Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[Linderbee]

But the first one especially rocks!

only the first 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times. After that, it gets kinda blah.

 

[Dback Jon]

only the first 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 times. After that, it gets kinda blah.

I've told you a brazillon times to stop exagerating.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release date of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from November 21, 2008 to Summer 2009. The sixth installment of the blockbuster "Harry Potter" franchise will now open day-and-date domestically and in the major international markets on July 17, 2009.

 

[Stout]

Give me a freaking break. Next summer has only 3 or 4 big movies, and none around the release of this one. Star Trek comes out in early May, Terminator 4 around Memorial Day and Transformers 2 at 4th of July.

Of course it's for more money. Why are you so upset?

Well, duh! I knew it was for more money; that's why I was so upset I understand it's all a business, and I understand why they did it. Doesn't mean I have to be happy to be jobbed out of the movie for 8 more months. I think I have a right to be cheesed off, thanks.

 

[Chaplin]

It will be interesting to see what people think on here, but I for on, LOVED this movie. It's such a well-made movie that fits in flawlessly with the rest of the movies. I thought it did the book justice (although I think this book is one of the more forgettable in the series).

 

[Stout]

It will be interesting to see what people think on here, but I for on, LOVED this movie. It's such a well-made movie that fits in flawlessly with the rest of the movies. I thought it did the book justice (although I think this book is one of the more forgettable in the series).

You bastage, with your early viewer priveleges

I disagree in that the book was one of the more forgettable. My least favorite by far was book five, just because it was so much blunt trauma to the main character. Yeah, the payoff was worth it, but you really had to suffer through it, which I didn't terribly enjoy. The first one I don't rank highly just because it is so clear that her style was in its infancy. Understandable, of course, but still. Chamber would have to be 3rd worst for me, because while it was fun, the others were simply better. Goblet of Fire fits right there in the middle, then one spot higher I have Prince. At the top, for me, is Prisoner. So dark, so much begins to evolve, and she really finds her stride. Too bad the movie sucked compared to the book (good movie in itself, bad book movie). I have yet to come to a full conclusion on the last book, so I haven't ranked it.

So, from favorite to least favorite:

Prisoner
Prince
Goblet
Chamber
Stone
Order

And then Hallows will fit in there somewhere, probably just above Goblet.

 

[Chaplin]

Well, it is just my opinion, and I didn't want to turn this into a "which book is better" war.

To me, this had the feel of Empire Strikes Back, a setup for the final movie(s). Definitely a great entry in the series.

 

[Stout]

Well, it is just my opinion, and I didn't want to turn this into a "which book is better" war.

To me, this had the feel of Empire Strikes Back, a setup for the final movie(s). Definitely a great entry in the series.

No, not a war at all. It just gave me the idea to sort out in my head which books I liked better is all.

And, btw, Empire was the best movie of the trilogy Heck, of all six of 'em, IMO.

 

[UncleChris]

FWIW, Rotten Tomatoes has it at 96%. WHOA!!! I can't wait!


Edit: Again FWIW... It thought ALL the books were excellent.

 

[Chaplin]

FWIW, Rotten Tomatoes has it at 96%. WHOA!!! I can't wait!


Edit: Again FWIW... It thought ALL the books were excellent.

Don't get me wrong, I still liked the book. The only thing was, when watching the movie, I only remembered the major aspects of the book, and they're all pretty much in the movie. But there were some smaller moments that were new because I hadn't remembered the book as well as the others.

 

[Stout]

FWIW, Rotten Tomatoes has it at 96%. WHOA!!! I can't wait!


Edit: Again FWIW... It thought ALL the books were excellent.

Oh, don't get me wrong...I love them all and have read them all at least a few times. I was just nit picking to get them ordered for my own preferences.

Edit: And, ftr, my favorite movie is still the first one. It just captured the magic (no pun intended) of the book perfectly. Ah, innocence! lol

 

[UncleChris]

Ah, innocence! lol

I think my innocence was too long ago to remember....

I liked the movies pretty much equally, but you make a good point about the first one...

 

[D-Dogg]

Watching Order of the Phoenix again tonight in prep for the movie this week.

Book 6 is one of my favorites of the series. Followed closely by book 3. Then I think 7.

