Say something positive about the Half-Blood Prince

Since there is a thread like this for every film and there has been a great deal of negativity directed at this film and that this happens to be my far favorite film of the series, I feel obliged to continue the tradition of these'positive' threads at the same time as offering something of a sanctuary for those of us who loved the HBP film. This thread is only for positive comments and discussion pertaining to the HBP film.

To start-off, I'll list a few of the many, many aspects of this film I find positive. Since this is the first post, I'm going to be more general, but hopefully as the thread moves along, we'll get into talking about the specific little things we love.

1. The cinematography. In my opinion it surpasses even POA. It's just pure art and is absolutely beautiful. It's so Gothic and otherworldly and poignant.

2. Micheal Gambon's performance as Dumbledore. Best Dumbledore performance in the series! I think he's even better than Richard Harris in this film. A nuanced and splendid performance that came as close as these films ever got to capturing the heart and spirit of the beloved character from the books. Gambon was both serious and humorous. Both strong and kind. Both fun and funny. Super intelligent, witty and even a little gay. ;) I love, love love it! :tu:

3. The ending. From Aragog's burial to the final image. It's just perfect. From Harry finally convincing Slughorn to hand over the true memory, to the creepiness and evil charm of Tom Riddle in the real horcrux memory to the rushed and hurried but suitably tense and uber-important discussion of horcruxes between Harry and Dumbledore, to Dumbledore and Snape's argument at the tower that brilliantly foreshadows DH, to Snape's glance at Harry, to Dumbledore and Harry's touching conversation on the tower with that beautiful, tear-jerking music playing and the majestic sunset to the grand epic operatic arrival at the cave to the claustrophobic, frightening nightmare within the cave to the fatalistic and foreboding 'In Noctem' chorus montage to the tower scene to Snape killing Dumbledore to Harry chasing Snape and their little duel to Snape's reveal as the Prince to finding Dumbledore's body and the whole aftermath of his death....

Half-Blood Prince is the film that finally gets it. I always knew Yates had the potential and HBP proved to me that he can improve and get better and better. HBP is a huge step in the right direction. It balances the faithfulness of the first two films with the cinematic edge and artistry of POA and GOF, and combines that with the superb acting and character of OOTP.

Easily the best film of the series for me.

Now it's your turn to say something positive about the HP film that had the longest, most memorable and most epic wait! :D

Ron and Hermione! They were done perfectly. And linked to this is my favourite scene of the movie - Harry and Hermione on the steps, "It feels like this."

The cave scene was eerie and creepy. It was just right. There was just a few white lights around Harry and Dumbledore and everything else looked like it had been swallowed up by darkness. The inferi were creepy.

Quidditch was back :D

LOVED this movie - I agree that Gambon was the best Dumbledore in this film. He had the look and was spot on with the personality. A magnificent performance.

The feel of the movie was superb and basically, everything was brilliant !!! :)

I really liked the part where Harry comforts Hermione after the whole Ron/Lavender scene. I thought it was touching.

I also thought the actor playing the teenaged Riddle was fantastic. He kind of looked like he was a really tall 6 year old, face-wise, but his line delivery was excellent.

When Harry is on the Felix...so hilarious!

Howdy Pards,

http://i44.tinypic.com/28veie1.jpg

There are many positive things about this movie...but I have to agree that
Dumbledore stood out as an outstanding performance. And...in this film...we
saw a side of Draco Malfoy that we never knew existed...again an outstanding
performance.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2gv7b46.jpg

Wild Ol' Dan

The two memories that we got to see are MAGNIFICENT! The performances in those scenes are great, and the effects that they add were awesome.

Lavender Brown was hilarious! :yuhup:

Theres alot i can say thats positive in this film.

The scenes with Snape. They were too few but what we did get was awesome!

The memory scenes. Little Tom Riddle was so creepy and great!

The Cave scenes. That was exactly how i had imagined it! :clap:

Felix Felicis scenes! Hahahaha Harry!

The cinematography was quite nice!

Draco Malfoy. Very nice character development there.

Nice cinematography, and Frank Dillane was a good surprise.

Cormic McLaggen spewing on Snape's feet at Slughorn's party was just awesome. I nearly died from laughing too hard.

One name... Jessie Cave. She made me wish they cast her back for PS.

Aragog's funeral was a work of art and funny at the same time.

I liked how they made Dumbledore's death more of an assassination party sent to kill him rather than a full on battle. Seems more appropriate and more eerie.

There was magic

There are many positive things about this film.

1. As some have already pointed out, Gambon was really DD this time. I did love how he portrayed the Headmaster. There was a certain softness in his character that for the first time I could see him as the Albus Dumbledore of my imagination.

2. I do like how they portrayed the Hermione /Ron romantic iclination. To me it set clear for once and for all Hermione has no interest in Harry, and has strong, very strong feelings towards a Ron and likewise. I think it was very effective and kind of sweet.

3. The main plot was properly adapted. I do believe it told the story very well, and this time did not feel it was chopped or poorly edited.And I don´t know much about this but I think anyone can say the film flowed coherently.

4. The cave scene was Brilliant ( chilerisima) it had all I expected. It was very properly adapted and it even made me jump when the hand grabbed Harry. Nicely done!

5. Slughorn was exquisetly perfect, he had this something about him that really made me link his portrayal and substitute the inmensly fat man that had been Slughorn in my imagination.

6.Ruppert was amazing! I loved his portrayal of Ron , and I loved his scenes, the " love effect " after the chocolates was hilarious and he was so sweet moaning for Hermione, I loved it.

7. The Harry and Hermione moment after the Ron /Lavander kiss was very sweet, I was not a fan at first , but it was so properly done I simply loved it.

8.All the memories were very well handled, it just made me hope they had included Merope´s as well, but the selection was properly made and the right ones were inlcuded. They were brilliantly done.

i gotta say that the cave scene was exactly what i imagined when i read the book the first time. Everything from the entrance appearing (through an almost crumbling of rocks), to the Inferi and Dumbledore's screams of agony.

I also have to mention that the scene with Katie Bell might have been the creepiest scene in all the Harry Potter movies AKA one of my favorites

five words:

"Not to mention the pincers . . . "

OH LOL. :) Dan's comedic timing in HBP was just classic IMO.

I really liked the part where Harry comforts Hermione after the whole Ron/Lavender scene. I thought it was touching.

I really enjoyed this part as well. :agree:

Cormic McLaggen spewing on Snape's feet at Slughorn's party was just awesome. I nearly died from laughing too hard.
This was extremely hiliarious. :rotfl: One of my favorite parts.

I wouldn't fully agree that Gambon was the best Dumbledore by this film as many are saying. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much of an improvement, but he really changed my view on his portrayal as Dumbledore. :agree: Very nice work, my heart still belongs to Harris though. ;) From the point where Harry and Dumbledore landed on the rock out at sea to the wand lighting at the end of his death was my favorite part of the movie. It keep me at the edge of my seat and brought tears to my eyes, they really did a fantastic job on this scene and this was the part I was most looking forward to. Aragog's burial scene as well with Hagrid, Slughorn, and Harry was very touching. :love:

I can't help but add in the part where Slughorn talked about Lily and the transfigured fish in the bowl. That was a great add-in as well. :) My favorite movie of the lot! :D :clap:

HBP is my favorite of the entire series and just a complete treat to watch after the epic wait.... I love almost every single thing about it but the first thing that comes to mind when I think of something positive was the perfection, absolute sheer perfection, of the cave scene.

The ocean, the rock, the location, the beautiful crystal caves, the ride in the boat, the island in the middle of the lake - it was all eerie and the entire scene had an urgency about it, as though something was about to happen. Dumbledore was heart-breaking while drinking the potion and when Harry put his hand in the water to fill that cup and the Inferius grabbed it I jumped out of my skin all three times that I saw the movie even though I knew full well it was going to happen! The underwater battle and then the awesome ring of fire just sealed the perfection :love:

That is without a doubt my favourite part of the movie! :tu:

I thought Tom Felton's performance was awesome. One of the best actors in the movies.

five words:

"Not to mention the pincers . . . "

OH LOL. :) Dan's comedic timing in HBP was just classic IMO.

I loved that too! So out of character, yet so perfectly done!

So many creepy parts...I had to send my 2 younger kids out of the room a few times because it was a bit too scary, but it completely captured (possibly even surpassed) what I envisioned when I read the story.

I could mention a lot of positive things about the Half-Blood Prince, but I think the most important positive aspect was the fact that I got something different, an added artistic dimension which at times made it more compelling than the book. Only Half-Blood prince and Prisoner of Azkaban have given me this feeling out of the films so far. I also liked that the book brought some new dimensions to some of the characters, without really changing them, only by changing the point of view of the film or which aspect of the character they decided to emphasize.

You know, actually I didn't like the film so much. But after reading all the posts, I kind of feel that I can view the film from a new light. I think I will watch it again and see it differently. I think I will like it better this time.

Winky45:D

The positive thing I have to say about HBP is that the trio is starting to feel love and heartbreak. Hermione loves Ron but Ron is with Lavender and it breaks her heart to see them together. Harry starts having feelings for Ginny and argues with himself about her being Ron's sister. That is ausome.

