"Some claim this to be the best of the Harry Potter series. The film is good, but the “best”? I don’t think so."
My oh my. I was told by Potter fans that this film would explain so much about Voldemort... and boy, were they wrong. Instead, I got two teenage love stories. Are you kidding me? I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but it almost explained nothing. Harry Potter fans will almost surly be disappointed because the film is so different from the book they have come to love. For the first time, a Harry Potter installment was interpreted by a screenwriter the wrong way in order to make a big load of money for the studio. A cop out in my eyes.
Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts turns out to be quite the exciting year. The Death Eaters are wreaking havoc in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) suspects that new dangers may lie within the castle, but Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. He needs Harry to help him uncover a vital key to unlocking Voldemort's defenses. Critical information known only to Hogwarts' former Potions Professor, Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent). Meanwhile, teenage hormones rage across the students of Hogwarts. Harry's long friendship with Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) is growing into something deeper, but her relationship with Dean Thomas is keeping him at bay. His friend Ron (Rupert Grint) has romantic entanglements of his own to worry about, with Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) lavishing her affections on him, leaving Hermione (Emma Watson) simmering with jealousy yet determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof with far more important matters on his mind. He is determined to make a dark mark and prove he is worthy of his assignment. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.
My big pet peeve about this film is that it concentrates way too much on the whole "love in the air" subplot that it almost... and I do mean "almost", forgets what this installment was supposed to really be about: Tom Riddle and his transformation to Voldemort. Something went terribly wrong in the transition from book to film. Somewhere during the journey, the book's main plot became a subplot and it's subplots became the main plot. I realize this film is a bridge from "Order of the Phoenix" to "The Deathly Hallows" and possibly not as important as some other installments, but the reasons why Voldemort became is very important to me and many other viewers. It should not have been treated so nonchalantly.
Unfortunately, while other films get reboots, there is no such thing as a do-over on a franchise chapter. You either get it right or you get it wrong. Personally, I think they got it wrong and if it was possible, this film deserved a re-shoot. I personally felt what happens to Dumbledore was anti-climactic and deserved much more attention than what it got. Considering what happens in the next film, Snape's actions were a little too nonchalant in this one. Aren't we supposed to "hate" this guy for what he does at the end of the film? Most of the audience looked "ho-hum" about the whole thing. I just feel the film didn't trigger the emotions of the audience the way it was supposed to.
The acting is superb once again. Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and Alan Rickman steal the show as usual. Gambon really accents Dumbledore's affection toward Harry while Radcliffe does an amazing job as Potter. Watson has grown up to be a beautiful Hermoine and Grint can still play the comedic Ron perfectly. Though Rickman plays Severus Snape well as usual, his role is actually diminished in this installment when in fact his character is supposed to be one of emphasis. This I did not understand. But Rickman does the best he can with Steve Kloves ridiculous screenplay (more about that in the next paragraph).
I'm still wondering why David Yates (director) and Steve Kloves (screenplay writer) cared more about Lavender Brown being a more important character and plot than the back story of Tom Riddle. Talk about taking the film in the wrong direction. This film was supposed to be "dark" and instead we got a teenage romantic comedy. It was nice to see Harry, Ron, and Hermoine finally grow up and start dating and falling for each other, but that was NOT the importance of this installment. It was supposed to be Tom Riddle's back story. Why Riddle is now Voldemort... and they hardly dwelled in that storyline. Yes, we care about our protagonist's lives, but to deal with that plot for 120 minutes out of 153 was ridiculous. Considering Kloves was the screenwriter of the dark third installment (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), I am absolutely dumbfounded why he turned to teen comedy for this one. Absolutely dumbfounded.
Special effects were superb as usual. The spell casting, the Quidditch matches, the invisible cloak, the giant tarantula, everything... was visually astounding. But then again, that's what we usually expect from a Harry Potter film. Anything less than superb is a sin.
I don't want to be too harsh on the film because I DID enjoy it, but it was not what I was expecting. Non-Harry Potter fans will most likely LOVE this film... especially the teenagers and the romantics. And I have nothing against that... as it IS a fine film. Harry Potter fans, however, will probably HATE it since the movie omits several important scenes from the book. And those stuck in the middle will probably have mixed reviews. I happen to be stuck in the middle. Though I have enjoyed the Potter series (even though I am not a Potter fan), I seem to have reservations with this film. Many reviewers have claimed this installment to be the best in the franchise and I can't disagree more. It's a good film and worth your money, but the "best"? I don't think so.
So I'll end it with this: The film is enjoyable but not as dark as it should have been. And for some reason, not as interesting. I hope the franchise gets back on track for the next two installments. The final book (The Deathly Hallows) has been split into two films for good reason. There is quite an undertaking that Harry and his friends are about to face. The search for the Horcruxes, the battle against the Death Eaters, and the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort. Hopefully they get a new director that can get the franchise back to its great form because Yates screwed the pooch on this one.
