Screen Daily on Half-Blood Prince: Technical Wizard of a Film
HBP Film
Two more reviews of the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to tell you about this morning, these from Screen Daily and The Hollywood Reporter. While THR is more like a summary of the plot with scant few remarks on the actual film, their bottom line reads "a jerky start of exposition and backstory gives way to vigorous storytelling in the latest chapter." More notable is the review from Screen Daily, which says the film belongs to Harry and Dumbledore, but laments the amount given to the adults ('David Thewlis as Remus Lupin and Timothy Spall’s Wormtail, for example – barely register'), but notes: "Most impressive of the team is a hissing Helena Bonham Carter returning
as the evil Bellatrix. With screentime scarce for supporting actors,
she certainly makes the most of what she is given. And Alan Rickman
reliably hits the right notes as the sinister Severus Snape." The piece then points out:
"Stunningly shot by Bruno Delbonnel in metallic hues leavened by buttery tones – his unique vision even brings a fresh perspective to the inevitable Quidditch scenes - this Harry is certainly a technical wizard of a film. While Prince never quite builds up to bone fide set pieces, sequences such as Dumbledore’s Moses moment parting the waves, or Bellatrix laying waste to Hogwarts’ famed dining halls, are individual classics. The thumping beats of Nicholas Hooper’s score bear little resemblance to the original and the overall effect is much less twee, much more grown-up."
I can’t wait to see this movie – I’ve already bought my tickets!