Ron!!! The whole movie got positive because of Ron. He is so hillarious when he has eaten all those treats(don't remember what it was:P) with love potion in them...

For me, Jim Broadbents performance of Horace was fantastic :tu:. Easily the best thing about this movie. I also really liked the way that they handled the 'love triangle' between Won-Won, Lav-Lav & Hermy :D.

My absolute favorite part is when Slughorn tells the story about his fish Francis. I thought it was such a beautiful story.

I really enjoyed Gambon's performance as Dd and I think Draco's character development was well done. When Bellatrix was destroying the great hall the pain and regret was obvious in Draco's face. I thought it was nice foreshadowing for the Malfoy family change in SH.

When Harry comforted Hermione was also one of my favorite scenes.

My absolute favorite part is when Slughorn tells the story about his fish Francis. I thought it was such a beautiful story.

Yeh I agree! Even though that story wasn't part of the cannon, it completely worked on screen :agree:.

You know, actually I didn't like the film so much. But after reading all the posts, I kind of feel that I can view the film from a new light. I think I will watch it again and see it differently. I think I will like it better this time.

Winky45:D


I like it better the second time I watched it. I think the first time I was trying to take in so much, trying to figure out what they kept from the book and what they didn't that I actually missed a lot of it in the process.

Positive things abut HPB:

Felton did a great job as Draco Rupert did a great job as Ron Lavender was funny.

Emma Watson's acting greatly improved.

I liked the whole movie. The pace was a bit slower. I liked Draco for a change. I loved Lavender, & Ron. But then he asked for Hermione. the cave was the best part! and with Dumbledore standing upright, with the ring of fire. and Harry talking about the pincers'. lol!
Until DH comes out, this is my favorite movie.

i loved draco <3
and snape and bellatrix.
the harry/hermione scene was great.
i just really loved it.

its my favorite so far of the films

I love this thread! MoD, I'm so so glad you feel this strongly about HBP! The whole three months after HBP's release were so bittersweet for me, with all of my excitement over the film and then so many people having such lame and hard-hearted things to say about HBP. It sort of took the wind out of my sails for a while. But it's wonderful to think on the positive side and read so many other positive things people have to say.

The Score! Nicholas Hooper far exceeded my expectations with his work in HBP. Being Harry Potter, I knew the score would be noteworthy. But, to me, it felt like Hooper hit EVERY present emotion in HBP. From mischievous suspense, anxiety, to bliss, to angst, to epic tragedy, to the pain of loss, to the moments of enlightenment and hope, he nailed it.

Cinematography. I loved the darker, more gothic feel. For me, HBP finally put "the feel" of the world of Harry Potter into perspective for me. With the other films, I always had to infuse what I knew of the magic world from the books with what I was seeing on screen. Of course that was enough, seeing as I am here now :P ...but HBP made it much more real for me.

Gambon. Pure Gold. Enough said.

Emotion. HBP was actually successful in an onscreen display of real emotion.

Voldemort.

I rather enjoyed HBP, however I believe it was the cinematography that interested me more than the actual story. Large amounts of the book was cropped out, though that was to be expected.

No, I enjoyed the visual feel the movie had. The "darkness is coming'', foreboding chill that you can see in the dim darkness of the movie's tone. I do believe HBP was a fantastic movie... an adaptation of the book? That's another story :)

Wow...I loved this whole movie! I will only mention one thing right now (cause breakfast is ready)...Slughorn and his eyebrows! How expressive...they were moving all over his face! :rotfl:

-Draco Malfoy (damn, Tom Felton did do a really job, even more with a twist!)
-Some of the humor
-Alan Rickman (of course <3)
-just the feel of adventure looking for the Horcruxes (I really hope they keep a good job with that, in the 7th)

the only good things i can say about any of the movies, beyond chamber of secrets, is that the actors did an excellent job IMHO. i love the series as a whole, of course, but i didnt like most of the movies.

ive said it before, and ill say it again many times. the movies werent done right. i dont think i could do any better i guess because im not a director but i hate the fact that so many things were left out of the last 4 released movies. the first 2 were wonderfull. ive always been of the opinion that from book three on they should have split them into two parts. the better to include all the important points. either that or say the hell with paring them down so they arent too long and making them each 3 to 4 hours long. i think that fans of the books wouldnt have minded. i know i wouldnt have.

ive said it before, and ill say it again many times. the movies werent done right. i dont think i could do any better i guess because im not a director but i hate the fact that so many things were left out of the last 4 released movies. the first 2 were wonderfull. ive always been of the opinion that from book three on they should have split them into two parts. the better to include all the important points. either that or say the hell with paring them down so they arent too long and making them each 3 to 4 hours long. i think that fans of the books wouldnt have minded. i know i wouldnt have.

....coughs.....

The title of this thread is......?

I still can't believe that many people disliked this film. I thought it was amazing.

When I first saw 'Prisoner of Azkaban' I hated it. I thought it butchered the book, but as the films went on, I realized that PoA actually became my favorite. Why? Because it didn't try and cram every single detail of the book into 2 hours. Go look at the OotP Soundtrack, every piece is barely 2 minutes long, because everything was so rushed. Alfonso Cuaron created a film, not a book; J.K. Rowling did that. And as a film, it works quite well.

That's how I felt about The Half Blood Prince.. finally, another one that doesn't rush. He made a film.. an adaptation. He wasn't writing a book because it was already done. Sure he took some creative liberties, but sometimes that has to be done for the flow of the film.

Also, I read somewhere that Daniel Radcliff had a hard time filming the funeral because there were so many extras there just having a good time and being loud. He said it was like an 'Irish Wake'... why do I say this? Because the Funeral exists! So fingers crossed that it shows up in the Ultimate Editions or at the beginning of The Deathly Hallows.

Another positive thing about HBP which I rarely find in other adaptations, is the fact that the additions to the story were well worked out and simply great. I'm thinking for instance of the story about the fish Francis, the attack on the Burrow and Bellatrix' vandalizing the Great Hall.
Often in other film adaptations I find that the additions made to the story are only there to make the film fit a specific plot and they turn out either cheezy or a bit formulaic.

On a Positive Note : The cave scene with Dumbledore and Harry was amazing and very well done.
PS- Negative Note:
I personally was extremely disappointed in the film mostly because they did not show the other important pensieve memories (the ring, the cup, etc) or focus on helping Harry figure out what the remaining horcruxes were, which I think was the most important part of HBP and was much needed to set up for Deathly Hallows.

I remember when Dumbledore died (after crying my eyes out and reading it over again to make sure he really died).. I kept thinking to myself, how the heck is Harry going to defeat Voldemort by himself without Dumbledore's help or knowledge... and with the way the movie ended it just left so much to be desired IMHO

When the waitress approaches the table in the cafe and says, "Is it Harry Potter, then?" As an American, I enjoy hearing and learning the differences between "Yankee" English and British ways of phrasing things.

One of my favorite scenes:
Harry: (in a lounge-lizardly, pompous way) But I AM the chosen one.
Hermione wallops him with a rolled up newspaper.
Harry: (ducking his head and realizing how stupendously arrogant that was) Sorry?

The actress who played Lavendar was HILARIOUS. Everything she did cracked me up.

Fave actors:
1. Sir Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. Amazing acting.
2. Tom Felton as Draco. I loved how Draco is shown slowly drifting apart from the rest of the Hogwarts children. And Tom is an amazing actor. He nailed most of the scenes. It was an epic perfomance.
3. Jessie Cave as Lavender Brown. She's nutty and bimbotic. Not how I'd imagined Lav-Lav, but she's amusing.
4. And of course, Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood.

Fave scenes:
1. Aragog's Funeral. I liked the whole affair ("Not to mention the pincers") and the talk about Francis the fish. (Francis, by the way, is my father's name. I was watching with my Mom, and we just burst out laughing when Slughorn mentioned Francis. I imagine the people who were sitting beside us thought we were mad. Then again, we were sitting next to a group of extremely roudy teens.)
2. The salute to Dumbledore.
3. H/H scene when Harry comforts Hermione.
4. Luna finding Harry in the train, and their conversation. (Harry: "I'm sorry I made you miss the carriages, Luna." Luna: "It's alright. It's like being with a friend." Harry: "You are my friend Luna!" Luna: "That's nice)
5. The Inferi part. I didn't like the Inferi though, they looked too much like my twin brother, Smeagol.

PS- Negative Note:
I personally was extremely disappointed in the film mostly because they did not show the other important pensieve memories (the ring, the cup, etc) or focus on helping Harry figure out what the remaining horcruxes were, which I think was the most important part of HBP and was much needed to set up for Deathly Hallows.

I agree! They focused too much on the teenage love thing between Won-Won/Lav-Lav/Hermione, and Harry/Ginny. I wanted them to show more on the Horcri, and the Trio speculating on the Half Blood Prince. The show is about the Half-Blood Prince, not Harry and the Trio's romantic escapades.

Everyone had pretty good hair.

Helena Bonham Carter was in it.

The cave scene was awesome, I was thoroughly creeped out. And Harry on lucky potion was hilarious! I laughed the whole time during that part.

But I agree that they spent too much time focusing on the romance and not enough about Horcurxes or the HBP's potions book. Kind of the whole point of the book, wasn't it?

