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Rottenwatch: Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince.
- Thread starter DrForester
- Start date
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DeathbyVolcano
Banned
ivysaur12 said:
....that's exactly how the book is. Exactly.
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
BrandNew said:
De-friend them.
I really do wish there was a "dislike" option underneath each entry.
VGChampion
Member
Awesome movie. Not my favorite of all time but there's something weird about the HP movies. Movies on their own lack something, but combined with the books you get an awesome experience.
I forgot how annoying non-fans of Harry Potter can be. At the big scene, my friend just asked how much time was left. Ugh. Oh yeah, and don't text during movies. -_-
I forgot how annoying non-fans of Harry Potter can be. At the big scene, my friend just asked how much time was left. Ugh. Oh yeah, and don't text during movies. -_-
BrandNew said:
I don't know what book you're reading. The book focused on the world at war, impending doom at Hogwarts, the humanizing of Voldemort's past, and romance in the midst of war.
The only part that was remotely similar was the shitty romance.
I'm not mad with what they cut, but the two people who hadn't read the books were pretty lost throughout the movie. The editing was atrocious, especially in the beginning with odd and jarring cuts that made little sense, and the movie was largely boring since it focused so much on romance instead of the other parts of HBP that made it such a great book.
Again, I'll see it tomorrow to judge again, but even as a movie separate from the book I came away somewhat bored.
Did anybody else get disoriented by all the quick cuts? I almost feel like I need to watch it again with more attention to fully digest everything.
I think the biggest problem with me and all of the Harry Potter movies is that they just can't sell me the lie. With the books I get pulled in and immersed in to world of Harry Potter, but the movies just don't do it for me.
I think the biggest problem with me and all of the Harry Potter movies is that they just can't sell me the lie. With the books I get pulled in and immersed in to world of Harry Potter, but the movies just don't do it for me.
ivysaur12 said:
The romance was always a sidestory, but an important one. It definitely didn't seem like that was the main focus of the movie, just a constant partner to the doom and gloom lingering over the characters. It needed some contrast, because I feel like a lot of parents with their kids would have hated a consistently dark and dreary movie.
And I always feel that if I hadn't read the books, I'd be lost, but it's a sad reality given the length of the books. You can't fit in everything, which is why most of those changes were done; to offer simple solutions instead of a lot of back story.
ATF487 said:
It was an important sidestory in the books, yes, but it was taken to another level in the movie that overshadowed more important parts. And what doom and gloom? A bridge being destroyed in the beginning? Even a quick scene of people leaving Hogwarts. Or maybe cut out the useless Weasley Joke Shop and put in more scenes like the bridge being destroyed. Quick montage of Death Eaters killing Emmeline Vance or Amelia Bones. Something to take the focus off Harry and his close company being the only one in trouble. They attack the Burrow. Why? Because Harry is there! What was the point of that? The Other Minister part worked so well because it set up the plot as danger for both the entire muggle and wizard world of the UK. Asking people afterward who hadn't read the book, they didn't get any sense of doom at all. It's sad too, since it started off so strongly.
I agree that it needed contrast, if there was something to contrast it too. The small snippets of war in the start of the movie didn't drive home the central feeling of the novel, it just made it seem like another small B-story.
ATF487 said:
I was thinking as I left the theatre how could Lord of the Rings do it. I know that Tolkien is very verbose, but somehow I was never left...lacking. And yet in Harry Potter, which is long but fullllll of dialogue which should be easy to cut down, there is a problem with getting everything to fit. Like serious problems. Couldn't they just make it thirty minutes longer and be done with it?
An alternative would be to do what Rings did and include the like 45 mins of extras that made the movies into literal adaptations of the books. That would ease my problems with it. At times I felt like I was realllly loving this movie since it took it slower buttt then afterwards I kinda was saddened by their choices of things to take out.
Edit: BTfuckingW, my movie theatre jumped from 15 mins from the ending BACK TO THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE. While at the time I didn't really care (I was drinking in all the Nerd Rage around me) afterwards I got my money back. Never had that happen before but it sucked.
Aaron Strife
Banned
ivysaur12 said:
ivysaur12 said:
(I am actually reading your posts in his voice now. goddamn)
Esperado said:
Well you kind of have to expect that out of a book-turned-movie. Especially with Harry Potter. They never have enough time to jam everything into a 2.5 hour movie. I feel exactly the same way as you do, but at the same time, you have to expect to be underwhelmed when comparing the book to the film.
Arguably, you might not be able to say the same about something like LOTR, but I think the point still stands.
