Rated PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality.
153 Minutes
Directed By: David Yates
Written By: Steve Kloves
Based On The Novel By: J.K. Rowling
Staring: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Julie Waters, Jim Broadbent, Bonnie Wright, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall, Dave Legeno, Helen McCrory, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Jessie Cave, Tom Felton, Evanna Lynch, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, David Bradley, Matthew Lewis, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Mark Williams, and Frank Dillane
I can make things move without touching them. I can make bad things happen to people who are mean to me. I can speak to snakes too. They find me… whisper things. -Tom Riddle
Review
I have no problem with the series being handed over to David Yates. He clearly knows what is great about Harry Potter novels, the characters, and how to convey and make that translate onto film. The Half Blood Prince captured some of the magic that was lost in the Goblet of Fire but maintained the intensity of the Order Of The Phoenix. It hit all the levels of entertainment that has made the story and it’s films a success. The Half Blood Prince is now high on my list of favorite Harry Potter films.
I was jubilant when I saw Yates brought Quidditch back. It’s been absent for two movies and while it wasn’t a massive part of the film it played a smart role in pushing several plot points along while being simultaneously entertaining. Getting to see Harry in the comfortable seat as team captain was a well deserved memory to be planted for those of us that have read the books and know what is coming for the final two films.
The character development was natural and relevant to their ages and was conscious of how the trio’s relationships have changed over the years. The focus on the three was something that had been all over the place in the past few films. With strange events keeping them distant from one another, the glue between them only strengthened. It was by far the best interludes between them all since the first couple movies. Yates gave them the nod of each having moments of distance, but unlike the other films their maturity came into play. Along with the character interactions there was the most comedy there has been in quite a few films. It did this without losing sense of the films dark overtones and impending doom.
It was interesting, no adult Voldermort in this version though his persona as the child, Tom Riddle was just as menacing. The little dude was as malevolent as Damian from the Omen, and could do just as dark things. The 
coldness and indifference in his eyes was chilling. He completely embraced the role of Voldemort and rocked out the villain status in this sequel. Also playing on the evil team was Helena Bonham Carter returning as the deranged Bellatrix Lestrange. Her role was leaps larger in this film and came across as the main villain. With Bellatrix and Tom Riddle casting ominous forebodings thorough the film the audience also becomes introduced to Fenrir the rogue werewolf and the conspiracy involving Malfoy being inducted into ultra-badness. All the while the question of Snape’s allegiance is still a matter of dangerous topic throughout. The Half Blood Prince focused on many hero’s in this sequel, but without question, the villains were extremely prevalent.
Not everything was perfect. The mystery was well balanced but the pacing has a few hiccups and though overall 
maintains it’s intensity unlike some of the other sequels you can actually feel the length of The Half Blood Prince. A personal pet peeve here is the constant questioning of Harry’s honor and integrity. After five films when he says someones doing wicked bad things they have been, saveSnape, so shouldn’t we believe him? When he claims Malfoy is up to bad, bad things, shouldn’t Ron and Hermione obediently agree with him? It just becomes a source of repetitive annoyance for me.
The ending leaves you just hanging but that is essentially what happens in the book. You are forced to really face yet another great loss, and feel what Harry feels until the next film picks up. So much happened in this film and more than anything it was a build up for the twoparter of the Deathly Hallows, but either way it still managed to entertain on various levels. Hands down The Half Blood Prince is one of the best Harry Potter films and so far one of the most best movies of 2009.
LAMBScores
Popularity: 2% [?]
I think you went pretty easy on this installment. It wasn’t bad, and I can agree that Yates has been good for the franchise, but I’m surprised by the predominant lack of negativity.
I only had two major complaints about this film: the anti-climactic climax, and the total downplaying the half-blood prince subplot. I guess I just wanted more.
Meanwhile, this came across as “Harry Potter and His Adventures at the O.C.” A little teeny-bopper-ish for me. But of course, that’s a deficit of the book and the story than it was the filmmaking and the movie.
Anyway, it was good stuff, I just felt they missed some opportunities to make it great.
Very disappointing film. Very disappointing. Mind you, the film had its moments. But this movie DRAGGED. Considerably. And Steve Kloves’ changes to the story were either unecessary or poorly done. But at least the acting was well done.
When he claims Malfoy is up to bad, bad things, shouldn’t Ron and Hermione obediently agree with him?
“Obediently” agree? Why should Ron and Hermoine be obedient of Harry all the time?
Lizard King,
I don’t think I went easy. I think you are being too hard Lizard King. If comparing it to the novel, then yes it’s fair to say the novel version was far superior, but as a movie goes and the Harry Potter films overall have gone, this was VERY good.
I agree with your statement about the climax. I just pretty much didn’t enjoy anything about the ending, and it was disappointing that Yates let go of the “half blood prince” theme. It almost seemed like halfway through it was just forgotten about, but other than that I thought it was phenomenal.
The kissy poo teen scenes were appropriate whether you liked them or not. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but this was a movie about a kid in his adolescence and the things that go on. Necessary for the relationships to end up where they do after Hallows.
*arms crossed*
Drush,
Yes, in this particular circumstance Ron and Hermione should be obedient. It the FIVE prior novels and films Harry has made a case in each one that has been questioned by his friends in each, and after five years they should heed his warnings rather than passively dismiss them. It’s an annoying character beat that has continued throughout the series. That and Emma Watson’s terrible terrible fake cry.
I still haven’t seen the last movie but I enjoyed all the others. Sounds like this one won’t disappoint me and I like the fact that the films have been getting darker as they go along. Sounds like there’s lots going on with the bad guys in this one which should entertain me. I always like a good bad guy.
The ending was so so in my opinion. As purely movie goes it was great. In terms of book-to-movie review then it is not so good. The book was much more gritty and even violent with a lot more action and the romance was played up even more. I truthfully could not put this book down while reading it. I sooo deeply wish that it had been much more truer to the story.
I thought the movie was great, full on entertainment and great story building, though the ending was a little anti-climatic and I felt like the last scene felt a little too Frodo and Sam at the end of the Fellowship Of The Rings when they were looking over the marshes, but then I also felt the Deathly Hallows had way too much Lord Of The Rings shadows in it anyway. The Horcrux was basically the Ring. Anyway another discussion.
I also agree the novel was far superior. In fact I believe it was my favorite in the Potter series.
Terrible, simply terrible. I would say the worst or second worst in the series, so many key elements are missing. How is Harry supposed to know that hufflepuffs cup is a horcrux now? How is he supposed to remember that ravenclaws diadem is in the room of requirement if he never placed his potions book there? Bill and Fleur were forgotten, not that they can have a wedding now anyway because they meaninglessly burnt down the burrow. Bill wasn’t mauled by Greyback in the final fight because there was none, and the death eater, Gibbon, lives as well. It seems that 5 death eaters just waltzed out of the school, the proclaimed heavily defended by Auror school, without any notice except one Auror?! And the absence of Dumbledores Funeral(The elder wand being encased in dumbledores tomb, which in itself is important) was disappointing at the least. Overall I trudged trough this movie at the hope of an amazing fight scene at the end, and when that didn’t happen, i was sorely disappointed
i have never liked the harry potter movies and don’t get what the big deal is. the same things happen in every movie and the ending is the same, and all i ever hear people cry about is that they aren’t as good as the books, so why bother watch them. read the books and forget the movies? i would say the same thing for those twilight books, but then those are totally for chicks.