After reading Order of the Phoenix, nothing was more exciting
than standing in Barnes & Noble at midnight waiting for the
sixth installment of the Harry Potter series to be released.
No one would know of the horror that followed almost four years
later.
I was disappointed yet satisfied after reading Half-Blood
Prince. It was exciting to learn about Voldemort and his past
and how he became who he was.
Learning about where he lived and who his parents were solved
many unanswered questions that were brought up when reading the
previous books in the Harry Potter series.
Granted there were many storylines in the book that were
“cute,” however, it was assumed that the main principle for
writing the sixth book was to give information about
Voldemort’s past and how he discovered Horcruxes and what they
are exactly.
Unfortunately, the director and screenwriters and everyone else
that was involved in making this movie thought differently.
They stubbornly and stupidly stuck to the idea that sex sells
and made the minor love storyline of the book the main
storyline of the movie.
Voldemort’s past was a vital part of the book and to
barely touch on it in the movie was an outrage and a cheat to
fans.
This may be why those who only watch the movies and do not read
the books are not really interested in the Harry Potter
series. The movies do not give the most important information
that needs to be given in order for people to understand what
is going on.
The only two pensieve scenes don’t go into Voldemort’s history.
We don’t see his parents or the Gaunts. We see when Dumbledore
met Voldemort and later, Slughorn’s memory.
Meanwhile, in the book there’s a pensieve scene every few
chapters where we learn of Voldemort’s ancestry. We clearly see
the prejudice towards Muggles that had started with his
ancestors.
We also see his fear of death start at the loss of his mother.
The movie version is a watered-down (very watered-down) snippet
of the real story.
As a reader of the series, it is well known that Ron has six
siblings. However, the movie has only focused on the youngest
four; Ron, Ginny, George and Fred.
Personally, I’ve always felt that every child was important and
to not mention all of them equally is wrong. Especially when
one of them is getting married to a girl who’s sister Harry
just happened to save a few years back.
Why they felt they had to completely cut out Bill and Fleur’s
storyline is beyond my comprehension.
Horcruxes are mentioned briefly, but only briefly. It’s just
strange because I thought that they were the whole point of the
book.
We don’t see Voldemort find Helga Hufflepuff’s cup, the ring is
barely mentioned and the locket (and the fact that it’s not the
real one) is talked about in about one line of dialogue in the
last scene of the movie.
The main plot is basically ignored in the movie. I don’t
believe the screenwriters and directors actually read these
books.
Keeping the love storyline in the movie was a smart idea,
however, how they did it was not so smart.
In the book, I felt that Hermione and Ron liked each other
equally but were both too scared to admit anything. However, in
the movie, Ron is portrayed as a completely idiotic teenage boy
and Hermione as a completely idiotic teenage girl.
The movie doesn’t do their back-story justice – just two
teenagers being selfish, clueless and whiney...constantly
whiney.
And in the Harry and Ginny storyline you don’t realize Harry
likes Ginny until Hermione says something to him in the movie.
In the book, you know Harry is falling for her without Hermione
telling you.
Other stupid little things that they changed that really pissed
me off:
- They changed the person who helps Harry off the train
from Tonks to Luna...why? - In the book, Harry and Tonks are not allowed on the
grounds of Hogwarts without being escorted by Snape.
In the movie, the gates are wide open and Harry and
Luna are able to walk right in. This completely
contradicts the fact that Hogwarts is under heavy
surveillance and protection. - The birds that Hermione sends after Ron actually attack
him in the book, in the movie the birds miss and hit
the door. - Ginny dates around in the book, but in the movie she
only dates Dean. - The first time Ginny and Harry kiss is after their
victory in Quidditch, however in the movie they kiss
while in the Room of Requirement and to this day I have
absolutely no idea why. And because of this change, we
don’t get to see Harry hide the HBP book under
Ravenclaw’s diadem. - Kreacher and Dobby are not in the movie at all. In the
book, they are assigned by Harry to watch over and
follow Draco Malfoy, whereas in the movie it is barely
implied that Harry is interested in what Malfoy is up
to until much later on.
I thought the movie was good as a whole. However, compared to
the book it was a piece of crap. The movie was disappointing
because I know the potential it had and it, by far, did not
live up to it.
Personally, I believe these “movie people” have to learn how to
convert a book into a movie because apparently none of them
went to school to learn how to do that.
Because when you make an adaptation, usually, the movie
resembles the book in a way that the reader and viewer can
recognize that it is the same storyline.
And to leave out vital and important plot points is
unacceptable and the “movie people” should be shot.
| Half-Blood Prince: Video Game Review |
| The Ultimate Harry Potter Analysis Source |
| Choosing what is Right over what is Easy |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Half-Blood Prince Movie Review |
- There is very little I can say that you don’t already know. We
they have each been awful and wonderful in their own ways. I can
confidently say that most fans would agree. I have yet to meet a
Harry Potter fan without a love/hate relationship with the series.
- So instead of sounding like a broken record, I will invent a
That, of course, being a combination of the word loved and
loathed. You can bet that all of my thoughts over the next few
weeks will be Half-Blood Prince themed. (Got one already — why did
it have to be Luna who finds Harry on the train and not Tonks?)