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
Half-Blood Prince isn't really about the war all that much. It's more about this impending feeling of doom and gloom, but we the readers are divorced from the actual action until the end of the movie.
Anyway, I think that this movie was really fantastic overall; it may even be better than Azkaban, though that'd be a hard one to top. I don't judge the movies based on what they kept from the books; I try to judge whether or not it was a successful adaptation. There was nothing super important from the book which needed to be in the movie and wasn't.
Anyway, I think that this movie was really fantastic overall; it may even be better than Azkaban, though that'd be a hard one to top. I don't judge the movies based on what they kept from the books; I try to judge whether or not it was a successful adaptation. There was nothing super important from the book which needed to be in the movie and wasn't.
ScissorHands
Member
So bad.
Even after trying to ignore all the changes made, the tone of the movie, the mediocre soundtrack and even the whole teenage romance/drama I still think this is the worst Harry Potter film I have seen.
Dumbledore dies and you don't feel anything because his relationship with Harry is barely present in the movie. The cave scene and everything that followed was a really weak climax, and at no point in the film do you feel that the wizard world is undergoing a war.
And why put Half-Blood Prince in the title? The book and its meaning were not even a secondary focus throughout the 2.5 hours this POS lasted.
Not enjoyable as a fantasy film. Not even as a teenage romance film.
Even after trying to ignore all the changes made, the tone of the movie, the mediocre soundtrack and even the whole teenage romance/drama I still think this is the worst Harry Potter film I have seen.
Dumbledore dies and you don't feel anything because his relationship with Harry is barely present in the movie. The cave scene and everything that followed was a really weak climax, and at no point in the film do you feel that the wizard world is undergoing a war.
And why put Half-Blood Prince in the title? The book and its meaning were not even a secondary focus throughout the 2.5 hours this POS lasted.
Not enjoyable as a fantasy film. Not even as a teenage romance film.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
It was awesome. I loved every bit of it.
This
and this
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_prince/
do not match.
Can't wait to see it and judge it for myself.
ScissorHands said:
and this
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/harry_potter_and_the_half_blood_prince/
do not match.
Can't wait to see it and judge it for myself.
hoverboarder
Member
Loved it! It delved into its book far more than any other movie so far, and the cinematography, acting, and shtick were all dead on superb. I felt that the ending of this movie -
easily gives away the ending of movie seven, but besides that shows real character depth and smart pacing.
8.6/10 for why the hell not.
Snape shushing Harry
8.6/10 for why the hell not.
ZephyrFate
Banned
Reviews are opinions just like that dudes' opinion, not facts. The Hangover was well-reviewed and I thought it was ass. He's free to dislike the movie no matter how high of a rottentomatoes score it gets.EktorPR said:
ScissorHands
Member
I just don't think it was good even for what it intended to be. The only positive things I can recall are Luna Lovegood and the occasionally funny moments.
Chiggs
Gold Member
Just got back from seeing it; holy shit, this one really came out of nowhere to be one of the more weaker entries in the series. Man, what the hell happened? Even "the scene" fell flat.
I'm actually left pretty stunned...and not in a good way. This was my most eagerly anticipated film of the summer.
I'm actually left pretty stunned...and not in a good way. This was my most eagerly anticipated film of the summer.
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
ScissorHands you may want to spoiler your post.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Just saw it. Easily the best directed film of the series. There was some seriously uneven pacing in the middle
as well as uneven tone - switching from dark movie to comedy in half a second, but otherwise really well directed, which is good since I thought the story was really fucking weak.
7/10
they could have cut all that bullshit with Hagrid
7/10
ZephyrFate
Banned
oh no luna lovegood a character established in a previous film oh noooooAndrex said:
Chiggs
Gold Member
Scullibundo said:
Maybe that's the problem? I really, really did not enjoy this movie as much as I thought I would. Loved 2, 3, 4 and 5...but this one sort of, well, did nothing for me. Nothing wrong with it technically, but the tone felt really uneven and it seriously began to drag on in the middle.
perfectchaos007
Member
So there was a freaking 1 hour delay at our theater. ugh. worth the wait though. I'm looking forward to the 7th movie. ( Part I )
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
ScissorHands said:
ZephyrFate said:
Spoiler effect added by me.
Jerk.
ZephyrFate
Banned
Just giving ya shit dude, no worries.Andrex said:
velvet_nitemare
Member
Just got out. Pretty satisfied with it.
Was there anything after the credits? I wanted to stay, but my friend has work in the AM, so we had to bounce.
Was there anything after the credits? I wanted to stay, but my friend has work in the AM, so we had to bounce.
