Over the past few weeks, screenings for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Place for the press have taken place world wide. A few more early reviews are beginning to trickle online, with articles from the Guardian and UK tabloid the Sun now online.
The Sun gives glowing, while sometimes vague remarks in their article, praising the use of comedy and romance (Hogwarts is Snogwarts!) and giving kudos to Bonnie Wright as Ginny, and Hero Fiennes-Tiffin (Young Voldemort). The piece summarizes "Rather than giving us a series of computer-generated action sequences (yawn
again), Yates has gone for careful character development, building to a
dramatic crescendo. And that is the biggest surprise of all - The Half-Blood
Prince is masterful."
While still generally postive, a more subdued review can be found in the Guardian which gave the film three stars out of five. The bottom line reads: "Putatively winsome all this [romance] may be, but what it actually does is throw
the series' biggest weakness into sharp relief: film-making can (and
does) control pretty much everything – except how the cute juvenile
leads grow up. Still, director David Yates knows how to play all the
cards. Although a touch ungainly, his film is solidly constructed, with
lots of fine effects. If, as Potter approaches his final confrontation
with Voldemort, the wizardly battles begin to resemble Lord of the
Rings, it's hardly a handicap; this is tried and tested cinematic
language, and does all it needs.
The problem with most reviews is that they are written by people who have never read the books, or really watch the movies for anything other than the purpose of reviewing them. They have never paid attention to either in the books or movies the subtle messages in them. They see the surface only, which results in missing the point- which is that everything is about love.
That’s your opinion, starlesswinter, because I loved the romances in the novels, and I have a feeling I’m going to love them in the movie. Most reviews I’ve read have said the movie is awesome and produces a great balance of comedy and darkness.
That Guardian review was not well written as I did not quite understand what the heck the author was trying to convey. I’d call it a muddled muggle mess of a review.
Many movie critics do not judge based on personal opinion, though. There is an element to reviewing that involves the technical side of the film, as well, and that’s what many critics actually review. A writer doesn’t just pick random words when he or she writes, do they? No, and it’s the same with a filmmaker, just with a camera and composition, etc. Many fans of the Harry Potter books absolutely love the story but can see many faults in the actual writing of the series. A reviewer often critiques the latter aspect (the execution of the story) as opposed to whether or not he likes the story.
Fans of the books are different in their responses to film, however. New audiences watch with a blank slate; they have no preconceived emotions about characters and plotlines, whereas book-fans do. That definitely affects their emotional responses to what’s on the screen. A fan of book-Sirius might have balled their eyes out during Sirius’s death scene, whereas a casual moviegoer might have asked what the big deal was because he or she found the scene to be executed poorly.
It’s not right to say that these viewers don’t understand what they’re watching.
The reason I say that Harry/Ginny was awful in the books is because we were never shown WHY they loved each other. All they did was snog and flirt. There is nothing wrong with basing a relationship on this teenage lust (they happen all the time), just as long as I’m not supposed to accept that it’s true love and that the two people are soulmates when they are clearly never shown to be. You can’t just TELL me that and expect me to believe it.
i wonder when they’re going to get a decent copywriter over at the sun. good reviews for hbp except one, so far, by my count. I get how reviewers see advanced screenings, but why Jonathan Ross? why not me?! Eleven Days.
Being a student of writing, I’m a bit ashamed to see such poorly written reviews. You’d think the writers would take a bit more care in what they write, as they’re given an enormous privilege of seeing the film in advance.
A review is just a persons opinion, just because they ‘may’ have knowledge about the industry it doesn’t mean that their opinion is universal. I trust Yates to convey Jo’s work to film, even if I’m not happy about the screenwriter who shall not be named.
Being a student of writing, I’m a bit ashamed to see such poorly written reviews. You’d think the writers would take a bit more care in what they write, as they’re given an enormous privilege of seeing the film in advance.
"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!" screamed Mrs. Weasley. "THERE WAS NO NEED -- I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS -- JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE MAGIC NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO WHIP YOUR WANDS OUT FOR EVERY TINY LITTLE THING!"
The problem with most reviews is that they are written by people who have never read the books, or really watch the movies for anything other than the purpose of reviewing them. They have never paid attention to either in the books or movies the subtle messages in them. They see the surface only, which results in missing the point- which is that everything is about love.