Good acting, far better than in the previous movies.

Some sequences are just amazing: I always get chills when Slughorn gives Harry his true memory, which is another remarkable scene, thanks to the actor who plays Tom Riddle and thanks to the audio effects. I also love the ending sequence... it's so sad and it makes me think to Deathly Hallows!

Who else liked the scene after Harry chases Snape off the grounds, once all of the students and Hogwarts staff are viewing Dumbledore's body?

This scene, in my opinion, is one of the most emotional and epic film scenes I've ever viewed.

I also think that this scene can possibly be interpreted as Dumbledore's funeral...

What do you think?

I also think that this scene can possibly be interpreted as Dumbledore's funeral...

According to Yates and Kloves that sequence IS the funeral. I don't know... I think that of all the bad things that are in the movie, the lack of Dumbledore's funeral is what annoyed me less. Of course I would have been happy to see it but in my opinion it isn't so important as the battle (another sequence they cut from the book)... I mean, the film works well even without Dumbledore's funeral but we can't say the same for the battle: Draco's attempts to get the Death Eaters inside Hogwarts are meaningless without the battle...

Alan Rickman was great in the movie. (As were Tom Felton and Michael Gambon, also, in my opinion). :)

Alan Rickman was in it.

The actors were excellent in their portrayals of their respective characters. Kudos to Michael Gambon, Tom Felton, and the hilarious lady who played Lav-Lav. And of course, Alan Rickman, hands down.

What I liked is not only have the characters matured, but the actors have too.

I also loved Snape yet again, Cormac was sick on Snape's shoes, anyone else would jump back and panic, But Snape just stands there and talks so calmly. He also looked so powerful at the end, and it was emotional when he killed Dumbledore.

All in all, it was a fantastic film.

I liked the Liquid Luck scene. I just wish they would have put in the scene where Dumbledore talks to the Dursley's. That would have been funny to see.

+ Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin... Freddie Stroma ^^;

+ I loved the soundtrack. Nicholas Hooper is no John Williams but 'In Noctem' and all the pieces with Dumbledore's name in them are incredible.

+ The cinematography was great.

My favorite moment of the film is the shot of Dumbledore falling from the tower.. It's sad but it's so powerful.

I saw this movie last summer, before i read the sixth book , so it was very confusing, since i wasnt even finished with the 5th one yet. It makes more sense that i've read the book now. I dont understand people who just follow the movies, if i did that i wouldnt have a clue as to whats happening.

This one wasnt my favorite. I liked the fourth movie the best--but i didnt like this one because most of the movies stick very closely to the book, and this one didnt, well it did but not as much as the others.

Also i thought it ended kinda funny. They were all just sitting on the balcony, talking. This was the second to last chapter of the sixth book i think, cause someone told me the 1st seventh one would open up with dumbledore's funeral. I'm rambeling. So those are my thought. ahahaha.

Some of the special effects were good. The flying scene at the opening was good.

I saw this movie last summer, before i read the sixth book , so it was very confusing, since i wasnt even finished with the 5th one yet. It makes more sense that i've read the book now. I dont understand people who just follow the movies, if i did that i wouldnt have a clue as to whats happening.

This one wasnt my favorite. I liked the fourth movie the best--but i didnt like this one because most of the movies stick very closely to the book, and this one didnt, well it did but not as much as the others.

Also i thought it ended kinda funny. They were all just sitting on the balcony, talking. This was the second to last chapter of the sixth book i think, cause someone told me the 1st seventh one would open up with dumbledore's funeral. I'm rambeling. So those are my thought. ahahaha.

Thread title: Say something positive about the Half-Blood Prince.

Why is this difficult?

Alot of great things were in this movie: The opening scene with the death eaters flying through London was amazing, The memories that we did see were perfect in my opinion and the cinematography as many have said was awesome.

I also felt that this film had the closest feel to the books.

i agree with JayPetey, I cant believe how many people didnt like the film. it was my favorite film by FAR. the cave scene was, legitimately, exactly how i pictured it when reading the book. THe opening scene is so fantastic. the scene with Katie bell and the necklace was so creepy AKA awesome. Draco / Tom Felton's performance was fantastic; he portrayed internal torment Draco had perfectly. Both my girlfriend and I felt that the comedic aspect of the film really pulled the plot together.

the only complaint i really had was the burning down of "the Burrow" AKA the WEasleys home. makes zero sense. in Deathly Hallows the wedding is there, the ghoul in the attic, etc

Something positive, eh?

The acting was astonishingly better, I was proud of Michael Gambon!
The Cave scene-- Couldn't have asked for a better setup.
Ron and Lavender made me laugh. I loved how cheesy and corny the entire relationship was.

The Quidditch scenes were done really well, Slughorn was great, especially with all of his facial expressions. Just the overall look to it with the way everything was shot and Michael Gambon was great.

The Death Eaters flying through London at the beginning was fantastic, and I think the music went with that so well.
The Lucky Potion scene was absolutely fantastic :rotfl: I loved Dan's acting and the moment where he asks Slughorn for his memory was beautiful. I think most of the acting was generally better in this movie, there were some really good moments.

Luna was cute in her few scenes. I liked the way they shot it. The lighting and color was interesting. I liked the Katie Bell part.

These moments have probably all been mentioned...but they were amazing! :D

1) The Death Eater's attacking/flying through London and all the Muggles not being able to see them. And the huge bridge collapsing- very dramatic.

2)One of the opening scenes- where Harry is being photographed constantly and Dumbledore has his hand on his shoulder. The look on Daniel Radcliffe's face was so grief stricken...

3) Horace Slughorn. His acting was perfect and hiding as an armchair?! Brilliant!

4) The awkward Ginny/Harry/Ron scenes. For example, Ginny feeds Harry a mince pie then Ron just wanders in and sits down between them- long pause- "Pie?"

5) The love triangle between Ron/Lavender/Hermione. Emma Watson was just fantastic and her crying scene when Harry comforts her was very moving. The score there: "Harry and Hermione" really fit the scene, too, I loved the harp line!

6) The Hospital Wing Scene. "I happen to be his... friend!" Poor Lavender aswell, she was hilarious. And when Hermione says, "He's been poisoned you daft dimbo!"...I cracked up. Also, when watching that scene, look closely at Snape in the background- his expression is extremely funny! Watch it! :D

7) Dumbledore and Snape's arguement, ending with Snape staring mysteriously at Harry mid-way on the stairs. Chilling.

8) The cave scene- exactly like I imagined it. :clap:

9) The tribute to Dumbledore with the wands, earned a few tears in my eyes, I can tell you. Also, the music there was highly emotional, I reccomend you listen to it: "Dumbledore's Farewell."

And my favourite moment(s) ever!

One name: Alan Rickman. One of the best actors on earth, in my opinion.

The most powerful scene was right before Dumbledore's death, Harry turns and sees Snape-silence- then the man puts a finger to his lips, "ssh..."

Wow, one of the single moments when Harry trusts Snape and...I love how they added in the "ssh" idea. Very haunting.

Many people complain that Snape didn't scream "DON'T CALL ME COWARD!" but I love what they did in the film slightly better. When Harry screams, "Snape! He trusted you!" the look on Snape's face just resembles how much guilt the man is feeling.

Also, when Bellatrix (she was amazing, as always) curses Harry, Snape shouts: "No! He belongs to the Dark Lord!" Listen closely to that because there is the most beautiful tremor in his voice that shows one of the few times when Snape is seriously down right petrified.

On a lighter note..."Not to mention the pincers; *click* *click.":rotfl:

And, *throws up on Snape's shoes* *pregnant pause* "You've just earned yourself a month's detention."

Hey everyone! I'm new to the forums, a newbie, so go easy on me! I LOVE HARRY POTTER!

The Half-Blood Prince is my favorite book out the 7, so naturally I loved the movie. What I really liked about the film was:


I enjoyed the Unbreakable Vow scene with Snape, Narcissa, and Bellatrix. It showed the conflict that Snape had even before he had to perform, not for the Dark Lord, but for Dumbledore. And I love Helen McCory, the actress that portrayed Narcissa. She was in The Count of Monte Cristo and I liked then, too.

The scene with Hero Fiennes as young boy Voldemort/Tom Riddle. That dude should have played Damian in The Omen! He actually made me a little nervous.

I love Tom Felton/Draco Malfoy throughout the entire movie, but he and Alan Rickman together was AWESOME!!!! Felton was always a good actor, but in the HBP, he was freakin BRILLIANT!!!!! From the Hogwarts Express scenes to the destruction of the Great Hall (thanx alot Bella), Tom Felton was pure genius!

The infirmary scene when Ron calls out Hermione's name........I loved it!

And of course the Astronomy Tower scene (after returning from the cave)!

Luna and Snape were the best part of this movie.

The mooning over Ron by Hermione...the WORST! (starts puking flobberworms)

A couple stand out things for me...

Felix scene
Tom's acting
R/Hr/Lav triangle
the music
the opening
Slughorn was funny

I liked everyone holding up their lit wands after DD died. This was so moving.

I feel like this was one of the better films in the series despite some of the changes made. I believe many of those changes will make more sense when the 7th film is released.

Bella is in her element reeking havoc on Muggles. Her scenes were all great.