- For now, I’ve compiled a quick list of the Top Five Things I
Let’s start with the bad stuff, shall we?
- 5 Things I LOATHED
- 1. Like sands through the hour glass...
- There was an overabundance of romantic storylines in this
- film, but can you really blame the movie? This is one
complaint that can be traced back to the book. Since the day
Half-Blood Prince came out, I have lovingly referred to it as
the soap opera.
- Here’s, however, where you should blame the movie—terrible
- portrayals. The waitress who flirts with Harry at the
beginning? Don’t get me wrong. I think Daniel Radcliffe is
beyond words. But would messy little Harry really get the
attention of a twenty-something waitress in a diner, and so
much that his sudden disappearance would upset her?
- Then there’s the not-so-subtle relationship between Ron
- and Hermione. I’m sorry but I like to work for my thoughts.
This was placed in our laps. Lavender Brown didn’t stalk Ron
in the books. She became obsessed at the idea of having a
boyfriend, even if Ron was just using her. The Cormac/Hermione
storyline had potential, but lost its edge somewhere between
Hermione being so flat out with her intentions and Cormac
vomiting on Snape’s shoes.
- As for Ginny (the character of course), I just don’t know
- what to do with that girl. Thanks again to lack of subtlety,
we learn of Harry’s crush from the very beginning. Harry’s
struggle with the crush, however, is virtually cut from the
screenplay. Except for one scene that shows Ginny and Dean
snogging at the Three Broomsticks, Ginny practically throws
herself at Harry. The entire storyline went downhill when
Ginny kisses him in the Room of Requirement.
- C’mon, Un-REAL Ginny Weasley, didn’t your mother ever
- teach you to play hard to get?
- 2. The End?
- An organized confrontation? No battle? All of the Death-
- Eaters penetrating Hogwarts through the vanishing cabinet just
to walk around? Snape calmly revealing to Harry that he’s the
Half-Blood Prince even though he never even suspected Harry
had his textbook? Snape doesn’t get upset when Harry calls him
a coward? On second thought, Snape barely fighting back at all?
- Could that actually be classified as “The End”? It’s
- certainly not “The SAME End” from the book.
- 3. Hermione? Is that you?
- Could Hermione have been more self-involved? In the book,
- she is only slightly distracted by her lust for Ron. She never
fails to ignore the problems of the wizarding world or her
good friend, Harry. With all that impending doom, how dare she
cry to Harry on the stairs over a boy!!!
- 4. Rufus Scrimgeour
- One of the few things I enjoyed about Half-Blood Prince
- (The Novel) is the parallel storyline between Rufus and Fudge
in the previous novel. While Fudge refused to even acknowledge
the return of Voldemort, Scrimgeour seemed to take action for
the sake of taking action. (Most famous regimes seem to go one
way or the other). So the smart thing to do would be cut out
the Scrimgeour storyline and all of its brilliance out of this
film all together, right?
- 5. The Attack at the Burrow
- If you’ve been following my thoughts on Books and Wands,
- then you know that I already knew about this addition to the
movie and my pure hatred of it. However, I would’ve given the
screenwriters some credit if the scene had stolen the show. IT
DID NOT.
- In fact, it was probably one of the worst scenes in all
- six movies. Did Mr. Weasley really stand there for ten minutes
calling out Ginny and Harry’s names to prevent them from
chasing the Death Eaters? Run after them! Saying someone’s
name has never helped anyone!
- On top of that, why were the Death Eaters trying to chase
- them into the field at all? Why didn’t they burn the house
right away? Don’t tell me it was to add in action! The ending
of the book had plenty of action and you chose to cut it out!
- 5 Things I LOVED
- 1. Felix Felicis
- In how many languages can I say brilliant?
- All right, so I can only say it in English, but if I could
- say it 100 times then I would. I loved this scene. I would
rank this movie as one of the best because of this scene
alone, and I don’t care who agrees with me. I think I bothered
every fan sitting around me at the way I was laughing out
loud. I loved Slughorn’s and Hagrid’s reaction to this
uncharacteristic Harry. Even when the scene toned down for
Harry’s serious discussion with Slughorn, the brilliance
remained.
- You can bet that I will be quoting this scene for years to
- come.
- 2. Love Potion
- This potion doesn’t live up to the Felix Felicis, but it
- was so close to the book that I have to rank it in my Top
Five. After all the changes and cut-outs, it was refreshing to
watch five minutes of film that were practically word-for-word
from J.K.’s writing.
- And Rupert was hands down hysterical...
- 3. The Voldemorts
- This compliment doesn’t end with Half-Blood Prince. I mean
- every actor that has ever been cast to play Voldemort in a
Harry Potter movie has been phenomenal.
- Our two newest Voldemorts, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank
- Dillane, are so wonderfully creepy. My favorite would
definitely be the eleven-year-old Tom Riddle. I actually
shuddered during the line, “I can talk to snakes.” It makes
you wonder how Dumbledore couldn’t figure out right then and
there that he would become the darkest of all wizards, past
and present.
