Will Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince be Movie Magic?

Posted by Robin Ruinsky (robin@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 3, 2008

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Yes, it’s nearly that time again! Harry Potter is returning in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Empire Magazine has a cover of Harry determined and bloodied, ready to go to battle for his beloved Hogwarts. They also have a link to USA Today’s first look at the new film. That first look includes some new photos, well some are new, some have been previously released.

Half Blood Prince which arrives in theaters November 21, will among other things, explore Draco Malfoy giving in to the dark side. It’s not like we didn’t see this coming, did we? He’s been a nasty little creature from the first film.

As usual Hogwarts is threatened and Harry and company must do their best to save the old school so they can fight on for another day and at least two more films.

The Harry Potter literary saga is now complete. The readers of the books know the end to the story. It’s very likely that people who haven’t read the books know how it ends, so there has to be an effort to make these movies stand on their own apart from the books and each other.

Can this be accomplished? So far, I don’t believe any of the films have been particularly great. They’re okay to good and they please many of the Harry Potter fans. Looking at the saga purely from the perspective of their merit as films I don’t think any of them have achieved greatness.

The final book, “Deathly Hallows” will be split into two films and I wonder if those final films, along with Half Blood Prince will truly create magic on film.

Have a look at the new Empire Magazine Cover as well as a gallery of great new photos from the film below (click to enlarge):

Half Blood Prince Empire Cover

$MICHAEL GAMBON as Albus Dumbledore in Warner Bros. Pictures\' fantasy \$

$JIM BROADBENT as Professor Horace Slughorn and EMMA WATSON as Hermione Granger in Warner Bros. Pictures\' fantasy \$

$EMMA WATSON as Hermione Granger, RUPERT GRINT as Ron Weasley and DANIEL RADCLIFFE as Harry Potter in Warner Bros. Pictures\' fantasy \$

$Director DAVID YATES on the set with DANIEL RADCLIFFE as Harry Potter and BONNIE WRIGHT as Ginny Weasley in Warner Bros. Pictures\' fantasy \$

$TOM FELTON as Draco Malfoy in Warner Bros. Pictures\' fantasy \$

$RUPERT GRINT as Ron Weasley in Warner Bros. Pictures\' fantasy \$

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Cinexcellence

Felton is looking evil-er than ever, and Jim Broadbent...perfect casting!

Sebastian Z

Of all the "Potter" films, the only one I've really *loved* purely from the perspective of its merit as as movie, has been "Prisoner of Azkaban." CuarÃ³n's stylish and dark direction combined with the screenplay and John Williams' inventive and memorable scroe made for me one truly great "Potter" film that can be enjoyed even by those who haven't read the books.

That said, although I liked Order of the Phoenix, I'm still not sure if Yates will be capable of making three *great* Potter films. Don't take me wrong, I'll definitely like Half-Blood Prince, but will it be as amazing as it should be?

I guess we only have to wait.

JIm James

OMG I just cannot wait till Nov 21rst! This is gonna be the best one ever!!

JT
www.FireMe.To/udi

Lister

I totally agree, Sebastian Z. Askaban was by far the best film. Order of the Phoenix dragged under Yates' direction, and worst yet, the score was generic. It's impossible to find a better composer for film than Williams, and it's unlikely they will find a better director than CuarÃ³n to helm the series.

I'm pessimistically looking forward to the final films. Any of improvement over the Order of the Phoenix will come as a pleasant surprise.

Seba

I totally agree with Sebastian Z , the third film was the best by far.

The way i imagined the look and feel of hogwarts was the one that Cuaron recreated.

Jessica

I am baffled. How can any of you think that Cuaron's adaptation of Prisoner of Azkaban was even remotely good? It was awful, and its only accomplishment was in making me cringe and shout profanities at almost every scene. Cuaron achieved in destroying the sheer brilliance of Rowling's third book by using overtly trite and hackneyed cinematographical conventions, which impeded the narratological progression of the story itself. Surprising really, since Cuaron is typically a very proficient, even inspiring, director. Cuaron's Hogwarts was insipid and really quite lackluster. While the art direction was, for the most part, commendable, this was still, by far, the WORST Harry Potter film to date. Even though John Williams did a superb job on the score for this film, his work becomes irrelevant after watching a such an odious film by an otherwise admirable director. This film is definitely stuck to the bottom of the Harry Potter barrel.

doctorwho904

im kinda getting bord with harry potter to be honest . The acting is'nt that good at lest in the kids .

Yvonne

Why they didn't ask the director of "Lord of the rings" to direct the "Harry Potter movies? Really I was so disapointed with "The order of the Phoenix", no Dobby, no Quidditch match, no so much of everything, God ,what can we expect from this one. If I were the author I would be angry. For those that havent read the book is ok, but not for me.

Gierke

I have to agree with Jessica The Prisoner of Azkaban is the worst movie they have done yet. It differs so incredibly much from the book it makes me sick. The Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book but the worst Harry Potter film created so far.

Kira

For one thing, Jessica, you use so many adjectives against the 3rd film it's hard to find your real argument. While I agree this film differed from the books, movies are supposed to do that. It's a separate art. If it were exactly coherent with the books, there would be no point in watching it.

Will Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince be Movie Magic?

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