Malfoy's character was well developed this time...not just a spoiled brat.

Dumbledore was finally as I imagined him, although now he's gone...I liked his death, very well done.

The CAVE!


I do wish the Dursley's had been there at the beginning...that would have been fun.

First Post!

Alan Rickman and Thomas Andrew Felton are gods. That's all I need to say about that.

As many have said, the cave scene was exactly as imagined...as was Katie Bell's.

The random little comments from Harry..."And...the pincers...-clickclick-" "Dragon balls." "But...I AM the Chosen One. -smug look-"

The awkward Ron/Harry/Ginny stuff. "So--did you and Ginny do it?" "WHAT?!"

Dumbledore's death, and the wand-lighting afterward was beautiful. I cried.

The opening was very different, but I loved it nonetheless.

The Horcrux memory--the actor portraying Riddle was brilliant.

The entire Felix scene--Dan did brilliantly.

I've had some serious issues with Michael Gambon's portrayal of Dumbledore--in fact, yesterday I watched SS/PS on ABCFam, and every time Richard Harris came on the screen I started shouting, "Why the ruddy HELL did you have to die?!" However, in this film...he was pretty acceptable.

Overall I think this is definitely one of my favourite films...at least tied with CoS.

Have you read that?
http://warnerbros2009.warnerbros.com/assets/screenplays/hpathbp_screenplay.pdf
Page 92-95. The added scene at the Burrows was originally written in a way that it was going to be GOOD!!!
-Kloves had given Ginny and Harry more conversation than two lines each.
-The attack was going to be more thrilling than that clumsy, confusing, half-assed action sequence.
-Greyback had lines in that scenes.
-The Burrows wasn't even supposed to burn! It's Yates' or the producers' choice...

So actually we could've seen an exciting scene with better dialogues and more action, but the final product was botched and just leaved us bored, confused and frustrated.

Now, what I like about the HBP movie : EVERYTHING, it's my favorite of the series, David Yates did a great job, except for the Burrows scene + too slow editing at times.

HBP as a book is rather cold and dark, but the movie made me laugh. I think portraying the themes of the book and infusing humor was genius. I especially liked Dan's random little lines, preticularly, "But I AM the chosen one." *smack* :rotfl: Makes me laugh just thinking about it...

Dan was so cute in the Felix Felicis part =)) I laughed my head off especially when he did those pincers thing. HE NEEDS TO DRINK FELIX FELICIS ALL THE TIME, OKAY. Forever and ever :lol:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l4jqsuBDJa1qbhtrto1_500.gif

THIS.

I watched this movie last night with a friend of mine who hadn't seen it yet. She absolutely loved it, and told me it was her favourite one.

The only scene I had to explain to her was the Unbreakable Vow scene. When Draco said the line "Don't you see, I have to do this, I have to kill you... Or he's gonna kill me!" She literally clapped her hand over her mouth in realisation of what Draco's task was. I looked up at her after the scene with all the wands lighting up around Dumbledore and she had tears.

IMO, this movie works so well for what it was made for.

My favorite: The scene in Hagrid's cabin in which Slughorn describes receiving the fish named Francis and its/Lily's death. The scene is exquisite. Poignantly acted.

I also liked the tenderness and humor of Slughorn's farewell to Aragog.

Another perfect moment was Hermione's angst over Ron and Lavender's newfound passion, when she weeps on Harry's shoulder and sends her conjured birds to attack Ron. It captured the scene from the book and then some.

And I have to say that the scene on the island in the black lake cave fully conveyed the drama and emotion from the book.

Rupert Grint's performance (well that actually stands out for me in all of the films) - he's a really great actor. I just have to say that he always (even when he was in "Driving Lessons") gives a great performance. My favorite scene was when he was under the love potion's spell.

Jim Broadbent actually made me feel sorry for Slughorn when he was in Hagrid's cabin with Harry describing his experience with Lily. It made me tear up a bit.

The scene in which Harry took the Felix Felicis. Just one of my favorite movie scenes ever!

I do think that most of this movie was all about character development, but it really set the scene for the final chapter of the series. All of the main characters have everything they're going to have, and now it's up to the next director to run with it!

The opening sequence of HBP with Dumbledore and Harry at the Ministry....just WOW. It is so sad and beautiful. The music fits perfectly and when I saw it in theaters, it almost had me crying before the movie had really even started. :) IMO, it shows the audience the bond between Harry and DD, which makes the death of DD at the end that much more powerful.

Oh, and Dan's portrayal of Harry on Felix was hilarious :lol:... just a great bit of fresh acting that we wouldn't usually get to see with Harry's character.

I loved Half Blood Prince. It was my first time seeing a movie at midnight and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. I know it was a little different from the book but the Romance scenes were great. Also I think it had a great start on the Horcruxes.

I agree with everyone. Also I want to say that David Heyman and Yates have stressed that the way they made this movie was influenced by how they want to go about Deathly Hallows. So I think this was the first movie where they actually had an idea of the greater picture in mind. Before the other movies were more episodic and didn't have that much an effect on the others.


All in all I think in one statement what makes HBP the best movie yet is that it stops trying to cram in as much detail as much and instead works as an adaptation not a retelling. It takes the material cuts some parts while adds in new parts. In the end I want to see a movie where there are still suprises for me even if I have read the book. If you read the LOTR books and see the movies, whats left out is soo much soo much more. It's just that not many people have read the lotr books in the young adult range because its so long and complex. For me HBP was the most emotionally satasfying harry potter film yet and I think a stronger emphasis on character and "romantic escapades" makes it so much better. In the end the books are great because of the depth of the characters and any chance to lavish and explore these characters is fine with me. David Yates is a character director not a big budget action director like the others such as Mike Newell who just did Prince of Persia. I can't wait to see what he does for Deathly Hallows.

One scene I am really excited about is Harry Ron and Hermione stealing from a farm. Apparently they actually filmed it I am sure it will be a very insightful scene.

I liked the movie for the most part :). I laughed through a lot of it, to be honest. Especially when Dumbledore mentions that he likes to knit :p :lol:. So random he was...

@Forever_Dusk: I noticed that. It was good that they could do that, without having it be a retelling of it. I would have loved to see a couple of the other scenes from the book itself, but other than that, it was a job well done.

The emotions conveyed in the film were really believable and great. In the scene where Harry is staying at the Weasleys for Christmas, and Ron sits down between him and Ginny, you can feel the tension and awkwardness so thick I'd have sworn I could cut it with a butterknife.

I really liked the music in the HBP film. throughout the movie they had different music that fit that situation perfectly...especially during the scene where ron tries out for keeper and then when Harry and Hermione are in the empty classroom after she sees Ron kiss Lavender. It was awesome it really helped set the tone for those scenes.

I don't like the idea that the movies are all received in a negative enough way that we need these "Say something positive" threads, but Half-Blood Prince is, for me, the best of the series - it's the most emotionally satisfying, and it gets better and better with each viewing.

-The cinematography. There's a reason Bruno Delbonnel was nominated for an Oscar; this is a striking looking film. The colors are bleak and washed out, but in a way that always looks interesting, not just like, "Okay, it's cold and lonely now, so stick on the blue filter" (I'm not saying Order looked terrible, but at some moments that felt like the case).

-The production design. I don't need to say anything, we all know it, Stuart Craig and his team do outstanding work, there is so much more detail to these sets and this whole world than the eye can take in on even several viewings (and much more that just isn't even shown).

-Nicholas Hooper's score; it has grown on me quite a bit. The same was true of his Order of the Phoenix score, but his work on Half-Blood is more substantial. I don't find it to be as memorable as the entire scores for Prisoner or Goblet, but it's a good one. "Journey to the Cave" is an especially moving and (yes, here it is) epic piece.

-The entire cast does a fine job, but the standouts to me are Emma Watson, Alan Rickman, Jim Broadbent, and Michael Gambon. I've always thought Emma deserved more praise than she receives - that doesn't mean I think every moment of every performance is perfect, but I do think she's really natural and charismatic, and she has terrific comic timing. And I found her performance in HBP really touching. (Her reactions to the supremely confident Ron during the quidditch match are especially charming.) Rickman's always great; he has this wonderful gift as an actor - his face is inscrutable, it is impossible to read. Some actors, and this is not necessarily a fault, are just easy to peg in whatever role. And then there are the Alan Rickmans of the world, who just make you wonder, "What is going on with that guy?" Broadbent is not the boisterous, jovial type I imagined for Slughorn (I saw Brian Blessed in the role before Broadbent was cast), but he really brings all of the depth, the guilt, the vulnerability of Slughorn. And Gambon's is the turn I'm happiest with. Dumbledore is my favorite character, I thought and still do think that Richard Harris was perfect and ideal in the role, but I thought Gambon was note-perfect in Prisoner of Azkaban. I hate his work in Goblet of Fire, and Order of the Phoenix was an odd case because of how distant and cold Dumbledore is in that story anyway, so HBP was a question mark. But Sir Gambon brings such wit, humor, sadness, and weight to his work here; Dumbledore is a vivid, complex, and enigmatic figure again, and the more I watch the film, the more I find to savor. In my opinion, the greatest thing about seeing the Harry Potter books adapted to film is seeing all of these characters interpreted by some of the greatest actors in the world; and the result is sometimes tremendous.

