“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is a full-bodied piece of entertainment

Jim Hill

15 years ago

I’m almost afraid to say this, given that there are still two installments of
the “Harry Potter” film franchise yet to come (i.e. “Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows: Part One,” which is currently slated to hit theaters in November of 2010. While “Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows: Part Two” will reportedly close out the series in July of 2011). And just talking out loud about this aspect of this nine-years-in-the-making production might be enough to jinx things. But in the entire history of Hollywood, has there ever been another series of sequels that were this well produced, that were this consistently
entertaining? That – all the way ‘cross the board
– have maintained the same high standards when it came to quality, casting & craft?

That’s why I can’t help marveling at “Harry Potter and the
Half-Blooded Prince.” I mean, it seems almost unnatural that – six pictures
into a cinematic epic like this – that Warner Bros. Pictures and Heyday Films
can still deliver something that seems
this fresh & engaging, that isn’t the least bit formulaic.

But that’s exactly what they’d done with the movie version of “Half-Blood
Prince.” And the lion’s share of the credit really has to go to director David
Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves.

Of course, by now, Yates and Kloves are old hands at
Hogwarts (i.e. David directed 2007’s “Order of the Phoenix,” while Steve has
written the screenplays for the first four installments
of the “Harry Potter”
film series). So these two already have plenty of experience when it comes to
translating J.K. Rowling’s best sellers to the big screen.

And given that “Half Blood Prince” really is one of the more
exposition-heavy books in the “Harry Potter” series, David & Steve had
their hands full this time around. What with having to find a cinematic way to
wade through all that talk about (MILD SPOILERS AHEAD) horcruxes and hormones. Not
to mention the death of a much-beloved character.

That’s one of the real wonders of “Half-Blood Prince.” Given
all of the plot points that have to be covered in this 153 minute-long motion
picture, Yates & Kloves still find time to give virtually every actor in
the immense “Harry Potter” cast their chance to stand in the spotlight.

Mind you, the cast actually got bigger this time around with
the addition of Jim Broadbent. But his take on new potions professor Horace
Slughorn is right in line with what Michael Gambon does with Dumbledore and Dame
Maggie Smith does with Minerva McGonagall. These old pros are clearly having a
ball playing Rowling’s all-too-human wizards & witches. But – at the same
time – Broadbent, Gambon and Smith bring a real conviction to their
performances. They genuinely want the audience to care about all these colorful
characters.

But then again, the folks at Warner Bros. Pictures and
Heyday Films have always done a terrific job when it comes to casting the “Harry
Potter” pictures. I mean, right from the get-go, they were smart enough to hire
Julie Walters to play Mrs. Weasley and Alan Rickman to play Professor Severus
Snape. And those two still make every moment count whenever their characters
appear on screen.

(L to R) Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Copyright 2009 Warner Bros. Pictures / Heyday Films. All Rights Reserved

Of course, the real coup here was in hiring Daniel Radcliffe
to play Harry Potter, Emma Watson to play Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint to play
Ron Weasley, Tom Felton to play Draco Malfoy and Matthew Lewis as Neville
Longbottom. Who knew that – back in 2000 when these child actors were all hired
for “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” – that they’d eventually grow into performers
confident & skilled enough to be able to handle all the twists & turns that J.K.
Rowling’s increasingly dark tale would throw their way.

Speaking of Ms. Rowling … Some of the more hardcore Harry
Potter fans out there may take exception with the liberties that David &
Steve have taken with “Half-Blood Prince” ‘s storyline. But the changes that
they’ve made – an attack on the Burrow, folding in a few story points that were
left over from “Order of the Phoenix” – just made “Half-Blood Prince” that much
more entertaining a motion picture.

Then when you add in Bruno Delbonnel ‘s terrific camerawork
as well as Stuart Craig’s increasingly ornate production design and … Well,
there’s no other way to say this. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is a
full-bodied piece of entertainment. And if you’ve enjoyed the first five films in
this series, you’re sure to have a good time at this one as well.

Your thoughts?

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