Just watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. the title of this post says it all … very half hearted, very lacking in any kind of cohesiveness… and where was Snape’s anguished face and practical breakdown after Dumbledore’s death scene?
Harry’s kiss with Ginny was a lot more passionate than the film showed, and their relationship was the talk of the school! (seriously also the cutest HP ship!) If I remember rightly - were there not some Defence Against the Dark Arts in the book? The film completely skipped Snape’s teaching and Hermione’s telling statement: “He reminds me of you when you were leading Dumbledore’s Army!” also - “The writing in the handbook looks more feminine to me - it can’t be Snape’s!” was also missed out - yet another bit of useful foreshadowing.
Characterisation was weak as well. instead of clever and usually logical Hermione, we got nagging Hermione - Ron was pretty much useless throughout. The lack of showing Tonks and Remus’ love story also disappointed, as I felt there was too much focus on Lavender who, quite frankly was not even a secondary character!
Why were we not shown Hermione and Ron’s Apparating Lessons? Or any of the colour that JK Rowling put so much effort in? We could AT LEAST have seen the bit where Snape ACTUALLY finally answers Hermione’s hand … which I felt was rather a pivotal moment.
Also, where was Trelawney? Was there not a scene where Trelawney was manhandled out of Dumbledore’s office because she foresaw his death? A fate Dumbledore knew he would be facing soon.
No explanation as to who those creatures were protecting the fake Horcrux either - we just saw them that was it - again ONE DADA lesson at least should have been shown because of the foreshadowing of the appearance of these creatures. I have not read the book for awhile but even with my one reading I seem to recall much more than the scriptwriter seemed to!
The only saving grace of this adaptation was Tom Felton’s outstanding performance as a tortured, anguished, troubled Draco who had to do what he had to do because his beloved parent’s lives were on the line!
So, sorry, but Order of the Phoenix was much more of an adaptation than this one is - seriously, more effort could have been made!
I cannot understand the love for this film. I do not know the lowest grade a Witch or Wizard could get but I think this one definitely shows as a Muggle ‘F’!
F for - Failure - Like Cornelius Fudge as Minister for Magic - this film was a flop!
This film shows to me why books will never be out of fashion!
