Harry Potter and The Half-blood Prince - 3 Stars

Overview:

As I start writing this review, I'm aware of one thing. Those who have seen the previous five films are definitely going to see this one, and those who haven't are not, but here is my perspective nonetheless. Overall this film was very enjoyable, and may be the best in the series so far. The primary concern is how well the young actors would age on screen. In my opinion, they have done so very well. I've heard people say that they haven't, but I'm not sure exactly why they are saying that. The leading three play the parts of young people their exact age quite well. And I think everyone will agree that puberty has been quite kind to all three of them, particularly Emma Watson. Those who have read the book will no doubt be quite disappointed in this film, as readers of this series seem particularly unable to allow the adaptation to stand on its own merits. For me, keeping in mind that I am reviewing a film and not a book, I found it to be quite enjoyable. So long as the viewer can accept the premise of magic and magical societies, this film will have something for everyone. School sports, political intrigue, mysterious pasts, corruption, unrequited love: these elements are all present. The story unfolds quite well, and even those who haven't seen the previous five will understand the story, though some of the intricacies of plot will be lost on them. All in all, a very enjoyable film and a worthy successor.

The Artist's Perspective:

Some artistic personalities will scoff at large budget, fantasies such as this one, but this film is very well made. The usually straightforward camera angles are occasionally interrupted by some very interesting changes, sometimes to show off a beautifully rendered Hogwarts, and sometimes to enhance a very suspenseful moment (of which this film has several). People familiar with religious symbolism, especially as commandeered by movies, will understand what I mean. Visually this movie is lovely. As a fantasy, the viewer forgives some of the unrealistic scenery and locations that could only be rendered with CGI. The acting was good, with yet another great performance by Alan Rickman, who plays my favorite character in the series, Severus Snape. Unfortunately two things detract from this film, and they are likely the two that those looking for faults will remember. First is the rather stilted dialogue from Michael Gambon in the role of Dumbledore. I understand that he is supposed give the impression of pensive foreshadowing, but it went a bit too far in several places. The second is the role of Lavander, which is desperately overacted. It is intended to be a caricature, but is both out of place and annoying. The humor elements are very well done and some things in this film are just plain cool. Overall, a very well made film.

The Worldview Perspective:

The cultural impact of Harry Potter cannot be denied. However, at this point the real worldview impact has run its course. It was the original books that were truly impactful and got people lined up both pro and against. It was with these books that magic was reintroduced to the 'tween and teen generation in a big way. Right now, the movies are still too close to the end of that reintroduction to really rekindle it. There will most likely be another adaptation in ten to twenty years, and at that time I think the impact will be worthy of mention. There are conflicting views about the worldview portrayed in Harry Potter. The most obvious is the cosmic humanist portrayal of a world in which magic and magical creatures still exist. The films, however, portray an intellectual approach to magic rather than a religious one. In this way they are more like the original Star Wars films than they are like TV show "Charmed". Spells and potions pay a big part in this episode, so for those who thought the more hands on magic was going to get less after the last two films, this is not the case. The other, more intriguing, worldview perspective in this film, and the one that I think subconsciously riles some minds even more than the magical elements, is how young people are portrayed. The series is centered around a boarding school, and therefore the young people operate quite independently from parents. These characters are self-reliant, they are independent thinkers, and they get on quite well away from the confines of their parents house. The Boarding School culture is much more British than American. The fact that we often don't relate leads to two things. First, young people watching feel much more empowered watching a portrayal of kids, who could be their peers, being independent and self-reliant. Second, parents who wish more control to direct their sons' and daughters' paths are threatened by this type of portrayal. I'm not taking a stand on either side of the issue in real life, but this perspective is there, and I can't be the first one to have commented on it. There can be no doubt that the story is engrossing, the characters memorable and relatable, and the writing good but not too difficult. I recall kids who hated reading could get through these books because of those elements. In sum, the question is: is the portrayal of independent minded young witches and wizards the worldview that we want young people engrossed in? The answer: It doesn't matter; whether you and your kids see this film or not the true worldview impact has already run its course...magic spells and potions and all the trappings have already been mainstreamed.

The Family Perspective:

This film contains portrayals of use of magic, spellcasting, and the like. For some this is enough to not see this film. My opinion is that these films contain the same portrayals as films like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and a plethora of fairy tales and their adaptations. Any Harry Potter detractor I've talked to who listed this as their reason for not reading the books or seeing the films I have found to be inconsistent when it comes to evaluating portrayals of magic use. As such, I cannot find this movie to be unsuitable for an audience on these grounds. At least two frightening scenes and one moderately violent fight ending in some bloodshed will bother the youngest viewers. Teen romance plays a big part in this film, and it is thoroughly tactful and polite. Overall this film is suitable for anyone who is able to understand the storyline.

Conclusion:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has already made a ridiculous amount of money. The film is beautifully rendered and largely well acted; the story is flawlessly told. Romantic and humorous elements combine perfectly with the fantasy and drama to leave a film well worth seeing. As a fantasy, and one part in a line of stories this film lacks the hard hitting realism of some other recent films, but Half Blood Prince accomplishes nicely exactly what it set out to do.

3 Stars