The new Harry Potter movie; mostly hype
I loved the first Harry Potter when the world was wide eyed and curious about this young wizard and his two friends. I enjoyed the second and third Harry Potter movies but tolerated the fourth and fifth. They had lost something. However, they were much better than this new release which drags on for over two and a half hours; making it difficult to keep the attention of young children (and adults) in the audience.
I wondered why the rating had become PG instead of PG-13. Not that I want profanity in a movie for young people; I don't. However, the added label meant visuals that were creative and somewhat disturbing for the viewer, thus adding to the excitement. This new Potter movie has none of that. The movie seemed to be put out only as a pre-requisite for the upcoming final movie that will encompass Rowling's last book.
From the beginning of the film, you can tell that Harry has reached an age where girlfriends seem exciting. This is displayed by Ron Weesies in the film as well and Hermione who can never quite get her point across. Glances, sexual innuendos from some of the stars...one knows that the film will have the makings of a bubble gum song with crushes and tender kisses of emerging young adults.
Draco is back too, only to have one of the worst characters in the movie. His character, as are many of them in the film are lacking personality and lustre. Draco is the "chosen" one to kill Dumbledore and his actions throughout the movie seem variant and without reason. Harry becomes a spying character through much of the activity and does little else. It is very difficult to relate to any of the characters; feel bad for them, feel happiness or sorrow. It was as if all of the players in this movie were showing the beginning of what we needed to see and then; we lost them and our attention was drawn to something trivial in the film.
Very little acting has to be done in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Even the actors that had kept us entertained in the prior films are given mediocre parts. I kept viewing my watch, wondering when something exciting would occur. Two hours into the movie, the action picked up and I thought, "Finally! Something to cling to.", but alas, it was short lived and made absolutely no sense. It was hard to believe that this movie stemmed from the JK Rowling book. I have not read the book and if it compared to the movie, I wouldn't have been able to finish it in all honesty.
A very disappointing way to spend money. Out of five stars, I give this film 1.5, only because I enjoy the fab three and hope that their last film will knock us out of our seats.