Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

David Yates

Writers (WGA):

Steve Kloves (screenplay)
J.K. Rowling (novel)

Release Date:

15 July 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Once again I must ask too much of you, Harry

Plot:

As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.

Plot Keywords:

Book | Harry Potter | Dark | Blood | Barefoot

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe	...	Harry Potter
Rupert Grint	...	Ron Weasley
Emma Watson	...	Hermione Granger
Jim Broadbent	...	Professor Horace Slughorn
Elarica Gallacher	...	Waitress
Robbie Coltrane	...	Rubeus Hagrid
Michael Gambon	...	Professor Albus Dumbledore
Maggie Smith	...	Professor Minerva McGonagall
Alan Rickman	...	Professor Severus Snape
Bonnie Wright	...	Ginny Weasley
James Phelps	...	Fred Weasley
Oliver Phelps	...	George Weasley
Julie Walters	...	Molly Weasley
Mark Williams	...	Arthur Weasley
David Thewlis	...	Remus Lupin

Also Known As:

HP and the HBP (International: English title) (informal short title)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Hong Kong: English title)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: An IMAX 3D Experience (USA) (IMAX version)
The Half-Blood Prince (USA) (short title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality.

Runtime:

153 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Croatian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #45077) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Finland:K-11 | Norway:11 | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:M | South Korea:All | Singapore:PG | Brazil:12 | Iceland:10 | Canada:G (Quebec) | New Zealand:M | Japan:G | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:11 | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Portugal:M/12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Taiwan:GP | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Bjorli, Norway

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

At the beginning of the film, the Death Eaters destroy the Millennium Bridge in London. The bridge is not specifically named in the book. The book is set in 1995 - 1996, according to the Canon time line. The Millennium Bridge was not constructed until 1998, and opened on 10 June 2000.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Slughorn asks Hermione what her parents' professions are, she responds dentists and he asks if that is a dangerous profession, implying he does not know what that is. However, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), the clock that locates the Weasleys lists "dentist" as a possible location, implying that wizards visit the dentist.

Quotes:

Remus Lupin: [from trailer] Voldemort has chosen Draco Malfoy for a mission.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Late Show with David Letterman: (#16.170)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Hedwig's Theme

A Delicious Summer Treat

Only the most unyielding literalist Potter fans will not enjoy this film as it has it all: exquisite cinematography, a brilliant soundtrack, imaginative direction, and the best acting from both veterans and young guns we've seen so far in the series. All are put to brilliant use as Dumbledore and Harry conspire to discover Lord Voldermort's secrets whilst simultaneously straining every sinew to contain outbreaks of rampant hormones and potion-taking at Hogwarts.

Some of the sets are breathtaking, in particular Weasley Wizard Wheezes. The film is hilarious throughout, Rupert Grint excelling with superb support from Jessie Cave, Freddie Stroma (as Cormac McClaggen) and Evanna Lynch. Bonnie Wright and Tom Felton are allowed to step out of their two-dimensional characters, Wright delivering sensuousness and strength and Felton giving an outstanding all-round performance. Daniel Radcliffe continues to carry the weight of both the part and the franchise with effortless ease, and Emma Watson is once again a delight as the emotionally embattled focus of the superb trio, who have now added a facility for comedy to their formidable acting skills.

The veterans pull out all the stops, Michael Gambon is exceptional, becoming a truly charismatic and compelling presence by the end of the film, and of course, perfectly pitched performances from the likes of Bonham Carter (terrifyingly seductive), Jim Broadbent (funny and pathos-filled), and Alan Rickman (unreadably malevolent). And, despite being on the screen for what seemed an instant, both David Thewlis and Helen McCrory successfully convey their respective characters' desperation and edginess.

The film never lags because when you are not being gripped by visceral Quidditch or battle scenes you are laughing your head off at the comedy which ranges from broad and physical to witty and acute.

The film is all the more satisfying because there is a very strong sense of place, and the characters are three-dimensional, and utterly recognisable. And, it is truly multi-dimensional, part romcom, detective story, rites-of-passage teen adventure, magical, scary-horror, political, and, above all, about love and friendship. All Rowling's stories are multi-layered but this is the first film to really capture the complexity and fun of the series.

You cannot wish for more from a film than it both stays in the mind, and, the first urge you have is to want to see it all over again. Half Blood Prince delivers on both counts, and more.