Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Rating: ***1/2

Nonna's Rating: $$$$

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

I wish that the producers of the Harry Potter films had decided that this book, like the final one, would become two movies. That probably would have prevented much of the whining about what was left out of Half-Blood Prince in the film.

I don't have a lot of sympathy for this kind of complaining. Translating from one art form (novel) to another (film) necessitates eliminations, additions, and transformations of the printed text. That's a given. That said, the makers of Half-Blood Prince did a fine job capturing the major themes and incidents in the book -- a book which, after all, is full of loose ends given that it is the penultimate installment of the series.

Many reviewers lamented the abbreviated final battle of the movie, a battle in which most of the major characters participated. The decision, according to industry information, was motivated by financial concerns (it would have cost a great deal to bring in major stars for a few scenes), logistics (getting them all there at the same time would have been almost impossible and delayed production), and similarity (to the final battle scene in the last book). They didn't want to pull out all the stops prematurely.

What remains of the book on film is entirely engrossing and quite satisfying. Several friends who have not read the books reported enjoying the movie immensely; the edited story hangs together well. Harry, Hermione, and Ron have matured into their roles, and the romantic themes that run through this movie add a new dimension to their characters. The adult Voldemort is absent from this film, but Helena Bonham Carter is deliciously evil as Bellatrix Lestrange, and the two boys who play Voldemort as a child and teenager deliver chilling, effective performances. If anything, the film whets the appetite for the final two installments. If only we didn't have to wait so long!

Nonna's Ratings:

$$$$ = Worth paying the Friday evening price
$$$= Worth paying the Matinee price
$$= Worth a rental
$ = Wait for cable
# = Skip it