Internet Celebrity
Member
0_o
Do fan/critic opinions always have to vary this widely? Guess I can judge for myself in a few hours...
Do fan/critic opinions always have to vary this widely? Guess I can judge for myself in a few hours...
ThatObviousUser
ὠαἴÏÏιÏÏÎ¿Ï Ïαá¿Ï εἶ
Internet Celebrity said:
It's the same thing for every new HP movie: film comes out, critics see it as a great movie and say as such, book readers proclaim it's the worst watered-down trite in existence, then the next one rolls around and book fans proclaim the previous entry was the best in the series or at least great. Rinse, repeat.
sevenchaos
Banned
This. Except for Harry's crying. Boy still can't emote for shit.I Push Fat Kids said:
Monocle
Member
Just got back home. Loved it. The majority of scenes that I hoped to see made the cut, and were done justice.
Having read some advance reviews, I was dreading this film's reported emphasis on romance. Fortunately, the relationships play better than I would have thought possible. The director absolutely gets this series. He takes full advantage of the unique strengths of film, using pans and inventive compositions to masterfully complement the storytelling. I thought almost all of the additions and changes to the plot were right on. The scenes focusing on the students of Hogwarts have an emotional richness that took me by surprise. HBP is the funniest, most witty and most human of the Harry Potter movies, and to my mind the best adaptation so far (all the more impressive for the density of the book). You might expect humor to be the last thing the film needs given the dark themes of the source material, but those lighter moments actually enhance the more serious scenes they're intercut with in an escalating series of contrasting notes. The sense of foreboding is always present, mostly an effect of Malfoy's lonely scenes, and after it comes to a head in the finale the tension settles into a steady simmer in anticipation of things to come.
Michael Gambon is the definitive Dumbledore. He nearly steals the show from the ensemble cast (who are all better then ever, I should add). It's hard to imagine Richard Harris bringing such potent contrasts of vigor and vulnerability, warmth and icy resolve to the role. I have a feeling Harris would have been a severe disappointment in the climactic scenes of this film, where Gambon's performance had the perfect nuance in view of the events to unfold in Deathly Hallows. Praise is also due to Alan Rickman, who plays Snape with an exquisite gloomy gravitas, and Jim Broadbent, whose Slughorn has a warmth, complexity and pathos that transcends Rowling's portrayal of the character.
. You'd think the guy could push himself to squeeze out a few real tears considering all that happened.
Though I have to admit, I wonder whether some of them might have been improved if the movie were PG-13. A more graphic Sectumsempra scene would have made me very happy. Still, within the confines of a PG rating, I think it was handled admirably. Very true to the striking image Rowling created.
Having read some advance reviews, I was dreading this film's reported emphasis on romance. Fortunately, the relationships play better than I would have thought possible. The director absolutely gets this series. He takes full advantage of the unique strengths of film, using pans and inventive compositions to masterfully complement the storytelling. I thought almost all of the additions and changes to the plot were right on. The scenes focusing on the students of Hogwarts have an emotional richness that took me by surprise. HBP is the funniest, most witty and most human of the Harry Potter movies, and to my mind the best adaptation so far (all the more impressive for the density of the book). You might expect humor to be the last thing the film needs given the dark themes of the source material, but those lighter moments actually enhance the more serious scenes they're intercut with in an escalating series of contrasting notes. The sense of foreboding is always present, mostly an effect of Malfoy's lonely scenes, and after it comes to a head in the finale the tension settles into a steady simmer in anticipation of things to come.
Michael Gambon is the definitive Dumbledore. He nearly steals the show from the ensemble cast (who are all better then ever, I should add). It's hard to imagine Richard Harris bringing such potent contrasts of vigor and vulnerability, warmth and icy resolve to the role. I have a feeling Harris would have been a severe disappointment in the climactic scenes of this film, where Gambon's performance had the perfect nuance in view of the events to unfold in Deathly Hallows. Praise is also due to Alan Rickman, who plays Snape with an exquisite gloomy gravitas, and Jim Broadbent, whose Slughorn has a warmth, complexity and pathos that transcends Rowling's portrayal of the character.
I wish I didn't agree, but this is the main thing that bothered me about HBPsevenchaos said:
(well, this and the lack of a proper funeral scene for Dumbledore)
roosters93
Member
Not sure how I'm feeling about this, I'm seeing it on Friday.
I was hyped by the high RT score but Margaret & David gave the movie 3 and 2.5 (out of 5) respectively.
Plus the new footage I've seen hasn't raised my hopes.