 

[Ryanwb]

To me, this had the feel of Empire Strikes Back, a setup for the final movie(s). Definitely a great entry in the series.

Are you hinting that this will be the climax of the entire series? People put Empire WAYYYY above ROTJ

 

[Gaddabout]

I haven't read any of the books and I always look forward to (and enjoy) these movies. There are maybe three books in which the movie paid off, but I think anything as dense as the Potter series, it's impossible to capture the width and depth of book in the time frame they've been given.

I had read (several times) the LOTR books, and to me those movies are the templates for how you adapt such a large mythology: Always, above all else, capture the message, even if you have to move timelines around or ignore characters out right.

Don't know if they do that with the Potter books, but the experience is always enjoyable for me.

 

[Louis]

Watching Order of the Phoenix again tonight in prep for the movie this week.

Same here.

I restarted the films last week after I disconnected by DirecTv.

 

[D-Dogg]

I haven't read any of the books and I always look forward to (and enjoy) these movies. There are maybe three books in which the movie paid off, but I think anything as dense as the Potter series, it's impossible to capture the width and depth of book in the time frame they've been given.

I had read (several times) the LOTR books, and to me those movies are the templates for how you adapt such a large mythology: Always, above all else, capture the message, even if you have to move timelines around or ignore characters out right.

Don't know if they do that with the Potter books, but the experience is always enjoyable for me.

They do on a lot of things, but the message is solidly there. Some of the best adapted books to movies out there.

For example, a lot of the things you see Neville do (gillyweed, finding the room of requirement, etc) in the movies was actually done by Dobby in the books. But the movies take out an entire sideplot about the house elves, and one named winky, that is great. However, in the movies, it isn't really needed. Not really. Only Pottheads like me are sad to not see them make the final cut, but there's no way you can make a 5 hour potter movie. (though I'd watch it).

 

[UncleChris]

Again, same as LOTR.... Even the final extended versions leave a whole crap-load of stuff out.... There's only so many hours and only so much celluloid in the world....

But HP writers/directors have done a fantastic job of keeping in and modifying the important stuff to make all the movies as close as possible to the books.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Made 20 Million last night in the midnight showing, highest of all time.

 

[D-Dogg]

Loved it.

here's my rottentomatoes review:

Excellent addition to the film versions of the books. HBP was one of my favorite books in the series, and though the movie falls short of the book (of course) what it does do is centers the entire story back around the most important members as they prepare for the final battle.

HBP, to me, was the last bit of fun and "normal life" that the trio had in their adventures. The sense of foreboding weighed heavy, and after "the death" things like girls and love and joke shops and careers and studies all were no longer important. HBP lingers on these things, both the book and the movie, letting Harry and crew enjoy their last days as students and giving them the foundation for the huge transformation of courage and daring they find in the Deathly Hallows.

What the movie kept is the feel of the book...the overall meaning. Of course it doesn't keep the amazing pace and wonderful detail of JK's book, but who really expects any movie to be that true?

In 150 minutes, the core meaning of HBP was able to be told on the screen: enjoy Hogwarts, get your one year of teenage angst and hormones out of your system, because sooner than you think you will be adults in the bodies of seventh-years. Real life is about to grab you by the neck.

Bravo...bring on the last two films quickly. A'horcrux-hunting we must go!

 

[arthurracoon]

just saw it - once again, not as good as the book

only main problem I saw is that there was absolutely no backstory on voldemort.

how is harry gonna know what the horcruxes are, or where to look for them...

 

[D-Dogg]

We are planning to take our two little ones (8 and 6) to the show on Sunday.. adding to the box office baby! 2 adults and 2 kids tickets more!

Adavra Kedeavra, Transformers!

 

[FArting]

Saw this at AZ Mills last night. The movie was good. Haven't read any of the books.

 

[SuperSpck]

Wonderful visual directions. The washed out look were an interesting touch.

The story seemed comfortable in it's own skin, a first for the franchise. The other movies were fun, but very aware of their place as adaptions. This one managed to avoid that, but in trade gave up a lot of the deeper elements of the book.

Again, can't say enough about the quality of the direction and effects.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Saw this on Thursday...loved it, got a bit choked up at the end even though I knew what was coming and thought it was just a perfect setup for the final book.

I also have to say I thought Ron was particularly awesome in this film...he's become even funnier than before and a real comic relief to me.