Two early reviews of The Half-Blood Prince has been posted by The Sun UK and Guardian UK. Although the review by The Guardian is quite short, we are expecting more lenghty review from them in the next few days.
Thankfully, director David Yates has learned from his mistakes and here he turns in the most confident, stylish, individual, warm-hearted and witty Harry Potter yet.
He’s also turned up the heat by focusing on raging hormones rather than rampaging beasts, with the main characters more interested in mixing love potions than aceing their exams.
Instead of “going darker” again (yawn), Daniel Radcliffe as Harry, inset, Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) go lighter.
At times like a High School rom-com.
These three young leads have built up a strong chemistry over the years and are at their best joking with each other. Of the young actors, Bonnie Wright as Ginny and the icy Hero Fiennes-Tiffin (nephew of Ralph Fiennes who plays Lord Voldemort) as a young Tom Riddle come top of the class.
The romantic diversions are skillfully worked into the mystery of what Draco Malfoy is up to and what secret Prof Horace Slughorn – played perfectly by Jim Broadbent – is keeping.
Most importantly, Half-Blood produces what none of its predecessors have – tears.
The death of Sirius Black in 2007’s Order Of The Phoenix was an emotionless affair.
The demise of a beloved character here is told with heart and power. This is a full-blooded affair.
Rather than giving us a series of computer-generated action sequences (yawn again), Yates has gone for careful character development, building to a dramatic crescendo. And that is the biggest surprise of all – The Half-Blood Prince is masterful.
Putatively winsome all this may be, but what it actually does is throw the series’ biggest weakness into sharp relief: film-making can (and does) control pretty much everything – except how the cute juvenile leads grow up. Still, director David Yates knows how to play all the cards. Although a touch ungainly, his film is solidly constructed, with lots of fine effects. If, as Potter approaches his final confrontation with Voldemort, the wizardly battles begin to resemble Lord of the Rings, it’s hardly a handicap; this is tried and tested cinematic language, and does all it needs.
Click on the links to read the complete reviews.
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