts. Headmaster Dumbledore plays a major role in the film, and Michael Gambon’s performance is borderline Oscar-worthy.

Photo © Warner Bros.

As much as this film series is about the three lead characters, it’s about the three lead actors as well. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Grangier; we’ve seen Radcliffe’s Potter go through a skater-hair phase (The Goblet of Fire era), Grint’s Weasley get jacked (The Order of the Phoenix era), and Watson’s Grangier become an icon to young men everywhere (slowly but surely). Their performances are strong again, and, when combined with Steven Kloves (who’s written all of the "Potter" screenplays, save The Order of the Phoenix) script and J.K. Rowling’s theme of awkward teenage angst, the result is the funniest film in the series to date. Look for Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge!, Hot Fuzz) as the exceptionally cheeky professor, Horace Slughorn.

Let me clarify. Funny, yes. Christopher Columbus, no. The series is completely different now. Don’t be fooled by the MPAA. The last two films were rated "PG-13," but The Half-Blood Prince received a “PG” rating. I find this rather ridiculous; there is a plethora of foreboding moments to be found here, especially one scene involving a cursed necklace: you will definitely feel uncomfortable. Despite the absence of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, there is a looming threat over Hogwarts, and The Half-Blood Prince captures it.

The film starts off slowly and feels blocky at times, but this is because of the sheer volume of material that is covered in The Half-Blood Prince novel. While the execution and visualization in The Half-Blood Prince are brilliant, the film can’t help but feeling like a “filler,” a set-up for something bigger. I felt the same way about The Order of the Phoenix. I’m not sure who to point a finger at—perhaps Rowling herself—because these movies are certainly well done. The film has less action than we’ve seen in the past, but expect plenty of it with the next two installments. Splitting up The Deathly Hallows into two movies appears to be a win-win situation: the filmmakers will be able to delve deeper into Rowling’s story and stay truer to her writings, and Warner Brothers will milk even more money from Harry Potter’s udder.