HP retrospective #6:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2009, 12, Directed by David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright

The final stand-alone film before the two-part finale, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, David Yates’ second directorial effort of the series, is an inescapably flawed film. After the thrill ride that was Order of the Phoenix, spliced intermittently between attacks from the Death Eaters and journeys into new Potions professor Horace Slughorn’s past experiences with Tom Riddle are slow, brooding scenes where Harry and Ginny stare at each other awkwardly. If you care to put up with these, the film is actually a worthy adaptation (bearing in mind a lot is omitted again – in diehard fan's eyes, the most sacrilegious of this being the way Harry witnesses the death at the film's climax, when in the novel he did not. Alternatively, a striking opening scene – which sees the Death Eaters tear up and destroy landmarks in London – are worthy breaths of fresh air.) It is Yates’ obvious initiative on display that make his films a cut above the earlier ones in the series, tackling the hurdles thrown at him with relative ease. Due to the pitch blackness of the ending, it is difficult to recall how funny this actually is: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes; Parker’s pining for Ron is priceless, as is Jim Broadbent’s Horace Slughorn (the latter able to switch to serious effortlessly). Slughorn is an odd creation for he serves an important purpose and fills up plenty of screen-time, yet does not linger in the memory like Lupin or Umbridge.

Reflecting upon the Harry Potter saga, it becomes clear that this is the last film to feature Harry, Ron and Hermione in Hogwarts as a permanent fixture. This means that this is watched best revelling in the settings we have grown accustomed to, as well as the familiar faces. Alan Rickman steps things up yet another gear as Severus Snape who is forced to take an Unbreakable Vow that he will protect Draco Malfoy who is going about Hogwarts performing the bidding of the Dark Lord. Loyalties are firmly established, sides are prepared and Horcruxes are introduced. At one point, Dumbledore tells Harry he has forgotten how much he has grown – he still sees him as that young boy living in the cupboard under the stairs. Their relationship hits home and when the inevitable happens and ‘Avada kedavra’ is shot at a vital character, the cogs are set in motion for the final chapter. This really is a precursor to Deathly Hallows, and as the film closes, just like Harry you know that nothing will be the same again; the end is coming… and there is no way on but forward.

3.5/5

Best Moment:

Tied. Dumbledore tells Harry he needs to force him to drink the contents of a fountain, no matter what occurs. Taking a sip, he slips into a fit and as Harry force feeds him the drink, Dumbledore begs him not to continue, screaming ‘Kill me!’ It is a state we have never seen the ever-capable headmaster in and chills to the bone, played agonisingly by Michael Gambon. Another is when Harry hs just witnessed Snape kill Albus – running after him, feeling betrayed: ‘He trusted you!’ he screams. Powerful

Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor:

He thought his day would never come, but Severus Snape is the honoured one to take this position.

Best Character:

Bellatrix Lestrange; as Harry takes after her to avenge the death of his godfather, she bumbles along, taunting Harry, whilst singing to a tune, ‘I killed Sirius Black!’ An absolutely despicable person, as a character played by Helena Bonham Carter, she is everything you want a villain to be; a child-like maniac who throws killing curses around like ‘hellos’. After Dumbledore has been killed, Bellatrix takes to destroying the Great Hall and Hagrid’s hut in elation

Best Line:

Harry Potter: Did you know, sir? Then?
Albus Dumbledore: Did I know that I just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time? No.