This latest instalment of Harry Potter is certainly thrilling but some of the more exciting parts are left somewhat unexplained and the finale, which could have been great, feeling a bit rushed.
As is usually the case it is difficult to translate a lengthy book like the Half-Blood Prince into a well-rounded film. In the film there is far too much emphasis on Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe ), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint ), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson ), and their awkward romantic teenage feelings for each other and others.
Unlike the book there is also very little dialogue between Potter and increasingly sneaky Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton ) and even less with pivitol characters such as Severus Snape (Alan Rickman ).
The film begins with Dumbledore (Michael Gambon ) encouraging Potter to return to Hogwarts and to get closer to the new potions teacher Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent ) who could hold the key to defeating Voldemort.
Meanwhile the Death Eaters are wreaking havoc on both the wizarding and muggle world. The destruction of the Millennium Bridge really shows off the excellent special effects. The wandmaker Mr Ollivander is kidnapped and Draco Malfoy has been recruited for a important task but is he able for it? Here again, we question the true motives of Snape as he enters into an unbreakable vow to protect Draco. Is he good or not?
Potter stumbles upon an old potions textbook which contains useful instructions written by the “half-blood prince” giving him an edge over his classmates. This element of the film needed to be explored more I felt.
Some of the best scenes in the film is provided by Dumbledore’s and Potter’s attempts to delve into Voldemort’s past. They arrive in wild seas near a cliff face (this is the awesome Cliffs of Moher by the way ) and enter a cave to recover and destroy a Horcrux. It is certainly a scene which is full of amazing special effects and stands out. It’s a pity there wasn’t more of this throughout the film. They return to find that Hogwarts has been infiltrated by Death Eaters. It is now up to Draco to execute the task he was assigned.
Overall, the film is entertaining but there was too much chopping of the book’s best scenes. Hopefully, the final instalment (The Deathly Hallows, which is to be split into two films ) will not fall victim to this.
Verdict: 4/5