-The third act. The scenes on the astronomy tower in particular are among my favorite in the series. The tension, the sadness, the feeling that you know something horrible is coming even if you don't know what it is yet, is there so completely in the scene before Harry and Dumbledore head to the cave. The images of Dumbledore surrounded by the fire he creates to ward off the Inferi are simply awesome. And the second scene on the tower, the scene I still have to believe was the most challenging scene to write and tto shoot, is...well, it's perfect. I know this is hyperbole, and it will read that way all the more if you disagree, but it is exactly what I wanted from that confrontation. Michael Gambon has the same gift that Alan Rickman has, of being just about impossible to read, and that serves him SO well in that scene. The way the scene relies on sound design over any music is very evocative as well; it helps the moment of Dumbledore's death cut right to the bone.

I really enjoyed this film, really gave me goosebumps by the end...

The main things I like were:



The acting was spot-on excellent.
We see a more "softer" side of Draco Malfoy.
Dumbledore's death was heart-wrenching. Definately the most emotional HP scene ever.
The anticipation of the final film, and the foreshadowing of the
adventures for Harry, Ron and Hermione was really exciting.
Gambon's protrayal as Dumbledore was awesome, and no one could do it better.

The effect of the Felix Felicis over Harry was so charming!:clap:
I laughed since he said he was going to Hagrid's ... and specially with his "Poof!" :lol: I think I fell in love with that quote!
I saw Dan interpreting an optimistic and happy Harry! And I loved that part of HBP!
:tu:Thumbs up for the Felix Felicis effect:tu:

I was pleasantly surprised by the sixth movie. At first I wasn't even sure I wanted to go to the Midnight showing because I was never a big fan of the book. But I am soooo glad that I decided to go! In my opinion they did a wonderful job with this one. The pacing and editing were perfect. The music was excellent. The added story of Slughorn and the gift from Lily was brilliant. I also really enjoyed the way they depicted Draco and the vanishing cabinet throughout the movie; the apple, the two birds: one white, that dies, the other black that lives.

All of the romatic stuff with Ginny, Lavender, Hermione, Ron, Dean, McClaggen (a barrel of laughs) and Harry ... omg! So great!! I love that scene on the train going home for Christmas with Lavender and the glass door of the cabin Ron and Harry are in ... and then Hermione coming by. Also the scene when they are on Christmas break in the living room when Ginny comes in .... then Mr. Weasley excuses himself lol ... but then bumbling Ron comes in! There was just so much humor in this movie, and that definitely helped to lighten the mood of the film, because some very dark things happened (hmmm ... the birds are light and dark... the emotions of the film are light and dark/heavy ... are we sensing a theme???)

I especially loved the costuming in this one. Slughorn's Christmas party was a highlight for the ladies. Hermione's dress was just beautiful; much better even than her gown for the Yule Ball, the brief glimpse of Ginny showed that she looked absolutely beautiful also (her little cocktail dress at Slughorn's first do was rather nice too), and then Luna. *Loved* Luna in this! So adorable, it just steals your heart.

Honestly, for me I think the good out weighs the bad in this one. All of the things I liked about this movie make me forget how horrible I find the removal of the battle scene at the end. I was also very sad not to see one of my favorite parts of the entire series: Fleur in the hospital wing after the battle with Bill and all the Weasleys. Yet, such is life, there are just too many characters and too many scenes to include them all!! I must second what Forever_Dusk said about the Lord of the Rings: the movies actually cut a lot from the books, yet the movies are absolutely A+++ adaptations ... and I think this movie is in that exact same vein.

the brief glimpse of Ginny showed that she looked absolutely beautiful also (her little cocktail dress at Slughorn's first do was rather nice too), and then Luna. *Loved* Luna in this! So adorable, it just steals your heart.

I completely agree...that scene at slughorns party was awesome...i think ginny looked gorgeous! i especially loved her hair!...i wished they would of showed more of her in that scene...atleast having harry admire her or something quick....but oh wells...:relax:

I loved this movie. It has to be the funniest in the series, from Dan Radcliffe's performance as Harry on felix to Slughorn's supper and then the party. Also the portrayl of Ron and Lavender's relationship.

The intensity and horror of certain areas of the book were transferred perfectly to the screen. Such as the cave seen. The film was beautifully shot, simply breathtaking when seeing it in the cinema.

I liked Cormac, that was it. The movie was all about the silly little romances other than the main plot.

I liked Cormac, that was it. The movie was all about the silly little romances other than the main plot.

It's called characterisation: developing the characters more and interacting with each other. And this is a positive thread, so please lets stay away from negative comments.

After the rather "dark" (but still awesomely epic, of course) GoF and OotP films, I really enjoyed the side story of romances. I loved the Ron/Hermione stuff especially. It added a lighter and more amusing theme to the movie, in addition to the deeply intense plot twists, involving Harry's "lessons", Draco's impossible task, and the mystery of the Horcruxes. I thought it was a great mix.

The whole movie was truly magical, Tom. His acting was AMAZING.

The H/Hr scene (where Harry's comforting Hermione) is lovely, and I think Emma's acting was great in this one.
http://www.hecklerspray.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/half-blood-prince-hermione-granger-3358790-500-642-150x150.jpg

This movie was definately one of my favorites. The absolute funniest thing ever was when Ron accidently ate the chocolate with the love potion and thought he was in love with Romilda Vane.

The best Harry Potter movie alongside Azkaban and Hallows. Truly underrated.

Ron under the influence of the Love Potion, Harry under the influence of Felix Felicis, and the heartbreak on Snape's face when he kills Dumbledore. Excellent, excellent parts of the movie.

Ron under the influence of the Love Potion, Harry under the influence of Felix Felicis, and the heartbreak on Snape's face when he kills Dumbledore. Excellent, excellent parts of the movie.
Yea I loved that part :lol:. Ron was just too funny during that part. And Harry under Felix's influence, just priceless.

Tom Felton did a great job. Finally got to see the other side of Draco. And Bellatrix was awesome.. as always.

Camerawork was great, acting was great and it was a solid adaptation. Very well made film. Not to mention the pincers...tic tic tic...

Daniel was very funny in it.

Felton's performance, Hooper's score, and sequence of the cave through DD's death. That's basically it.

Tom Felton gave a beautiful performance, his best work yet! You can tell that he really stepped up his game, and oh, how it paid off.

Young Tom Riddle. For such a young kid to play the future of all evil, he did brilliantly.

The Cave. The location was just like I'd pictured in the book and Dan's and Michael's acting was outstanding. I loved it!

And I must pay tribute to Helena Bonham Carter, simply because she's my favorite :) I didn't really like that they added the scene where she burns down the Burrow, but you cannot deny that she really embodies the maniacal Bellatrix when she does it!

Cinematography is absolutely stunning and carries a lot of depth.
The script's handling of Draco Malfoy was superb. We really felt for him.

Tom Felton and Alan Rickman were absolutely amazing in this one. Think they stole the movie, actually. XD

I loved Ralph Finnes's nephew playing Young Tom Riddle, and the boy who played Older Tom. Absolutely chilling performances.

The Cave, The memories, DD's death, and The Flight Of The Prince were my favorite parts of the movie. So mostly the later half. Also, if they had included the Deleted Scene, "In Noctem", that would have been my favorite part. That scene still gives me chills and cry. Fave scene in the HP movies, behind Harry's Possession scene in OOTP.

On a Positive Note : The cave scene with Dumbledore and Harry was amazing and very well done.
PS- Negative Note:
I personally was extremely disappointed in the film mostly because they did not show the other important pensieve memories (the ring, the cup, etc) or focus on helping Harry figure out what the remaining horcruxes were, which I think was the most important part of HBP and was much needed to set up for Deathly Hallows.

I remember when Dumbledore died (after crying my eyes out and reading it over again to make sure he really died).. I kept thinking to myself, how the heck is Harry going to defeat Voldemort by himself without Dumbledore's help or knowledge... and with the way the movie ended it just left so much to be desired IMHO
I agree with you completely. Every word you said were exactly my thoughts.

The cinematography was the best in the series at the time of its release...it was the best film of the series at the time of its release.

possibly one of my favorite films in the series...it was HILARIOUS!!! Harry on the felix was HILARIOUS! :) Brilliant performances from the whole cast! i enjoyed lavender also..she was really creepy like as i imagined her. lol..i have no negative things to say about this movie.

Erm, yeah, this is kinda difficult, seeing as the Death Eaters virtually kicked butt. But erm, yeah, I suppose you could say that Malfoy did a good job acting the part. His was particularly difficult in this film, seeing as he wasn't courageous enough to kill Dumbledore, so Snape had to do it for him. Kinda shows that Malfoy does have a bit of kindness in him, even though he's not willing to show it. (:

I addressed this in another HBP-related thread, but thought it bears repeating here. Ever since PoA, the filmmakers have been actively attempting to tell the stories of JKR's novels in a way that doesn't force them to be overburdened by scenes/sequences that are purely expository in nature. Of the Penseive memories that Dumbledore shows Harry that weren't included in the film, the only one that would be able to function on a non-expository level is the memory in which we're introduced to the Gaunts; however, including that memory would have required that the filmmakers cast 5 brand-new actors for what, essentially, would have been cameos.

