Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince [DVD]

Girls, Quidditch and a mysterious potion book distract Harry Potter (Radcliffe) from the dangerous events outside Hogwarts whilst Dumbledore sets him a difficult task.After the controversial switch from last November to this Summer the sixth instalment to the best selling book series of all time is finally here and, you may have heard this before, it is bigger and better than its predecessor.At the end of book 5 the Ministry had come to terms with Voldermort's return and so the beginning of The Half Blood Prince, the novel, showed a meeting between the Prime minister and The Minister for Magic. Oddly left out here and so we are treated to a dramatic collapsing bridge and Death Eaters destroying everything in sight. But this has the best opening of them all with a slowly played flashback of Dumbledore taking Harry's arm after the previous events at the Ministry. It sets the perfect tone for the mood of the picture. An underline sense of sadness but with hope.As with all Potter films, there are plenty of elements missing and new parts included. The beginning is equally fun to observe as a waitress chats Harry up but there are no Dursleys again. The Christmas period has a new element of a Burrow attack but no Minister Potter argument. The ending showdown with Malfoy and the Headmaster is changed quite dramatically also.When reading these fantastic books we dive into our own imagination and inevitably the film impairs that vision and we can agree or disagree. So when the final dramatic changes in the Astronomy Tower take place, I personally felt a minor twinge of annoyance. The big structure in the middle hinders the showdown quality, with the crucial spell not as quick as the book played.But it is tricky to really fault this film on anything else because it is blissful enjoyment. The book is darker but this is oddly funny. There are funny relationship scenarios with Rupert Grint on perfect comedy form and finally getting some limelight off Radcliffe. The central star has some equal comic influence, particularly the scene with the lucky potion.The star of this film is probably Grint as it is so grateful to see him more frequently than any other film. But plaudits must surely go to Jim Broadbent who has made Slughorn his own with a stumbling and curious personality that generates comedy and tension at the same time.The plot is well adapted with all crucial elements added. The whole memory/pensive subplot takes a back seat as we learn little of Riddle's true past but the book, the Malfoy scenario and the teenage social aspects get a full thorough working.The teen stars have never been better and this, like we seem to say every year, is the best Potter so far.9/10

I do wish people would stop comparing films with books. When you read a book it is your own imagination that constructs the scenes. Obviously a film is one person's (or a relatively small group of people) interpretation, so it is never going to match what you may have constructed in your own mind.I think you should take the film separately from the book. Yes it is the same story but ever since books have been made into films people have made these comparisons. Utterly pointless. Filmakers have to compile the story into a fixed timeframe, something the book does not need to do. They therefore may have to omit things that are not crucial to following the story. I think in the case of this film series, they have done a good job.It is a brilliant entertaining film, as have all the others been. Well cast, well acted, well produced and well directed.Of course everyone is entitled to an opinion, but to call a film of this caliber 'embarrassing or awful' says more about the reviewers lack of intelligence and adaptability than the film itself. Of course you're welcome to prove to me and the rest of the world that you can do it better....A book is a book and a film is a film. Like comparing cars & motorcyles, both do the same thing but in totaly different ways.

Once again the team behind the Potter series has pulled out all the stops to make a corking film. Everyone has matured into their roles and there is an easy-going feel to relationships and friendships. Which is no more than you'd expect after all this time.The burgeoning romance between Harry and Ginny is subtly directed and looks promising. Though a much darker film than the others it is not without humour and warmth. It is a film that is paving the way for a big finale and makes you keen for the next episode.The most interesting character is always Snape. You may not see a lot of him but he is always there in the background and you are never sure whose side he is playing for; or maybe he is playing for both. Malfoy too comes into his own and from being a sort of cowardly school bully he has turned into a tormented soul that you end up feeling quite sorry for.I was a little worried, having read some of the reviews, that the film would not be up to its usual standards but there proves to be no concerns on that score.It may help that I have only read a few of the books so I don't need to worry about certain bits being 'put in' or 'missed out'. I feel the books should be judged as one part and the films should be judged as another. Accordingly I think they are all moving along nicely and I can't wait for the final outcome.