- As amazing as the past Voldemorts were, however, was it
- really necessary to change the pensieve? The one in Goblet of
Fire was just fine. Just like Scrimgeour, are these directors
taking action for the sake of taking action?
- 4. “Severus...please...”
- Even though I’m angry that Harry wasn’t petrified during
- Dumbledore’s death scene, I only have positive things to say.
Above everything, however, is the exact line from the novel as
Dumbledore pleads, “Severus...please...,” although not exactly
for the reason Harry thinks. I mean, I have Half-Blood Prince
open to page 595 and I’m staring at it—the exact line!! If I
could find every scene from the movie in the book, I would
never have a complaint again.
- 5. Sectumsempra!
- This has always been one of my favorite chapters in Half-
- Blood Prince. For me, this scene is a break from the Soap
Opera and a return to the actual storyline.
- I was pretty upset that Moaning Myrtle wasn’t in the
- bathroom comforting Malfoy. I was excited as the prospect at
seeing her again — she was just adorable in Chamber of Secrets
and Goblet of Fire.
- I got over it quickly when Harry and Malfoy started
- dueling. You could really feel how much these two characters
had been keeping inside over the past five years. Again, it
was so close to the book that I had to love it!
Overall, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince continued to both
please and disappoint me. Whether you come up with the same list
of Top Fives or not, you have to agree with that. I’ll meet you
all back here for Part One of Deathly Hallows. Chances are,
I’ll loave that one too...
| Copyright © 2007 | www.booksandwands.com | All Rights Reserved Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Warner Brothers Entertainment. No copyright infringement intended of any and all source material. No profits were made from this site. |
I am in a fight with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince:
The Video Game.
In my defense, the game started it.
Counterpoint if you must, but here are the three major reasons
we are no longer on speaking terms.
1. I may have already introduced you to some of my enemies —
book alterations, soap opera storylines, people who think Ginny
from the book is the real Ginny Weasley. Add a new one to the
list — technological advancement.
My reasoning? Every time we inch forward, we take about ten
steps backwards. This game, as advertised, was made to
accommodate the Wii gaming system. You learn how to mix
potions, fly, and duel, all activities easily suited for the
Wii wand.
How could I possibly be impressed? In the Order of the Phoenix
and Goblet of Fire games, there was a new game, mission, or
battle in every room of the castle, creating a storyline that
took more than a half-day to complete. I, the Real Ginny
Weasley, am the proud owner of a Playstation 2. Scoff all you
want, but I like my ancient system. Why should I have to suffer
just because everyone else is crazy for the Wii?
2. This video game, like the others, follows the plot of the
movie and not the book. Of course, that would include the
attack of the burrow. I wasted a whole fifteen minutes of my
life dueling Bella and Fenrir and trying to protect the
Weasley’s home, the whole time thinking why I am doing all this
work when this didn’t happen in the book?
3. Are you ready for this one?
I CANNOT COMPLETE THE GAME!!!!!
One of the supposed “banner runs” doesn’t exist, so I am unable
to retrieve the final crest. I have even searched online blogs,
only to discover that others with Playstation 2 lodging an
identical complaint. Let he who has completed the game on
Playstation 2 be the first to cast a stone (Or at least e-mail
me, RGW@booksandwands.com)
A final thought — since Deathly Hallows is being made into two
movies, will they make getting two video games as well?
Sleep on that...
The Video Game.
In my defense, the game started it.
Counterpoint if you must, but here are the three major reasons
we are no longer on speaking terms.
1. I may have already introduced you to some of my enemies —
book alterations, soap opera storylines, people who think Ginny
from the book is the real Ginny Weasley. Add a new one to the
list — technological advancement.
My reasoning? Every time we inch forward, we take about ten
steps backwards. This game, as advertised, was made to
accommodate the Wii gaming system. You learn how to mix
potions, fly, and duel, all activities easily suited for the
Wii wand.
How could I possibly be impressed? In the Order of the Phoenix
and Goblet of Fire games, there was a new game, mission, or
battle in every room of the castle, creating a storyline that
took more than a half-day to complete. I, the Real Ginny
Weasley, am the proud owner of a Playstation 2. Scoff all you
want, but I like my ancient system. Why should I have to suffer
just because everyone else is crazy for the Wii?
2. This video game, like the others, follows the plot of the
movie and not the book. Of course, that would include the
attack of the burrow. I wasted a whole fifteen minutes of my
life dueling Bella and Fenrir and trying to protect the
Weasley’s home, the whole time thinking why I am doing all this
work when this didn’t happen in the book?
3. Are you ready for this one?
I CANNOT COMPLETE THE GAME!!!!!
One of the supposed “banner runs” doesn’t exist, so I am unable
to retrieve the final crest. I have even searched online blogs,
only to discover that others with Playstation 2 lodging an
identical complaint. Let he who has completed the game on
Playstation 2 be the first to cast a stone (Or at least e-mail
me, RGW@booksandwands.com)
A final thought — since Deathly Hallows is being made into two
movies, will they make getting two video games as well?
Sleep on that...
| Half-Blood Prince Movie Review by Heathcliff Holden |
| by RGW |
| Movie 6: The Massacre of Book 6 |
| by the REAL Ginny Weasley |