As a novel, HBP is incredibly 'exposition-heavy' (as is Deathly Hallows), but the filmmakers were able to parse the story down as much as they could so that the only real exposition that occurs in the film functions on another level beyond just being simply expository.

Anyway, rant over. HBP is now my second-favorite film in the series (behind DH P1), and one of my favorite aspects of the film is the "Lightning Struck Tower" sequence, primarily because it allows Alan Rickman to take full advantage of not only Kloves' scriptwriting, but also the 'insider information' about his character that he received from Jo; ever since GoF, Rickman has been playing Snape less and less slimy, smarmy, and repulsive, but the subtle changes in the way he's played the character really come to the fore during this particular sequence, especially during the scene where he tells Harry to be quiet just before he goes up the stairs to the top of the astronomy tower to join Draco, Dumbledore, and the Death Eaters.

I think it is the 3rd best movie after PS and DH1. The felix scene is amazing as people have said before me :D

sorry, i guess i hit "submit" a little too soon.....

i can't just narrow it down, i thought the entire movie was excellent!!!

ditto what everyone else has said about Ron on the "love potion" and Harry on Felix Felicis :rotfl:

i loved the scenes with Ron/Hermione, especially the one with Hermione and the birds and Harry comforting her after that. That was EXACTLY how i pictured it in my head and they really did that one justice :clap:

oh and the Harry/Ginny scenes too. I was not a Harry/Ginny supporter until that movie, and then it was all i could think about!! i just kind of wish that there had been a bit more to their kiss in HBP......

Um well one scene (or a snapshot really) that comes to mind is during the first Potions class and the fight for the Felix Felicis and the first instance of Harry and Hermione being rivals in anything.

What I loved was the the way they did Emma's get up. In that scene she really looked like the Hermione which JKR described in that scene what with her hair extra-ordinarily bushy and Hermione's face all but inside her cauldron as she tries so hard to out-do the Prince (Harry does not count for me as the real genius was the Prince). I think this scene really looked exactly like what JKR described it in the book and how I imagined it to be while I was reading it.

HBP. I though Jim Broadbent was awesome and brought great depth to the character of Slughorn. I loved the scene where Hermione and Harry comfort each other, I love the comedy, the quidditch, the bathroom scene with Harry and Draco. I thought the scenes with Tom Riddle were great. I loved the felix felis scene. I didn't mind the teenage romance or angst. So that kind of leaves the end scene of the island, the inferi and the death scene on the tower which I was disapointed with.

The H/HR scene in this was great but they are in all the movies. Ithin if it was upto the directors it would be harry and hermione. With all the hints they give

The title of this thread makes me quite sad! I know the movies can never be the books, but the fact that there has to be a whole thread devoted to only saying positive things seems wrong somehow. There are definitely things that annoy me about the film, but there are major things I dislike about EVERY film. I think this film was a great adaptation and here is my GIANT list of positive things about the film. I know it wasn't perfect, but I think this movie deserves some more love from the HP fandom!

The opening music with Dumbledore escorting Harry is brilliant, in my opinion. I love that scene and think it is one of the best openings of any of the films in sucking you right back into the story. Unfortunately it is followed by one of the WORST scenes in all the films (the waitress), but that is another thread, I suppose.

Jim Broadbent is fabulous from his first moment on screen. Though he looked nothing like I pictured Slughorn, his mannerisms were spot on so I quickly forgot about his lack of a "walrus" mustache.

The scene with the trio up in Ron's room at the Burrow! Ahh, how I love to see them all laugh together. It doesn't happen too much in later films and I treasure it when it does. I also adore the shot at the end of this scene with Malfoy's face in the paper as it burns...really a cool image.

Luna opening up the compartment door wearing her Spectrspecs...so perfect...THAT is Luna Lovegood at her very best. The ensuing conversation where she responds "that's nice" when Harry tells her she is his friend is also priceless.

I like that Draco has his father's cane/walking stick. I always thought that was a very nice touch and his anger at Filch's attempt to take it away is well done.

"The Sorting Hat told us to be brave and strong in these troubled times. Easier for it to say. It's a hat, isn't it?" = my favorite comedic line of the entire series.

Draco's keen interest when Slughorn describes the effects of Felix Felicis and how "all your efforts will succeed".

Hermione's frustration as she watches Harry excel in Potions. I LOVE this scene! They throw in gags from the older movies (like something exploding in Seamus' face) and I love watching what happens to everyone's individual potion. Hermione's hair getting bigger and bigger is funny to watch (and a nice reminder of her "bushy" hair) and her displeasure at Harry beating her is great.

I can't say enough awesome things about Hero Fiennes. He plays the young Tom Riddle so perfect and creepy, but I also think he does a nice job making him a bit pitiable. I always feel such a strange flash of pity at the end when he talks about how snakes come up and whisper things to him and he asks "is that...normal for someone like me?" It makes me want to go pop into the "who is responsible for Voldemort going bad?" thread and read some of the theories over there....

I like that the films finally get the character of Ginny correct, if only for a moment, when she quiets the Quidditch practice! Granted, Harry's inability to do anything was a bit OOC for him, but alas. I love the Quidditch trials. Ron's glance up to Hermione and her tiny wave back were perfect and a nice, subtle indication of their developing feelings. I think the film definitely could have done with more of these more subtle touches and less of the more heavy-handed stuff. Watson managed to convey quite a bit just sitting in the stands. I love that little smile she gives after the Confundus charm! I also loved the Dumbledore's Army theme returning for this light-hearted little scene!

I wish Rupert hadn't mumbled his line so much on the way to Hogsmeade about how Harry reads his Potions book before bed as I think it's a cute line. He likes a nice chat with Harry before bed! :D Also I think the line about how "it's like being with Hermione" is a nice reference to Hermione's character in the books that I think tends to get left out of the movies a bit. Harry and Ron finishing her sentence about where she went to look up who the Half Blood Prince was is also quite good. Ahh, scenes of the trio interacting together, how I love thee....

Katie Bell being hexed. I agree that is probably one of the creepiest scenes in all the Harry Potter films! Creepy, creepy, creepy.

I like the Slug Club scene quite a lot! Mention of Hermione's parents being dentists and Slughorn's disappointment at Belby is so spot-on. The scene that follows with him and Harry is wonderful and I like Slughorn mentioning the fact that Harry and Riddle weren't so different. As someone who was disappointed at the Pensieve memories not shown and not including Harry wrestling with feelings of pity for Voldemort I was glad they included a line like this.

Hermione getting her heart broken! The way her face just falls when Lavender jumps on Ron is so perfect. After GoF I was a bit worried at how Emma would play this, but she was wonderful! I especially love the juxtaposition of it next to Harry who appears so highly amused by it. I adore the "Harry and Hermione" track that plays when Harry comes to comfort her. It is so beautiful and haunting and I love how the music and scene carries over to Draco up in the tower. To me this scene was a perfect example of adaptation done very well. Do they keep the scene exactly as it is in the book? No. Do they add dialogue? Yes. Hermione doesn't slam a door and shriek at him, but I think the changes are much more effective. And, I just have to say again, the music in this scene is truly awesome. Well done, Nicholas Hooper.

Draco and the vanishing cabinet. I love how all these scenes are done - the birds, the apple, Tom's awesome acting...just love it.

Alan Rickman in every scene....truly awesome. I love at the party after he conveys Dumbledore's message and Harry asks where Dumbledore is traveling and he just walks away with the greatest expression. "You just...know", "I'll escort him...out" - he makes the most of every single line he's given.

David Thewlis also makes the most of his bits of dialogue. I love that they include his unwavering trust in Dumbledore and therefore Snape.

Slughorn teaching his class of first years and reminding the little girl not to forget her rat tail! I love this whole scene. Especially Broadbent's reaction to Harry prying for the memory.

Sectumsempra and Harry's confrontation with Draco was excellent. I love Draco's immediate shift from tears to anger when Harry walks in. The brief battle that ensues with the broken pipes and water everywhere is wonderful. Though the blood didn't spurt, the effects of the spell look much like I imagined. Even though I would have liked to see Harry leaning over Draco apologizing and explaining how he didn't mean to, I thought Harry looked horrified enough. I especially like the look Snape gives Harry when he realizes he has used his own spell.

I love the music at Aragog's funeral and the little eulogy Slughorn gives (and the noises Fang gives)! The scene in Hagrid's hut that follows, as many people have said already, is splendid. In addition to the beautiful story of Francis the fish and Harry's appeal to Slughorn to be brave like his mother, I love the little touches like Harry's feet swinging from Hagrid's giant chair and the inclusion of the Ballad of Odo the Hero! "They laid him to rest and his wand snapped in tow, which was saaaaaaaaaad!"

I love the shot of Hogwarts castle silhouetted against the sky as Harry and Dumbledore apparate to the Cave. One of my favorite shots of Hogwarts in all the films.

Speaking of which, the Cave scene was great. Haunting music, great performances (I love that they included "it's all my fault"). I wish they'd included the deleted scene of Harry saying he won't need luck he'll be with Dumbledore and Dumbledore telling Harry he's not worried as he leaves the cave 'cos he's with him. I thought those two lines would have been nice.

