For those who ask a Harry Potter fan their favourite movie within the collection, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince can be an unlikely reply. Out of all eight movies, it sits squarely at quantity 4 on Rotten Tomatoes’ rating, with an 84% on the Tomatometer and a 78% viewers rating. It is the second Harry Potter movie directed by David Yates, who would go on to direct each of the collection’ last installments, together with the Incredible Beasts prequel collection. Regardless of its middling repute, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the final enjoyable Harry Potter movie, giving us some last moments of petty teenage drama and romance earlier than the weighty Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movies. It is a welcome reprieve after the humorless Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, leaning into comedy whereas offering temporary however vital glimpses into the gravity of the forthcoming movies.
‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ Is a Tonal Shift For the Franchise
Although they every have their moments, the Harry Potter movies have by no means been recognized for his or her comedy; however Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince permits the forged, particularly Daniel Radcliffe, to have some enjoyable. If his efficiency in Order of the Phoenix is any indication, Radcliffe delivers in the case of the extra dramatic and emotional moments within the collection, however Half Blood Prince permits him to point out off his vary and comedic expertise. His efficiency lays the groundwork for a few of his comedic post-Harry Potter roles in What If, Swiss Military Man, and Miracle Employees, significantly the scene during which Harry drinks Felix Felicis, luck potion. It turns him into an uncharacteristically chipper, friendlier model of himself, contrasted completely by Professor Slughorn’s (Jim Broadbent) utter confusion and gentle concern.
Radcliffe has some nice bits of bodily comedy as this goofier model of Harry and all through the movie, particularly in his scenes with Ron (Rupert Grint), who usually serves because the comedian aid character. One in every of Half Blood Prince‘s funniest scenes entails the 2 of them, when Ron by accident eats a field of sweets dosed with a love potion that was supposed for Harry, leaving Ron comically infatuated with Romilda Vane (Anna Shaffer), who he is by no means even met. Although the beloved Weasley twins (James and Oliver Phelps) present up solely momentarily, minor characters like Lavender (Jessie Cave), Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), and even Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) additionally get their very own humorous moments.
Regardless of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince being one of many darkest books within the collection, the movie’s shift in tone permits for extra comedy than the earlier movies. It has all of the hallmarks of a teen comedy with love triangles, petty drama, a celebration scene, and Hogwarts’ personal model of “the massive sport” — the Gryffindor v. Slytherin Quidditch match. There’s loads of humorous, snarky banter between Harry, Ron, and Hermione (Emma Watson), particularly with Harry caught within the center as Ron and Hermione lastly understand they’ve emotions for one another. Hermione is visibly jealous of Ron and Lavender’s cringe-worthy relationship rife with PDA and pet names, and aggravated by Harry outperforming her in Potions class because of his annotated textbook. Ron will get overwhelmed by Lavender’s clinginess, jealous of Cormac McLaggen’s (Freddie Stroma) attraction to Hermione regardless of her clear repulsion, and earns new recognition because the Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch crew. Harry has a budding crush on Ginny (Bonnie Wright), kisses as much as Professor Slughorn per Dumbledore’s orders, and tries to determine what his very long time nemesis Draco Malloy (Tom Felton) is as much as. Whereas there are a number of unsettling moments, just like the Demise Eaters attacking the Weasley dwelling and Katie Bell’s (Georgina Leonidas) cursed necklace, Half Blood Prince permits loads of time for humor within the trio’s last yr at Hogwarts.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione Embrace a Final Hurrah at Hogwarts Earlier than ‘Deathly Hallows’
Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) return on the finish of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireplace marks a turning level within the collection, and Dumbledore’s demise on the finish of Half Blood Prince is one other watershed second within the lead as much as the occasions of the ultimate two movies. Cedric Diggory’s (Robert Pattinson) demise accompanied by Voldemort’s return gave the collection actual stakes after a string of one-off villains, putting Harry in larger hazard than ever earlier than. Most of Half Blood Prince oscillates between light-hearted teenage drama and scattered indications of impending doom, and the third act, culminating with Dumbledore’s demise, units up the occasions and dismal tone of the ultimate installments. Order of the Phoenix, one of many densest and darkest movies, finds Harry understandably angsty and depressed, pushing away those that care about him. And although there’s positively a special really feel to Hogwarts in Half Blood Prince, with elevated safety and guidelines, Harry and his buddies are allowed to enjoy petty drama one final time.
The enjoyable is over in Deathly Hallows Half 1, with the trio deciding to not return to Hogwarts for his or her last yr and hunt Horcruxes as a substitute, so regardless of Half Blood Prince happening throughout their sixth yr, there is a sense of it being Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s final hurrah. As sixth yr college students, they’re allowed extra independence and free time, and Harry and Ron particularly take pleasure in being the massive males on campus. It is the final time we get to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione simply be children preoccupied with trivial issues like jealousy, failed relationships, recognition, and good grades. Sandwiched between two of the extra somber Harry Potter movies, Half Blood Prince is arguably the funniest within the collection, with nice chemistry between the trio and stand out comedic moments from Radcliffe and Grint. French cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel additionally earned an Academy Award nomination for the movie, the one movie within the collection to be nominated for Greatest Cinematography. Although it might not come near Alfonso Cuarón‘s Prisoner of Azkaban, its distinctive potential to take care of a way of levity regardless of the upcoming hazard within the Wizarding World make it worthy of a rewatch.
The Large Image
- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince shifts the tone of the franchise, permitting for extra comedy and lighter moments amidst the upcoming darkness.
- The movie highlights Daniel Radcliffe’s vary and comedic expertise, offering a few of the funniest scenes within the collection.
- Harry, Ron, and Hermione embrace a final hurrah at Hogwarts, showcasing their teenage drama and trivial issues earlier than the darker occasions of the ultimate movies.