I was hyped by the high RT score but Margaret & David gave the movie 3 and 2.5 (out of 5) respectively.
Plus the new footage I've seen hasn't raised my hopes.
titiklabingapat
Member
Didn't like it either as much as I thought I would. I agree with the sentiment that says they prefer the wizarding world doom and gloom as opposed to the teen romance.
But I digress since the source material was pretty weak to begin with.
But I digress since the source material was pretty weak to begin with.
Saw this at midnight last night.
I have never read the books, so my commentary is on the film alone.
The pacing in this movie was just all over the map. I rewatched the first 5 movies this week to get refreshed on this one. What the hell happened? At the end of 5 Potter was in the middle of building an army to fight the snake eaters and the world is facing empending doom.
In this one the snake eaters burn down a few buildings while we watch Ron date an annoying girl. The army Harry built seems to have disbanded due to lack of hormone control.
The big twist in the movie seems to be that Voldemort has brought himself back to life by splitting his soul into random objects.. I thought this was pretty well known already from the second movie.. but I guess we have a number now that they have to hunt down and destroy.
Also, I didn't understand why Harry and Jennie had to hide the book so Harry couldn't find it. My friend explained to me afterwards that they missed the point completely. Harry wasn't hiding the book so he couldn't use it, he was hiding it so Snape wouldn't find out he had it so that Harry could continue to use it.
Pretty bad overall. This series hit it's high point with the third movie and has been downhill from there.
I have never read the books, so my commentary is on the film alone.
The pacing in this movie was just all over the map. I rewatched the first 5 movies this week to get refreshed on this one. What the hell happened? At the end of 5 Potter was in the middle of building an army to fight the snake eaters and the world is facing empending doom.
In this one the snake eaters burn down a few buildings while we watch Ron date an annoying girl. The army Harry built seems to have disbanded due to lack of hormone control.
The big twist in the movie seems to be that Voldemort has brought himself back to life by splitting his soul into random objects.. I thought this was pretty well known already from the second movie.. but I guess we have a number now that they have to hunt down and destroy.
Also, I didn't understand why Harry and Jennie had to hide the book so Harry couldn't find it. My friend explained to me afterwards that they missed the point completely. Harry wasn't hiding the book so he couldn't use it, he was hiding it so Snape wouldn't find out he had it so that Harry could continue to use it.
Pretty bad overall. This series hit it's high point with the third movie and has been downhill from there.
polg said:Joining the "I didn't like it" camp
Azkaban was a lot better.
Azkaban was the best movie, so it's not surprising that it was better. I like Yates' work, but he doesn't hold a candle to Cuaron. Too bad Cuaron did not want to do another HP movie. I think from the third one on they have been good, but imagine if he had finished the series.
It was a good Potter film and I enjoyed all the teen romance stuff but is it a GREAT potter film? No, that title remains with PoA and PoA alone. Still a ton better than Transformers/Terminator/Wolverine but I can't help but be said that the series has still been unable to top PoA 3 films later.
LunaticPuma
dresses business casual
Cheebs said:
PoA is the second worst HP film with only SS being the worst.
LunaticPuma said:
You are completely wrong. It is the only film that seems to care about it's pacing at all. The rest of them are happy to jump from random scene to random scene without a care in the world about the narrative of the story. Someone else mentioned that GoF seemed like a collection of 31 shorts instead of an actual movie. I would contend that this has been a problem for all of the HP movies except for CoS and PoA. CoS managed to tie most of the plot points together into something cohesive at the end. PoA managed to tell a convincing narrative from start to finish, with seemingly unimportant plot aspects taking center stage in the well done finale.
The rest of them are just a complete mess both in narrative and pacing. It's like the director has a checklist of scenes that they need to make sure to get in the movie. As long as they are in their, success! If they stop the plot progression dead in it's tracks then who cares.
Take this movie for example: I am supposed to feel a sense of doom that the world is on the brink of annialation. I got a few shots throughout the movie that showed me this.. but 99% of the movie seemed to care about love stories between the charachters. Which is all well and good, but they didn't tie ANY of them in with the plot in any meaningful way. There was no parralel to the story. I don't know if this was an issue with the book or the movie.. but it felt like there were two seperate movies going on that had nothing to do with one another. Tween love story movie and HP and Dumbledore fighting the deadeaters.
Not to mention the inconsistencies between the movies.. what the hell happened to Harry's army he just got through building in the last movie? My understanding is there was supposed to be a showdown trying to keep the bad guys from escaping Hogwart's that was cut from the end of the film.
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