Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Posted by Michael Sortino in Reviews on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 6:00 AM
As of this writing, the sixth Harry Potter film has grossed over 865 million dollars in nearly six weeks. No doubt, the success of this film and its predecessors in the series is a result of the phenomenal popularity of the book series by author, J.K. Rowling.
I won’t go into the books, into the right or wrong of letting our kids read them. Let’s take a look at this latest film for the sake of the movie itself ... Is it worth all the fuss? While readers of the novels usually dislike the films, I believe screenwriter Steve Kloves has written a solid script. Director David Yates and cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel bring the story to the screen beautifully and hauntingly.
Movies that resonate with audiences are those that aren’t just visual effects parades, but entertaining explorations of human themes through the use of rich characters. It is here that this movie refreshingly delivers.
Right from the intense (and by far the best in the series) opening of the film, we see that evil is on the rise, and can only wonder who will stand up to it.
Choosing Sides
Here is where the major theme of the film comes into play: Choosing a side. We see it displayed as a questioning headline on the magic world newspaper, The Daily Prophet, “Is Harry Potter the Chosen One?”
With so many movies blurring the lines between good and evil, parents can be happy with the hero of this film. From his introductory scene, when Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) foregoes a date with a girl (yes, he’s seventeen now — we have to just face it) to join Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) on a new mission, we consistently see him make tough choices for the sake of what’s right.
Being young and full of great pain from his distant past (the death of his parents) and recent past (the death of his godfather, Sirius Black), Harry does act impulsively at times, i.e., chasing after Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter) for revenge, or accusing a student of grave wrongdoing without proof. But Harry is more grown up in this installment, complaining less and accepting more. In fact, the signature weaving of mystery and unanswered questions into the plot serves the theme well here. Many times, Harry doesn’t know exactly what’s being asked of him or how it will play out, but he answers the call, nonetheless.
Courage vs Fear
This reflects another major theme of the movie: Courage vs Fear. Harry’s long-time friend, Hermione (Emma Watson), outright tells him how much she admires him for his courage — and we feel the same. Contrasting sharply to this is Harry’s Hogwart’s nemesis, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), who has been chosen by the evil Voldemort for some mysterious purpose. The filmmakers nicely point out through Dumbledore’s inaugural speech to the students, that we can be the greatest weapons of evil, if we allow ourselves to be used.
Draco does give in to his “calling,” and is shown riddled with conflict and fear throughout the film. He is motivated, just like the new professor of potions, Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), by pride, and both of these characters are portrayed as pitiful.
Power of Love
What comes across glowingly, then, is the motivation behind Harry and his circle: Love.
The sacrifice of Harry’s mother for his life (he even urges Professor Slughorn who once had her as a student, “Be brave, like my mother!”), the risk of those opposing the dark wizard, and the sacrifice of Dumbledore are shown stemming from a tender love for each other and a duty to help save mankind. Even the enjoyable comic relief and the romantic trysts (innocent enough, though not for young kids) work well to show the good guys surrounded by friends and experiencing love, while the agents of evil are bitter and alone. One shot shows this contrast brilliantly—moving from kids laughing in the hallway to Malfoy darkly brooding on a parapet alone.
In the end, the film is a bit hard to follow for non-readers of the series, and lacks a real climax (acceptable only because it’s a staging for the final installments). But there is satisfaction in that some questions are answered, along with Harry, having chosen what is right, who lives to fight another day.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has fine acting and enough thrilling moments and artistic visual effects to enjoy. Most importantly, this popular film has satisfying themes that help encourage viewers to make choices not out of fear, but love, and to have courage in the face of an ever-darkening world.
—Michael Sortino is a husband, father of four, and writer living in Charlotte, NC. Check out his latest works at Sortino Media.
(MPAA Rating: PG for scary images, some violence, language and mild sensuality.)
Resources:
- USCCB review
- The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide
- Jimmy Akin: Pre-16 on Harry Potter
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