EDIT: I realise when I read through it that I sound overly negative... it wasn't my intention... I mean, like I said, I'm quite happy with movie in general.
I really liked the movie! I realise how my HP-fandom has waned because it took Warner Bros soooo long time to release the movie. I could barely remember the book-plot because I haven't read book six and seven since they came out and the long waiting time has done absolutely no good to me. This may be good though when I'm going to discuss the movie now because I have seen it in its own right!
In general, the
younger actors have really grown and this is the best acting I've seen from them yet, keeping in mind I have been far from impressed before - bordering annoyed with their earlier performances!
Ron: Someone said that Ron was reduced to merely comic relief. I think that's true, since his importance to the movie-plot was minimal - a pity since he seemed to do a good job. And the scenes with the love potion were absolutely priceless!! But wow, he's grown a lot... why did he have to be so pumped... he looked like a giant next to Harry and Hermione...!
Hermione: I've never really liked her movie-character. But since she wasn't so annoying and nerd-ish this time, I could relax with her presence. Though I really disliked the Ron/Lavender/Hermione story-line and especially the crying on Harry's shoulder-scene did nothing good for me.
Harry: I really had a problem with Harry in the earlier movies but he'd down-toned his teenage-angst and settled into something that resembled submission to his destiny and Dumbledore's will.... I don't really have much to say on that...
Malfoy: I feel like spending a few lines on him since you all spend much more than that. He did a good job, but you all know how I'm no fan of teenage-angst so wasting so much screen-time on Malfoy stealing around corridors looking pale and panting... not my cup of tea. But his acting was flawless, I suppose.
Dumbledore: He was good, really good... although I have a major problem with that Christmas decoration they like to tie around his beard. Why?? WHY??? He was very much the father-figure Harry needs and I believed him this time, he really was amiable, although the knowledge about him being gay was really odd... Honestly, Rowlings... what did you have in mind??
Snape: My beloved Snape! He was perfect in every scene. Not only do I find book-Snape a very fascinating character, I worship the earth on which Alan Rickman walks! He did a perfect job in my opinion. Dark, towering Snape, an ever so menacing presence. I loved the scene in the end where he fights Harry. More of that please!
Slughorn: Nothing much to say about him. He reminds me of Bilbo. Both in looks and in how an incident in the past still haunts him. I don't remember how the books portrays him...
McGonagall: Flawless performance... but she is really getting old in looks, isn't she? But I just enjoyed her scenes for how good she is!
Ginny/Harry: I never was a fan of the relationships in the book. Ginny was taller than Harry.... ackward! However, when that is said... I didn't find it too ackward all the times they were close to kissing or when they actually did it - kissing I mean! But still.... no... she's too young for Harry even though she's grown taller than he...
Opening Scene: Like Will said, it was a nice scene to emphasise how powerful Voldemort and his Death Eaters have become. But I was left with a feeling of... ehh... so how did the Muggle world react to this... But a great action scene!
Metro station: Ackward, really ackward that Harry should be reading Daily Prophet in front of Muggles when he has been taught to take such great care not to use magic out in the open. And the girl was adorable but I didn't understand why the scene was there - to indicate that Harry has grown up? The good thing about it was that the film makers tried something new instead of Privet Drive!
Unbreakable Vow: I think the audience missed out on the importance of the scene and of the wow - yes, I do realise that 'Unbreakable vow' is quite self-explanatory.. but still... they could've played more on the huge task that was appointed to
Draco. Like others said, a more emotional
Narcissa, please!! Bellatrix was good as ever and contrary to Will's opinion I think she added to the brooding atmosphere in a scene where - I hate to say it - Snape was quite passive and almost indifferent...
Hogwarts Express: I kept wondering if they had a new train because the way the seats were placed, and it annoyed me that I had to think of that all the time. I loved the (new?) train but felt really bored with
Harry sneaking around. I loved how
Luna found him though, she was such a darling presence in the entire movie. Still nuts but adorable nuts this time!
First Potions lesson-scene: QUESTION! I missed out why Ron and Harry went fighting over the Half-Blood Prince's book - they couldn't possibly know what it was just by looking at the cover?
Burning Burrow: Ackward scene. But no wonder since I'm no Harry/Ginny fan. It was too cheesy that they should run around after each other and that they should all fall for the trick of the Death Eaters...
Cave scene: It was good and quite as I had pictured it. Although, Dumbledore pulled a Gandalf I loved to see him shine one last time when he drove the inferi away. But somehing that bothered me was that they didn't emphasise the importance of Dumbledore's quest for the horcruxes and how much he suffered with his hand.... which also led to Snape performing his mercy-killing in the end. I mean, wouldn't they need that in the next movies?
The planetarium thing/tower: I couldn't help thinking how it looked like something from a theme park or well, a planetarium. And it looked way too new for an old castle like Hogwarts... AAANNNNDDD it kept bothering me that we didn't see it in the previous movies. Well, the view was stunning from there and made for great scenes (lone Draco, lone Hermione etc) but I wish they would have introduced it in the earlier movies.
Avada Kedavra: I think it was sort of believable that Harry obeyed Dumbledore and slinked downstairs. He had just survived the inferi and seen Dumbledore's great magic at work. He might still have felt he'd been under vows to obey and I think he trusted Dumbledore's power. Furthermore, he trusted Snape - because Dumbledore trusted Snape and therefore he didn't interfere.
I think the scene was sort of long but without the neccesary suspense... But I liked that it seemed to trigger Snape that Bellatrix called out 'Coward', and even if she meant it for Draco then I imagined it must have touched something in Snape, being called a coward most of his life so he acted almost by instinct. I liked the double-meaning of Dumbledore's last words to Snape "Severus, please". I guess the line is taken directly from the book, but the scene was very well played!
Missing funeral scene: I remember crying so hard when I read that scene in the book but I think it was a nicely done in the movie (as in crowding around Dumbledore's body). McGonagall and the crowd lighting their wands to his honour and as the light of hope.
Last scene: 'Twas okay I suppose. Very serene and beautiful (reminded me of the Grey Havens scene) and I didn't mind Ron being in the background. I don't think I'd have thought of it if it hadn't been mentioned here. But if they had all fallen on each other in a group hug and pledged their allegiance to the quest.... ehh.. that'd have been cheesy!!!
Subtle humour: There was indeed a great deal of subtle humour as someone else remarked. Which really becomes the movie. Thank gods, we didn't have to settle for only Cormac puking on Snape's shoes. In fact, the whole theatre were chuckling or laughing out loud several times! Loved it!
(See I ended on a happy note!
)
They really slaughtered the amazingness of Snape. Especially at the end... He admits he's the Prince and then BAM. Total anit-climax. I almost died from non-climax.
Unlucky for Ron I suppose...
