Yesterday we saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I really enjoyed it. I think it was well made and the acting is better than in any of the other movies. The biggest improvements in my opinion were from the three leads, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger). I think they improved and did a good job with this film.Daniel Radcliffe, who was without the other two for most of the film, was very enjoyable to watch. I loved how Harry developed through the film, but kept the things he has developed in the other movies. One of my favorite scenes with him was when he takes some Felix Felicis. Very funny. He was very confident and seemed slightly drunk. I liked the scenes with Harry and Dumbledore. They became friends instead of headmaster and pupil.
I have to mention Michael Gambon here. When he was first cast to play Dumbledore after the death of Richard Harris, I was very disappointed with the way he played him. He didn't seem like Dumbledore at all, especially in Goblet of Fire. But now I think he is doing a better job and he seems more like the Dumbledore I always imagined.
Rupert Grint was highly amusing. He was very funny and his comic timing was brilliant. I wanted to see him in this film a little bit more than we did, but it was still good. I was very glad that Ron participated in Quidditch this time. That was great fun. The love triangle with Ron, Lavender Brown, and Hermione was also a lot of laughs, tears, and very dangerous experiences. Rupert Grint was a joy to watch.
Emma Watson did a very good job with Hermione Granger. Sometimes I think she is a bit over the top, but I think she was perfect in this film. Her performance in the love triangle was so sad, yet funny at the same time. You really do get the feeling that Hermione Granger is brilliant with almost everything, accept when it comes to her own emotions. This was a wonderful performance by Emma Watson.
I also enjoyed the new addition to the Hogwart's staff, Professor Slughorn, portrayed by Jim Broadbent. He wasn't at all like I imagined Slughorn in the book, but he was fun to watch and I think he did a good job. I still like my Slughorn better, but I think Broadbent was a good choice for the role.
Lavender Brown, played by Jessie Cave, was perfect. She is almost exactly as I imagined her in the book and I really enjoyed watching her performance. Jessie was a good choice for the role and I think she did an excellent job.
The other love interest in this film is played by Bonnie Wright. Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, is now revealed to be dating Dean Thomas. Ron is not happy about this at all. Harry has also started having stirring feelings whenever Ginny is present, but watching Ron's reaction with Dean, Harry feels it would be to dangerous to try. But Ginny wants Harry as well. Ginny has always been one of my favorite characters and I really enjoyed what Wright did with the character.
Another great performance was Tom Felton's portrayal of Draco Malfoy, *Spoiler Alert* who is now a Death Eater and has been given a special mission by Lord Voldemort. Malfoy has always been an evil character, but in this film and book he is torn between many emotions. Felton did a terrific job with his character. You really do feel bad for Malfoy by the end of the movie.
I think one of the best performances in this movie was made by Alan Rickman, *Spoiler Alert* who plays the double agent and hidden hero of the series, Severus Snape. I think now that he knows how the series will end, he can now play the many layers of Snape on the screen. When he looks at Harry now, you see more than disgust. There is a moment when you know Snape is looking into Lily's eyes. I love that! Wonderful performance.
Some of the things that I was really looking forward to seeing were not put in the movie. I understand that they didn't have time to put everything in, but I really did miss these things. I was really looking forward to the after Quidditch match kiss with Harry and Ginny. In the film they kiss once and at the end of the movie, Ron gives Harry his permission to date Ginny. In the book, they date for a couple of weeks, but Harry has to break up with her because he is afraid Voldemort will use her to get to him. I really liked this in the book and was really excited to see it, but was disappointed.
*Spoiler Alert* Another thing I wanted to see was Dumbledore's funeral. I won't say to much about this yet, because it is rumored that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I will begin with this. I did want to see it, but hopefully it will be in the next movie.
One of the biggest disappointments for me was the fight between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix and D.A. Why? It didn't happen. That was one of the most exciting parts in the book. It had me on the edge of my seat and I was really very excited to see it in the movie. Blah! I was very sad and angry that they took it out. Even if they had just shown a little bit of it, like Harry running past the fight, or something, I would have been okay with that. But to cut it out completely! I was extremely disappointed.
There are some scenes that were added that are not in the book. *Spoiler Alert* At the beginning of the movie, the Death Eaters kidnap Olivander and destroy a bridge. This is only talked about in the book. It was a good way to show the kind of things that are happening in the world now that Voldemort is back without a whole bunch of dialogue. Another added scene was an attack made on the Burrow by Death Eaters. They try to get Harry, but when they don't, they set fire to the Weasley's home. That was terribly sad. Some fans are angry about it, but I think it worked. It showed how dangerous it is for families. Again, this is talked about in the book, but it is more exciting to show it in a film that to have somebody talk about it.
There weren't quite as many special effects in this film as there are in the others, but I don't think this was a bad thing at all. The effects that were in the movie were very good and I don't think anything was really overdone. *Spoiler Alert* The part where Harry gets dragged under the water by the Inferi was not in the book, but it added excitement and fear to the movie. It was pretty scary without that bit, but it worked. The Inferi were well done, though in my opinion I think they moved a little too fast.
Overall, I really really liked this movie and I want to go and see it again as soon as possible. It was a lot of fun to watch. I think that Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is one of the best movies in the Harry Potter series. I'm looking forward the Deatlhly Hallows Part I and Part II. Great movie!
