It is very difficult to write a neutral review of a very pathetic adaptation of one of your favorite books. Yet, try, I shall! For a fan, the movie is torture even when not translated (how I shall divulge later). But for someone who has miraculously avoided everything potter in the real world and knows nothing about the series, he would definitely enjoy watching the movie once in the theatre (especially if someone else paid for the ticket). So what makes the movie bad? Spoiler Alert!! You have been warned.
Oh, did you know Dumbledore had a profound interest in Harry’s love life. First he votes in favor of a muggle chick, harry was digging at a diner and then he wondered out loud if Harry-Hermoine had a thing going on. Perhaps, this was where Jo told the director “Hey! Dumbledore is gay!” But then Dumbledore also has the uncanny habit of leaving Harry in a swamp, or not telling Harry anything but simply ordering him. Do not doubt him Harry, just trust him. Especially, when he never told you he will be teaching you stuff, and then suddenly whips out memories to drown you. Hark! the movie is an insult to Dumbledore’s memory, especially the climax – the death of Dumbledore. Grave dishonor to the venerable old man. They didn’t even give him his tomb. Most probably he will wait for another year to get his tomb in Part 1 of the seventh movie. Gawd! he’d smell, then!
The trouble is, the screenplay of the movie is awful when compared to the book. What is the point of making a book adaptation, if you don’t care what is happening in the book and *with emphasis* WHY! The 6th book was supposed to be everything about Snape – it was to tell us that Snape has been Dumbledore’s man through and through. But all Snape ends up doing in the movie is to blurt “yes, I am the half blood prince” (like I care!), full stop. Alan Rickman is a great artist, but hey! Snape was supposed to be in pain then. Pain of what he had to do, what Dumbledore made him do, how that affects him. The movie was also to prepare Harry for whats coming for him in the future. All he has learned in the movie is that Voldemort made 7 horcruxes, two of which were the riddle diary and “a ring”. That’s it. Good Luck harry, finding everything else cause you don’t even know where to look at, what to look for and nothing to guide you into Voldemort’s choices of horcruxes.
There are no emotions in the movie, except some exceedingly stupid snogging sessions – which happen for no reason whatsoever, and a final acceptance of the Ron-Hermoine relationship (which was, for the record, far more subtle and way more beautiful in the book). The Lav Lav-Won Won episode is like a slap on the face of the readers (at least fans), a slap that shall echo through out eternity. There is a whole new Harry-Ginny angle, very different from the book and makes the reader question “Was that a consequence of Sirius’s death?” (Oh yes, twice you are reminded that Sirius died in the last movie and that his death un-apparently affects Harry) “How did harry fall for Ginny, without ever even noticing her?”. When asked, Scabbers has been quoted to say: “Just Like That. Harry just woke up one day to realise he is in love with Ginny. What else would be the point of it all being magic and a pretty girl playing Ginny? The story had to include both of these elements – the magic, and the pretty chick.”
The movie has it shares of laughs, some really awesome comedy scenes that will certainly inspire Jim Carrey to new heights – especially the one where Ginny ties Harry’s shoe laces (that was fun), or when Lav Lav decides to Piggy-back Won Won (That is creative love), or when Hermoine tells Harry that Ron is finally fine with harry going out with Ginny (at the end of the movie, when Harry ‘foolishly’ breaks up with Ginny ‘for her own safety’ in the book.) Heroes can be dumb! Its the movies that makes them smart, confident and appealing. Ha!
What’s with Slughorn by the way? He was supposed to be a clever wizard, who likes to make collections of talented students, who would make it big in the future. All Jim Broadbent could get out of his experience, on screen, was a witless clown who could only fumble and mumble around. That and his weird eye brows.
I am just glad, they did not “choose” to show a Voldemort-Bellatrix thing going on – what with love being in the air and romance being the flavor of the month, after all.
Its not like the movie is a complete waste of time and money. Its only that as a fan it is not possible to be disgruntled and disappointed with the movie. They made me wait for this crap, goddammit! Otherwise, the execution, the direction, the background score, the effects, the performances, (in other words, everything other than the script/screenplay/story) is exceptional. It is only the screen play that will confuse the viewer and brutally massacre the fans. Truth be told, the trailers were far more watchable than the movies.
Let me complete this review with the “Phoenix Lament” (the official song for the Potter fans who watch the Potter movies):
Oh Jo! How could you ever approve such a script?
Oh Kloves! What happened to your uber-scripting skills?
I cant imagine, why I waited for this movie for almost 20 months.
Oh I know what happened. When the writer’s guild went on strike, Steve Kloves had only written the first line of the whole script. Out of panic, David Yates had to depend on Scabbers to complete the script. That is why the movie got delayed. This is not a rumor, this is THE FACT.
Scorecard
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Author: Kinshuk Sunil (72 Articles)
Kinshuk Sunil is the founder of the WiSy Blog. An active evangelist for Open Source and a enthusiast Game Designer, Kinshuk focuses on reviewing Softwares, Services and Games here. However, a jack of all trades, Kinshuk can be found talking about almost everything. Catch up with him on twitter @kinshuksunil.