The ring of fire circling Dumbledore is as epic as the duel with Voldemort at the end of OoTP. So epic! I love how you first see it from under the water. Such an amazing and awesome scene (and to risk sounding redundant, I love the music)!

They took out that Battle of the Astronomy Tower, but I actually liked Snape, Draco, and the Death Eaters marching through Hogwarts. To me the look on both Snape and Draco's faces there carries over perfectly to DH1. Draco's look of horror in the Great Hall always reminds me of his line at the start of the film about what a pathetic excuse of a school Hogwarts is. As much as I loved reading about the Battle of the Astronomy Tower in the Flight of the Prince, I can see the filmmakers decision not to include it fearing it would have made the final Battle of Hogwarts anticlimactic.

The only thing I truly love about Dumbledore's "funeral" is Madame Pomfrey's face as she raises her wand! For some reason, that is the part of that scene that gets me. She's such a minor character, but it's so evident in her face how beloved Dumbledore was by truly everyone who set foot in Hogwarts. Poppy's face just kills me!! I do like the imagery of all their wands bearing away the Dark Mark up in the clouds and I think the physical manner in which they make the mark disappear is well done. I like that it doesn't just immediately disappear.

I like McGonagall's attempt to talk to Harry, but then again much like Alan Rickman I love everything Maggie Smith does. The shot of Dumbledore's sleeping portrait is a nice touch as well.

Ending with Fawkes the Phoenix crying and flying off into the sunset is beautiful and I like that the movie ends with a shot of the trio (even if the conversation that preceded it was only Harry and Hermione).

*And that is my rather exhaustive list of positive things in HBP! I have some serious beefs with the film and there are things I would like to have seen, but in the end I think the list of things I enjoy outshines those I don't. In the end, I remind myself that it is an adaptation and I happen to think it's a pretty decent one! Hope I didn't bore anyone...

While I wasn't that fond of the HBP film, there were some things I really liked about it:

- Harry on Felix Felicis, and Ron on the love potion. Both were hilarious!
- Jim Broadbent as Slughorn. Perfect, perfect casting. And on a related note, I loved his dialogue with Harry in the scene where he finally agrees to give up the memory. Really moving.
- Tom Felton as Draco. He's always been good in the role, but here, he was just superb. And the Sectumsempra scene was really well-done.
- Jessie Cave as Lavender was hilarious! While I don't think the character should've had that much screentime, Jessie certainly did a great job with it.
- The cave scene, overall, was superb. Probably my favorite performance from Michael Gambon's Dumbledore out of the whole series.

Considering what a serious overtone HBP has, I was pleasantly surprised at how much humor was worked into the film. I absolutely loved the scene at Slughorn's dinner party when Ginny walks in, for example; it's so funny and well done. And of course Harry's behavior under the Felix potion, and Ron's under the love potion. And Ron's & Harry's conversation about why Dean is attracted to Ginny....:lol:

I quite liked HBP. Mostly it was the tower scene that dissapointed.

I quite liked HBP. Mostly it was the tower scene that dissapointed.

I was actually about to make a post saying how much I liked the tower scene! :lol:

I think the scene leading up to Dumbledore's death is great. I thought Felton was great at showing Draco's desperation and inner conflict over having to kill Dumbledore. I also thought Gambon did an excellent job conveying the emotions Dumbledore was feeling as he really wanted to get Draco off the path he was going down. I love the way "Years ago, I knew a boy who knew all the wrong choices. Please let me help you" is delivered by Gambon.

I also think the scene is really intense with the way more and more Death Eaters show up, and you can tell Harry is waiting to act with the way he's pointing his wand through that hole in the floor. I also thought Snape misleading Harry by making it seem like he was gonna help was a wonderful touch. It made the scene more shocking and also further justifies Harry's increased hatred of him that hopefully will be done justice in Part 2.

I haven't seen HBP for quite awhile, but I don't think I have any thing positive to say about it. They missed out Dobby and Kreature following Malfoy, which was a part I particularly liked as house elves are super-duper cool.

I did find this movie very funny!

yes, malfoy's faces were my favorite part! haha i loved the book, but the movie didn't do it justice :/

As a book, one of my favourites. I loved going into the mind of Voldemort and trying to figure out why he did what he did and how he bacame the way he did. I find all the history more exciting than the battle scenes. Questions to me in this series have always been better than the answers.

I loved the battle of the tower scene. Especially the expression on Snape's face right after he killed Dumbledore.
I also really liked how they did the pensieve, with the sort of inky entrance and the dim lighting (the only problem is to watch HBP I have to watch it at night with all the lights off because otherwise I can't see it) I thought the whole darkness made Tom Riddle look more evil.

I thought the memory scenes dealing with Voldemort's past were really well done. I liked the scenes which took place in Potions class, especially that moment when Harry and Ron fought to get the newer Potions book out of the cabinet, and of course Hermione getting frustrated because she couldn't get her potions just right. Snape scenes are always memorable as well - "You...just...know?" And I mustn't forget the way Harry acted while under the influence of Felix Felicis.

Hilarious lines, specially in Felix Felicis. And I like how Tom portrayed the different side of Draco. And the uncertainty in Dumbledore's death, when Snape killed him. I like their emotion on the Tower.

The acting was really good standard. Especially Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman and Tom Felton. Dan Radcliffe even did a decent job (i usually hate his portrayal as Harry!) I think Emma Watson and Bonnie Wright let the side down though. Oh and Jim Broadbent as Slughorn was fantastic!

Personally as a movie i think this has been the best one. Yes the script was quite poor and a lot was left out but as a movie it really was fantastic. I really liked the soundtrack as well particularly the piece journey to the cave which plays when Dumbledore and Harry are out at the caves!

I was actually about to make a post saying how much I liked the tower scene! :lol:

I think the scene leading up to Dumbledore's death is great. I thought Felton was great at showing Draco's desperation and inner conflict over having to kill Dumbledore. I also thought Gambon did an excellent job conveying the emotions Dumbledore was feeling as he really wanted to get Draco off the path he was going down. I love the way "Years ago, I knew a boy who knew all the wrong choices. Please let me help you" is delivered by Gambon.

I also think the scene is really intense with the way more and more Death Eaters show up, and you can tell Harry is waiting to act with the way he's pointing his wand through that hole in the floor. I also thought Snape misleading Harry by making it seem like he was gonna help was a wonderful touch. It made the scene more shocking and also further justifies Harry's increased hatred of him that hopefully will be done justice in Part 2.


Yes, all that you say. I think some folks expected more of a confrontation. And Dumbledore's simple "please" seemed anemic. (if you had read the books). I really liked HBP. It seemed that some of the scenes with the most import in the books, were kind of washed over in the film. I quite liked the scene in Hagrid's hut where Harry persuades Slughorn to hand over the memory. Acutally I liked the entire Felix Felicis scene up to and including that scene. I thought Dan really shone in those scenes. He says he didn't like his performance in that film.

I think Jessie Cave's role as Lavender was great in this film, that was a genius bit of casting, she was every bit as annoying as book Lavender :lol: and I liked the Quidditch scenes, Luna's Lion hat, Ron saving goals and the tryouts, with Ginny shouting. I thought it made up for the lack of Quidditch in the 5th film :tu:

Hard to explain this, but I'll give it a shot. I loved how dark the movie seemed to be. It was exactly like the book. It always kept me on edge and I was definitely excited to watch every scene. My favorite scenes were; Harry and Draco's encounter in the bathroom and Harry and Dumbledore's trip to find the Horcrux.

The Half-blood Prince is a genius at potions and spellmaking.





Oh, you meant the movie. I stand by what I've always said. As a movie, it's a brilliant piece of work. As an adaptation of Half-Blood Prince (the book), it gets all the right parts added in. As a part of the movie series, this is the first movie that doesn't actually try to fit in with what the first two had established, so that's another plus.

Rant on the movie series as a whole: The movie series really should have waited until JKR was done writing the books. The mistake WB made when they commissioned the movies was in trying to compete with LotR, which is (A) impossible on principle, and (B) impossible at the time of the movies anyway since LotR already had an ending. With the Harry Potter movies, the directors needed Jo pretty much on staff so that they knew what stuff she thought she was going to need later on in the books. A perfect example is Winky's exclusion from Goblet, and Kreacher's subsequent shoehorning-in. If I were the script-writer for Phoenix, I'd look at the precedent set in excluding Winky and argue for hours with JKR over removing the apparently nonsensical Kreacher, whose main role in Phoenix is to trick Harry into thinking Sirius is already at the Ministry.

- The acting had greatly improved, especially Dan and Emma's,
- It had some really funny moments and lines! ( Felix Felicis, and Lavender come to mind)
- I really liked Gambon's performance with the cave scene and found that he was more Dumbledore-ish, however my heart belongs to Richard Harris :P
- cute little Ron/ Hermione moments

Draco Malfoy's point of view being shown was amazing. In that sense it was better than the book. Director and actor did a great job at pulling the viewer into Draco's dilemma. Those are beautiful scenes!

Draco Malfoy's point of view being shown was amazing. In that sense it was better than the book. Director and actor did a great job at pulling the viewer into Draco's dilemma. Those are beautiful scenes!

