johnlinkmovies

One of the perks of managing a movie theater is that prints need to be screened to assure they are built up properly. Sometimes, if the timing works out, I get to be one of the people making sure their are no errors. And so, I had the opportunity to see the newest HARRY POTTER flick before its official release.

I watched HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009) on the big screen on 7.13.09. It was, obviously, my first viewing of the film.

NOTE: THIS RANKING UTILIZES THIS SITE’S ORIGINAL SYSTEMIC ARTICLE WRITING METHOD. THE METHOD BY WHICH THE RANKINGS WERE ARRIVED AT, HOWEVER, REMAINS THE SAME.

FILM

This is the second installment of the series directed by David Yates, who is also in charge of the last two films. The newest one has a lot in common, visually, with his last (ORDER OF THE PHOENIX). Especially early in the film, there are some cool shots which take advantage of the claustrophobic building layout of England. Eventually, the movie settles down to be a more traditionally shot piece. I have to give a lot of credit to the set designers and costumers and lighting people who have kept Hogwarts feeling like the same place despite the series’ various directors. I did have slight issues with the special effects in this one, especially the bridge scene in the beginning. Sometimes less is more. SCORE: 6

MOVIE

If you had told me a few years ago that a HARRY POTTER movie would be one of the best films about adolescent love of the decade, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that is really the thrust of this film, and why it works. In terms of the action of the overall series, not too much happens except for the big finale, which readers of the book know about. This movie is less action driven, relying instead on character development and the relationships between our heroes and villains. It was entertaining in a different way than the previous films, and I found that quite refreshing! SCORE: 8

ACTING

Most of the kids in these movies haven’t done much else. It will be interesting to see how their careers grow. I think the girls, especially, have a future (young Evanna Lynch might be the best of the bunch). But nobody is better than Alan Rickman as Snape. He was perfectly cast from the beginning, and I could watch fifteen movies in a row about that character.  I do think it has gotten pretty easy for these actors to fill these roles. I don’t see them as actors much anymore, but rather as their characters. Great for these movies, but it might be tough for some of the younger ones if they want to pursue a serious career. SCORE: 7.

WRITING

I come from the perspective of not reading the books. In that sense, I don’t miss the things that might be in the book. But what it does do is foretell some of the things that will happen in the movie. There are so many characters in the series that a mention of a new one (who doesn’t even appear on screen) assures me that his presence will be a big surprise in the next movie. But that said, I think the writers of these films have an unenviable job, but do more good then bad in their effort. Like I mentioned above, the adolescent relationship stuff rings very true in this movie. SCORE: 6

FINAL TALLY

FILM: 6; MOVIE: 8; ACTING: 7; WRITING: 6

6+8+7+6+0=27

FINAL SCORE: 6.75

~ by johnlink00 on July 13, 2009.

Posted in ~ H ~, ~~~ 2009 ~~~
Tags: fantasy