I’ve been looking forward to “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.” You can say I’m a HP fan, both of the books and of the movies. I’ve read every single book and watched every single movie at the cinema.
When I couldn’t afford to buy the books (Yes, there was a time. I have not forgotten that.), I borrowed from friends. I had to read the books at the office during my breaks and when I was supposed to be working. Bad, I know, but totally worth it. Reading the books at work I mean. You see, where I’m from, there aren’t too many public libraries. Which is such a shame really.
When I could afford the books, I lined up at the bookstores and bought the hardcover editions. And I secretly smiled, remembering the time when I couldn’t even read HP at my leisure.
I wasn’t fazed when an acquaintance told me not to bother watching the film.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because it sucks.” Just like that. No explanation. His kids didn’t like it too, he said.
“Oh, I’m still watching it,” I told him. “I don’t care if it sucks.”
And I didn’t think that it sucked in reality, either.
So I rounded up a few friends and we headed to the theaters to catch the movie. It’s been a while since I read the books, been a while since I saw the last movie. I’ve been meaning to do a serious HP movie and book marathon, read and watch everything from the start, all in a day or a series of consecutive days, but haven’t gotten around to doing it. Life gets in the way, you know. And you got to earn a living.
As soon as the opening credits started, I felt a familiar glow spreading all over my body. Everything came back. The cast of characters, the plot, the feeling of reading that particularly dark book among all the other books, when Harry, Ron, Hermione et al aren’t kids anymore, but much older with more responsibility and grown-up issues, like dealing with evil on a day to day and falling in love.
I’m sorry to say, to that person who didn’t enjoy it (and countless others out there, I might add), the HP franchise still got it. Obviously, you can’t include every single detail in the book. And since the movies are an ongoing thing, then the wonder that surrounded the first movies, like watching quidditch for the first time or seeing the characters come to life, is a novelty no more.
The movies, though, have progressed, much like the characters have grown up. For kids, obviously, they don’t want this. They still hunker for the old Harry, the cutesy one we were introduced to at the Dursleys. But hey, Harry’s all grown up now. He’s the chosen one, he’s gotta save the world. Deal with it or quit watching it.
The quidditch match was still awesome and more crisp in terms of it being real. There wasn’t too much magic going on unlike the previous movies. But I think taking away from the magic and focusing more on the emotion gave the film a different element and a progression from past episodes in the franchise.
I think this particular movie captured the darkness and gloom that the book had. You sense the uncertainty of who to trust, the despair of being in a situation where people you know and love get killed. The teenage angst that all of them are going through is also very well encapsulated in this film. It had it’s funny, awkward moments, and it also had the moments that one can relate to, especially if one is older. All of us have been young once. We know what it feels like and the film conveys the feeling very well.
Watch it! You won’t be disappointed.
1 Comment
July 22, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I agree. HBP may not be a faithful adaptation of the book, but it’s worth watching. I was surprised at first that a lot of the characters did not make it in the final cut, and much of the plot has been changed, but all in all the movie sends out a message: they are indeed facing darker times – nobody can trust anybody anymore, and every one of them is in danger. The burning of the Burrow just goes to show that pure blooded wizards (like the Weasleys) are not exempted from the dark forces lurking in and out of the wizard world. Dumbledore’s death was so touching – I love the symbolism on good triumphing over evil when Prof. McGonagall raised her lit wand and then all the others followed, casting a light which extinguished the dark mark in the sky – simply put, in unity there is strength, and light shall always conquer the dark. I like the raw simplicity of the movie; it may seem “bland” to others, but when you dig deeper into the emotions and the level of maturity that has now beset the main characters, I say HBP is the best installment so far. There are others who say HBP is boring and lacking in suspense, excitement, etc. – I disagree. HBP may lack the usual “fireworks” because this installment is a PRELUDE to Deathly Hallows – but it is not to say that this one is mediocre, definitely not.