That's probably one of my favorite things about this movie too. The best thing for me was the sectumsempra scene in the bathroom. I don't know why, but I really, really liked the way they did that. To actually watch the spell work on Draco was grusome, but I loved the way they filmed it.

I loved the book and was a bit disappointed in the film at first viewing but it grew on me.
Funnily enough I loved Harry kissing Ginny in the book and loved it in the film although it was completely different. But Slughorn and Lavender irritated me more on screen.

There's many things wrong about HBP (many of which could have been fixed by making the film longer-cutting useless scenes like the one with the waitress at the start).
However I do love some of it's aspects.
The atmosphere is by far the best in the series.
The soundtrack is WONDERFUL.

There's many things wrong about HBP (many of which could have been fixed by making the film longer-cutting useless scenes like the one with the waitress at the start).
However I do love some of it's aspects.
The atmosphere is by far the best in the series.
The soundtrack is WONDERFUL.

The film was long enough. It was 153 minutes long. And the waitress scene was not useless imo. Steve Kloves did it to break the tradition of going back and forth to the Dursleys at the beginning of each film. Same with Goblet of Fire. The waitress scene really set up the tone of the film and highlighted how Harry has matured. It also shows how Harry is dealing with Sirius' death ("I like riding around on trains. It keeps my mind off things.") I agree with you on the atmosphere, which has always been a strong point with David Yates' films, and the soundtrack was much improved from Order of the Phoenix. Nicholas Hooper did a great job here.

All in all, the changes this film made benefited the film as a whole and it has a nicely defined structure. It's probably my second favourite Potter film; a tight story, wonderful cinematography, improved acting and editing, direction, themes and symbolism, music and striking visuals = the definition of a great film imo. Definitely the most cinematically rewarding and underrated Potter film, without question.

HBP is, right now, my second favorite movie. It will most likely drop a spot when Deathly Hallows Part 2 comes out. While I don't like the too-quick skirmish at the end, everything else was brilliant. Quidditch was amazing! Katie Bell's curse was stunning (especially when she dropped to the ground), and I loved the romantic storyline and Voldemort backstory in it. Also the cave sequence was so chilling.

I have to agree with a lot of people here, the acting was pretty good. I think Tom Felton did a wonderful job (like when he was in the bathroom upset, I loved it!) And the cave scene was really suspenseful. One of my favourites so far. :)

This is my favourite Harry Potter film. Firstly it's a truly beautiful film, the cinematography, the score, the atmosphere, all perfect. The acting was decent. The climax, from the moment Dumbledore and Harry apparate to the Cave, Dumbledore and the drink of despair, the Astronomy Tower confrontation, Snape's facial expression, "Please", the wand-raising, it's perfect, haunting and I get chills every time I watch it. A lot of comment is made on the romantic side of the film, personally I don't feel it overshadowed the drama at all, there was a perfect blend of the two. In fact, to me, this is the darkest, most depressing and emotionally satisfying film of the series, despite being labelled as a romantic comedy of sorts. I adore it.

the darkest, most depressing
It was certainly the darkest and more depressing. The score and the scenes in general give you this feeling of hopelessness, it's like knowing that something terrible is coming.
Tom Felton did a very nice job.
The way Alan's voice cracks as he says "avada kedavra" is so sad.

I actually loved the film - and contrary to most I enjoyed the teenage romance. It's a big part of life at that age so it would have been stranger to ignore it completely.
I thought the acting was pretty good - Emma's was brilliant as heartbroken Hermione in the scene with Harry on the stairs, that nearly had be in tears.

So far, this one is my favorite film - nice, dark, meaty. The scene where Snape AK's Dumbledore made me cry. Bella torching Hagrid's place and bouncing around with glee was stunning. Hermione crying because of Ron and his indifference broke my heart. And I loved the scene where Slughorn returned to human form from armchair form, and Dumbledore cleaned up the mess he'd made to hide himself.

I really like the other side of Draco Malfoy's character here. And I liked how crushed I was seeing Dumbledore die.

That's about it, I guess.

While I liked the HBP movie, I was somewhat disappointed in the ending. I think the film could have been made better if battle between the DA/OotP and Death Eaters would've been shown. Also, the scene between Snape and Harry was too serene. In the book, Harry and Snape were furious with one another. Instead of adding the scene of the Burrow on fire, the ending of this film could have been filled with a lot of action if the script would have followed the book. Just my two cents.

Tom Felton! He was brilliant in this movie as Draco. It was a great performance.
Michael Gambon. Particularly during the cave sequence. That was one of my favorite parts in the movie. It was so moving.
This movie was by far one of the darkest, not only in terms of context but in terms of atmosphere. I really liked the cinematography in this one. I think the general darkness of the film captured the dark and gloomy mood very well.
I really loved the Felix Felicis sequence. It was the right amount of funny at some parts, and the way they were able to seamlessly move into such a sad and moving part when Slughorn gives Harry his memory was awesome.
And the wand-lit tribute to Dumbledore after he dies. :sad:

Yeah, but that's about all I like from the movie. :rolleyes:

I thought Tom Felton's performance was awesome. One of the best actors in the movies.

I really agree, I also thought Alan Rickman did a great performance for the few scenes he was in.

I just loved this movie, my favorite by far. It could stand as a movie on its own if people already had all the knowledge of Harry Potter they needed. Every scene was just perfect :eyebrows:

Although HBP isnt one of my favorites I did like Tom Felton acting and the two young Tom Riddles. Overall not a bad movie...

I actually liked the Half-Blood Prince because it was an overall good movie.

I especially liked how they portrayed all the relationships.

The scene in the cave was exactly how I saw it while reading HBP the first time. Beautifully done.

The scene in the cave was exactly how I saw it while reading HBP the first time. Beautifully done.

I certainly agree with you. Also, I thought Michael Gambon did a great job portraying DD in this scene and throughout the movie.

The scene in the cave BLEW ME AWAY. I don't know why people bxtch so much about HBP... I thought the film was quite well done.

I'm kind of shocked to learn that HBP gets a bad rap from many fans. For my money, its an incredible movie and the best of the series except for POA. Anyway, I guess I'll start listing some things I like about it.

The opening scene with Harry and Dumbledore at the Ministry of Magic. Even though it's like 30 seconds long and free of dialogue, its might be my favorite "new" scene added that wasn't in the books. Its such a short little scene that sets up the tone and emotional arc of the entire movie.

The acting, particularly by Tom Felton, who really comes out of nowhere to give a shockingly good performance, and Jim Broadbent, whose monologue about Lily in Hagrid's Hut is one of the most beautiful moments in the series.

Nicholas Hooper's mournful emotional score, which is a huge step up from his contribution for OOTP. The score gets better as it goes along several musical moments in the films climax are incredible, particularly the scene where Harry forces Dumbledore to drink the potion in the cave.

The CINEMATOGRAPHY is simply gorgeous, among the very best I've seen in the past few years, with the cave sequence standing out to me as something that looks and feels like I haven't seen anything like it before. The cinematography really enhances the entire film and I honestly believe if this were a more "ordinary" film of the sort Academy voters enjoy rather than the 6th film in a fantasy blockbuster series, Bruno Dubonnell would have won an oscar. Oh well, at least he got nominated.

Another wonderful thing about this film is the way it focuses on several characters. In films 3-5, an unfortunate side effect of having to adapt very long books into relatively short movies was that those three films were really all about Harry, with the supporting cast becoming increasingly marginalized. This film, however takes time to develop Ron, Hermione, Draco, Slughorn, Dumbledore, Tom Riddle, and Snape in addition to Harry, and that for me is one of the things that makes this movie special, and was a really wise decision on the part of Steve Kloves/David Yates. Additionally the added focus on the trio itself, with Ron and Hermione arguably having more of an emotional arc than Harry was really smart given that so much of the next film, DH1, hinged on the trio's relationship and interplay. If this series had jumped straight from a film that was all about Harry to a film that required you to be very invested in the trio as a whole, it would have suffered.

Well anyway that's just a few things I love about this movie.

Something positive about the Half Blood Prince? Snape kills Dumbledore! I have to say, I was laughing when that happened.

Yes, I know, I'm horrible for laughing at that, but I did. Other than that, the only highlight of the movie for me was Rickman's amazing acting and the growth of Draco Malfoy's character. The only thing relative to the plot in that book/movie was the horcruxes and Dumbledore's death, which is all in the end of the book. So, if anything else, you can say this was Malfoy's coming of age book, where he realized he could "talk the talk" but couldn't "walk the walk."

It's not my favourite, I just thought it'd be better if they'd have focused a bit more on the important things, such as the stuff in the Pensieve (which they cut out slightly), and also other parts, and too many pointless funny-type things seemed to eb added. But STILL, i liked how it was funny anyway, probably the best one when it comes to that (also the 4th), and I also agree that the acting was great. Tom Felton definitely stepped up a notch in this one. Alan Rickman was soo good as Snape as usual, and the big scenes, I have to say, were super impressive. Reeaally enjoyed the cave scene. Only bad thing about it was that it ended.

I certainly agree with you. Also, I thought Michael Gambon did a great job portraying DD in this scene and throughout the movie.

Completely agree. And i loved how they did the Inferi. So, so perfect.