MOVIE RATING SCALE:
5.0 stars = A MUST SEE
4.5 stars = Excellent
4.0 stars = Outstanding
*** 3.5 stars = Good ***
3.0 stars = Above Average
2.5 stars = Average
2.0 stars = Disappointing
1.5 stars = Bad
1.0 stars = Terrible
0.5 stars = Horrible
0.0 stars = UNWATCHABLE
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2 Comments
26 Comments
TheBD.... my comment was a ribbing also. I just thought it was funny how you said "i saw u gave it 5 stars in all categories and i knew the review must be accurate". That just sounds funny because it seems that Vamp's 5 star rating was what made the review "accurate" in your mind. haha Now... I know what you meant. You simply meant to say that you totally agree with him... but I just thought I would make fun of your choice of words. ;)
deeman... that is IF they freaking put the climactic battle in the last one. So far, Yates has ommitted quite a few things people expect to see from the books. I thought he did great with the climax in Order of the Phoenix, but he screwed the pooch with the climax on Half Blood Prince.
Thanks to all for your comments.
ur right though, they could have done a bit more of a build up of wuts to come with the final battle and had a much darker ending feel then they had. but i still liked it alot and am no where near disappointed.
Another sad cut concept will definitely be the first chapter of book 7 "The Dursleys Departing." This is known since if film 7 does kick off with "The White Tomb" then it would be a real killjoy to go back to Little Whinging for a departure scene for characters excluded from these past 2 movies...unless of course they postpone the funeral until after HP leaves the Dursleys, which would be equally weird. Though without an exit for those characters, then it seems that something is missing that should've really been there. Oh well. That's the adaptations nowadays: Throw out the sentimentals in favor of spectacular action scenes {though maybe the other way around for film 6 from what all have been saying}.
cause they want to expand more on the Voldemort character though,but dont worry,according to others,the last movie will promise to explain everything and they also gonna add a scene of
Tom Riddles mother been murdered
But that just proves my point. This is supposed to be "dark" and yet your friend gets emotional when Hermoine sics the birds on Ron? This film is basically for teens and for romantics... not for those who really care about the REAL story that will lead to the final two installments. Voldemort's story.
Oh and i love your user name for this review. haha Where did they go wrong... haha....
Slysnide... I hope they give us more background on Voldemort in the 7th installment (the next film). Maybe they're just saving it for that film... but that still leaves this film empty. Why make an entire film on the teen relationships instead of what's most interesting.
Anyway... thanks for the comments. Very much appreciated. :)
Basically what I'm saying is, they "focused" on the wrong plots in this installment in my opinion. Like I said... I enjoyed the movie. I found myself laughing quite a bit. I just think the focus was on the wrong topic.
And did you really think the movie hit the right emotions at the end? I felt it was very anti-climactic. No shock value. No heart felt sad moment. It was just "eh".
I found Prisoner of Azkaban more dark and a couple of other installments better than this one. And I still say they didn't reveal enough about Riddle's background.
Trae... thanks.
Well, I know part 2 will.
although i did wish they had the big fight scene in the Hogwarts corridors, that is the one scene i really missed from the movie. but still i thought it was great.
Why did Riddle become so evil? They showed none of the countless murders he was responsible for which he needed to execute in order to become invincible. This film was supposed to be "dark" and instead we get a teen romp. The real plot became a side note, while the subplots (love relationships) became the main plot.
As far as Snape is concerned, I don't think he disguised his intentions we all know is coming in the next installment well enough. I don't want to give it away (in case users who have never read the books read these comments) but you and I know what happens in the end and we know what is revealed in the next installment. In the film, we see Snape siding with the Death Eaters but never really feel those are his real intentions. You'll see what I mean when you see the film.... I hope.
Now sly... this is all MY opinion. You may see it totally different. The film is still good, but I personally feel it could have been SOOO much better if they focused on the right plot.
If you want to save some money in case you think I may be right, then I suggest you go to the matinee.
Having read your review,I may just wait for it to come out on DVD.I was hoping to see a darker Potter film than in past,that was what we were promised.Nice review.
So I heard that they cut the funeral scene to save for the opening of film 7, and you say that Snape isn't as hateable in the climax as he should be. How so? I don't mind spoilers, I mean if it was this bad then I'd rather know why I'll be disappointed so it won't be as big of a shock when going in.
Also on that note, what scenes from Riddle's past were cut? From what you can remember was in the book versus the film? Or were they all there and just trimmed severely?
Sorry for all the questions, it's just that given today's ticket prices I'd rather know how bad/good a film is before rushing out to see it. And having just returned today from a 3 day trip to SF with my best bud, I'm a little low on cash anyway.
And I'd have to agree, if the lovy dovy BS was focused on too much here, then that REALLY sucks!
Great review. Nailed down the hits and misses.