I finally got to see the 6th Harry Potter movie - Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince last night. It is, in my opinion, the best Harry Potter film to date. However, there were a few things that weren't covered or explained, thus making the experience a tad bit incomplete for those who haven't read the book.

I'd write a review but I think I'd be extremely biased if I did, so here are just a few thoughts on it:
(Warning: SPOILERS)

1.) They didn't focus too much on Severus Snape as they were really supposed to, in order to help establish the importance of his role in the whole story. They were focusing more on his being a villain, which is good, but they should've also shown WHY he was called the half-blood prince. Not even a shadow of his mother Eileen Prince was shown, nor his father Tobias Snape.

2.) Snape was a great wizard. This was shown more in the 6th book than in any other books (aside from the very shocking ending of book 7). He was able to conjure his own spells, make the best potions in his class, discover the properties of most potion ingredients that weren't really stated in their potions book. Bezoar, for example. A raw ingredient in potion making that was noted by Snape in his old book as an antidote, in itself, for most kinds of poison. In the movie, Harry is seen rummaging through Slughorn's stuff and pulling out a bezoar to stick into Ron's mouth in order to save him from being poisoned to death. Credit should be given to the Half-Blood Prince, I think.


3.) The Sectumsempra curse was supposed to be a very fatal one and only Snape knows the counter curse for it. In the movie, it seemed to me as if the counter curse is something anyone can conjure. Although Snape was the one who reversed Harry's spell on Draco, it appeared as if it was only so because he happened to be there. Also, in the book, Harry resorted to that spell only because Draco was poised to conjure the Cruciatus Curse. The movie showed Harry to be a bit too reckless in his choices of spells.

4.) I really loved how they showed Harry's extraordinary courage after drinking the Felix Felicis.

Slughorn: "Harry!"
Harry: with a WTF look on his face "Siiiiiir!"

LOLs at this scene!

5.) And how Harry got Slughorn's true memory...it didn't seem too hard for him to be able to figure out how to go about that task. And Slughorn wasn't shown to be someone who truly covets rare things (people included). Whereas to Lockhart (in the 4th movie), whom they've successfully established to be a "celebrity" of some sort, but a fraud at that. the characters seemed to be too underdeveloped in this 6th installation. You really can't fit too much into 2 1/2 hours, now can you?

6.) I just absolutely LOVE the Quidditch scenes. That's that. (But I was kinda hoping to hear the Weasley is Our King song in the 5th book)

Slytherin version:

Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.
Weasley was born in a bin
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley will make sure we win
Weasley is our King.
Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He always lets the Quaffle in
Weasley is our King.
--
Gryffindor version:

Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He didn't let the Quaffle in
Weasley is our King.
Weasley can save anything,
He never leaves a single ring,
That's why Gryffindors all sing:
Weasley is our King.


7.) The Inferi. Of course I know what they are. But do the non-readers know? pfft.


8.) The Snape-Potter relationship was supposed to be more emphasized now (more than the Potter-Voldemort link). Here, the link between Potter and Snape is supposed to be shown on a more strikingly personal level.

There's a lot more I can say about this film but I shall stop here because I have forgotten some points. Will edit as I remember.

Care to share your thoughts?

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Here are some little thingies for you, not mine. found over the web. :) Spoilers! You have been warned! (well, some are spoilers, some are just silly)


young Severus

Severus Snape (oh, I LOVE!!!)

behind the scenes. something you won't see in any of the HP movies, nor in the book.

Can't wait for movies 7 & 8