tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post719505787596800292..comments2023-11-05T03:24:07.273-06:00Comments on Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob.: HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-76858850211178144932009-07-15T18:54:04.156-05:002009-07-15T18:54:04.156-05:00Having never seen or read Harry Potter in the past...Having never seen or read Harry Potter in the past (but knowing the plot twist (but not when and where it'd happen), I was a bit disappointed in how they handled the end, which, I guess, is because they downplayed the Half-Blood Prince thing.<br><br>I think the end of the movie would have been a whole lot weightier without that tease at the end of the film, where Harry and Co. just talk. It works in a book, but I hate it in movies. Imagine <i>Rocky</i> ending with the after fight press conference, or Rocky talking to Adrian at the pet shop the next day.<br><br>I realize that isn't just a knock on this movie specifically. Just about every epic since <i>Phantom Menace</i> (where epic isn't a description of it's goodness, but its thematic elements) has had this problem. We don't need an extra scene where the characters take a deep breath and get ready for the next adventure. That's what the credits and the time between sequels are for.<br><br>Cut that last scene, and you get an extra three minutes of Rickman and Carter, and maybe Broadbent, who were all great.Paul Arrand Rodgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10369036006191440677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-78442691742467597102009-07-15T18:56:23.646-05:002009-07-15T18:56:23.646-05:00However, I about freaking lost my mind at the Die ...However, I about freaking lost my mind at the <i>Die Hard</i> tribute. I can't imagine the book ripping the end of that movie for its nefarious purposes, but considering who was in that scene, I had this absolutely massive grin on my face that nobody else around me quite understood.Paul Arrand Rodgershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10369036006191440677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-63151164259463107142009-07-15T22:18:48.317-05:002009-07-15T22:18:48.317-05:00You've never seen or read an HP movie/book bef...You've never seen or read an HP movie/book before going into the sixth film of a series with an over-arching story? No offense, but that pretty much discounts your thoughts completely :P . And the last scene couldn't be cut... it's rather important in the grand scheme of things (particularly the R.A.B.).Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-70270909246221358202009-07-15T22:18:48.316-05:002009-07-15T22:18:48.316-05:00Your thoughts regarding how the story plays out, I...Your thoughts regarding how the story plays out, I mean.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-79551088363760809082009-07-16T19:49:20.894-05:002009-07-16T19:49:20.894-05:00I'm relieved you liked the movie so much. Afte...I'm relieved you liked the movie so much. After your long list of flaws with the previous films, I was a little worried. I too saw this at a midnight show and really enjoyed it, though I think I have a few more complaints than you.<br><br>Absolutely agree about the acting and the teen romance plots. The tro were fab and funny (the Felix Felicius scene was perhaps funnier than the love potion), I loved the way they portrayed Draco Malfoy's plot, and Gambon did do his best Dumbledore yet. (I also loved both the younger actors who played Voldemort - so creepy). <br><br>However, when it comes to the Horocrux lessons, I wish there had been a tad more. I don't mind the cutting of nonessential information (Order of the Phoenix is my favorite of the adaptations as well) but I feel that at least one scene (or memory) should have been added that explains *how* Voldemort chooses his Horocruxes would have been important. I'm sure they will find a way to introduce this info in the next film, but I think 1 additional memory would have been more crucial to this story than the random attack on the Burrow.<br><br>Also, for me, Book 6 has always been about the relationship between Dumbledore and Harry - the way Harry trusts and understand's Dumbledore's methods is important to the 7th book - and in Book 6 Dumbledore is essentially preparing Harry for what he must do once Dumbledore is dead. While he did talk to Harry, and they did discuss the Horocruxes, it never felt the Dumbledore was specifically preparing Harry for the work ahead, as I thought it should. Oh well.<br><br>That said, I was happy with the overall product. There was something that didn't quite gel for me, but I'm hoping to make more sense of that when I see it again next week. I love the way Yates films - the camera placement and composition of shots, the cinematography and lighting, the very real sense of place (I love those dusty, winding Hogwarts corridors), and I absolutely agree with you about the score. Wasn't what I was expecting and yet was perfect.<br><br>Sorry for the very long comment! Good discussion fodder! :)Al the Galhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05158701004355963774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-9137846328136219662009-07-16T21:14:18.200-05:002009-07-16T21:14:18.200-05:00Ah, yeah, trust me, my list of likes is 100% longe...Ah, yeah, trust me, my list of likes is 100% longer than my list of dislikes. I just pretty much have an enormous dislike for Cuaron and his involvement in the series that I like to rant about :P .<br><br>The memory where they essentially figure out how Voldemort chooses his Horcruxes WAS included in the film (it's the first one at the Orphanage). However, they just didn't include the discussion after the fact on "collecting" as they did in the book. But as I said, I trust the filmmakers fully now and think they've already planned out exactly how they're going to figure it out. I mean, they can't just exclude it from HBP without knowing how they're going to rectify it in the final film.<br><br>I have a love/hate relationship with the Burrow attack. On one level, I liked how it helped with the overall pacing of the film, which is part of why it was created. On another level, however, they just never mention it again, and it's kinda like "um... okay then."<br><br>But I did catch something unbelievably amazing when I just watched it for the second time earlier today. (Spoilers for those who haven't read the final book and are reading these comments). When Harry touches the ring and does the snake-head movement thing, you can see in Dumbledore's face that he realized just then that Harry is a Horcrux. So that means that what he says next has a full double meaning (the "I think I've discovered another one, and I fear I can't destroy it alone. I'm afraid I must once again ask too much of you, Harry.") In realizing Harry is a Horcrux right then, Dumbledore is both talking about the locket and Harry, and it makes the words that much more powerful.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-66369096200836988512009-07-16T23:01:07.779-05:002009-07-16T23:01:07.779-05:00Nice catch! I'll watch for that when I see it ...Nice catch! I'll watch for that when I see it again. I did really like the editing of that moment and the ring spinning!<br><br>The Burrow clip was released before the film and I was ready to accept it if it offered something, but, while you're right about the pacing, I don't think it really added anything necessary. I thought it would maybe setup the Greyback/Lupin connection or reveal some other information, but all I ended up coming away with was "why the hell is Bellatrix chilling out in the reeds?" It just seemed kind of a waste, partly because, as you said, it was never mentioned again. I did love the way it was filmed and the sound effects of the splashing and the stalks whipping against Harry's face.<br><br>I do trust the writers/filmmakers and am sure everything will ultimately be accounted for. It just seemed like those elements could have at least been set up with just one 2-minute scene or a few more lines of dialogue. With as much of The Deathly Hallows revolving around Harry understanding Voldemort because he really has studied him with Dumbledore, they seemed slightly more important to me than other excised subplots and info. But, perhaps it screwed with the pacing. I do trust them to do the overall story proud.Al the Galhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05158701004355963774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-2938679132468157242009-07-30T23:18:01.840-05:002009-07-30T23:18:01.840-05:00Nick, I'm just about Pottered out for the day,...Nick, I'm just about Pottered out for the day, but I wanted to be sure to etch "Fletch was here" in this space. I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. Though, as Rachel pointed out earlier, opinions do change (for better and worse) on repeat viewings, and I look forward to watching this one again.<br><br>Just not in the theater.Fletchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17299302086449086987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332312589214574085.post-31680467809336223522009-08-19T18:08:54.399-05:002009-08-19T18:08:54.399-05:00Oh man. I couldn't dissagree more. This was my...Oh man. I couldn't dissagree more. This was my least favorite movie by far. I was so let down by it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com