Screen Daily on Half-Blood Prince: Technical Wizard of a Film
HBP Film
Posted by: sue
July 06, 2009, 08:24 AM
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."
28 Comments
1225 Points
I can’t wait to see this movie – I’ve already bought my tickets!
502 Points
sooo excited! It’s almost here!!!
98 Points
Shame so many great actors only get a few minutes of screen time. Since they are on set and all made-up, they should get them to act a load of scenes straight from the book and put them as extras on the DVD. Why not?!
27 Points
Very nice idea, hereward! But I think that the actors would them demand more money and the DVD would cost way to much!
I hope that one day the entire series will be adapted to the srceen again, but this time for TV. That way they could include every single scene and we fans would be really happy!
13519 Points
I’ve always thought the same hereward!
4208 Points
The dance moves from the extras scenes were certainly worth watching. I liked Hereward’s idea. I hope we do get to see some of the deleted scenes. I know that they meed to tighten up a movie and delete some scenes, but it is fun to see the expanded scenes such as the Yule Ball, from the last movie, with the guy playing the bagpipes in the Weird Sisters band!
3048 Points
From what I have seen in the trailers and the footage that has been released so far, I am absolutely convinced that this film is going to tower over the rest in terms of cinema from a technical standpoint. Both the score that Nicholas Hooper conceived and the cinematography that Bruno Delbonnel used have never ceased to astound me.
39234 Points
cant wait to see bellatrix <3 i love helena bonham carter =D
16257 Points
I dont care what there reviews say i still cant wait to see it. Id still want to see it if they said it was the worst movie of all time. I know itll be awesome.
803 Points
you know, if reviewers who couldn’t care less about hp like the film this much, it stands a good chance to become my favorite (sorry PoA, I’ll always love you!). only EIGHT days.
2616 Points
Do we really need good reviews to make us want to see this film! No!!! I don’t care if they say it’s the worse thing they’ve ever seen…I’ll still be there on July 15!
79285 Points
I just really hope it was worth the wait…
8302 Points
Holding the exitement is getting too hard for me…..
36743 Points
This is soo teasing , aaahhh!
3703 Points
Why isn’t July 15 here yet? WHYYY!
I can’t wait to see this movie – I’ve already bought my tickets!