Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie

[Rebecca]

I just saw that the teaser trailer for this movie is online. You can see it here. I didn't see a thread anywhere for this movie, so I figured I'd start a new one rather than add to the 5th movie's thread.

I'm excited to watch it in November when it comes out, but mostly just because I really like the books. Not a ton happens in book 6 that furthers the plot, not counting the ending of course. It's interesting to see Voldemort's past, but it's mostly backstory and isn't progressing the plot along much. (spoiler) Plus, I saw mention that they're cutting out a lot of the backstory that Harry witnesses through the Pensieve. (/spoiler) So I'm curious as to how this film will turn out.


There's a bunch of pictures up on http://mugglenet.com , too. Anyone have any thoughts on this movie or hear any other news about it?



8/16 edit: HBP release date has been moved to July 17th, 2009.

[halplm]

Looks good. I loved book 6. I will only be disappointed if they don't do the luck potion right

[Padme]

My understanding is that it will be really dark.

[Rebecca]

Looks good. I loved book 6. I will only be disappointed if they don't do the luck potion right

Is that a favorite part of yours or have you heard bad/ominous things? I really liked book 6 when I first read it, but I hardly reread it (and I reread books like a crazy person) since it doesn't seem to advance the storyline much.

My understanding is that it will be really dark.

I heard somewhere that it is supposed to be darker but will have much lighter moments than the other ones.
(After watching the teaser trailer I looked up spoilers...I hate spoiling the movie but I just can't seem to help it)

[halplm]

It's my favorite part of the book, and kind of the point that ties everything together in the book... the HBP, Slughorn, Ginny, the horcruxes...

[Rebecca]

It's my favorite part of the book, and kind of the point that ties everything together in the book... the HBP, Slughorn, Ginny, the horcruxes...

Gotcha. I just thought for a minute there that you'd heard they cut it or something.

The teaser shows Dumbledore saying "this is one of the most important memories," and then it shows Tom Riddle in the orphanage, but that could just be for the teaser.

It seems like something they could/would cut, though, since we don't have to see Harry getting the memory. I enjoy reading that scene, but how do you show that Harry is thinking all the things he should do that end up making him lucky? If they just cut out the luck potion and Dumbledore already has the memory it saves time, you don't have to worry about conveying Harry's thoughts, and you still get to see Slughorn's memory. I dunno, just doesn't seem that crucial for a movie to me. But it makes sense to have a scene like that in a book.
(Oh no, are you a purist for Harry Potter like LotR? Don't hate me. )

[halplm]

You could do it in a movie... just have him get a funny look on his face when he does something you wouldn't expect.

I think the "most important memory" clip from the teaser, would be the first time Harry sees it, when it's been tampered with.

I'm certainly less of a purist for HP than for LOTR . I had some posts on how PoA was an example of a near perfect adaptation of book to film... and they cut out the Quidditch, which is my favorite part of the book...

[Rebecca]

You could do it in a movie... just have him get a funny look on his face when he does something you wouldn't expect.

I think the "most important memory" clip from the teaser, would be the first time Harry sees it, when it's been tampered with.

I'm certainly less of a purist for HP than for LOTR . I had some posts on how PoA was an example of a near perfect adaptation of book to film... and they cut out the Quidditch, which is my favorite part of the book...

It could be done, but I'd rather it just be cut than risk it looking stupid.

And PoA was my favorite book and I really liked the movie, but I hated how they handled the ending. But I won't osgiliate my own thread.

[Pearly Di]

Yay, a HBP thread!

Teaser trailer looks good. Creepy young Tom Riddle!

I fully expect the film to be better than the book. (I quite like the book, but it's not my favourite in the series.) I'm looking forward to much delicious Snapery and Emo!Tormented!Angsty! Draco.

And Jim Broadbent as Slughorn.

I'm certainly less of a purist for HP than for LOTR . I had some posts on how PoA was an example of a near perfect adaptation of book to film...

Hal, you are not the first Tolkien purist to praise the virtues of PoA (I agree, it's a fine film). The funny thing is, the HP purists hate PoA. Many HP fans get annoyed by Hermione getting all Ron's good lines as well.

By the way, what do you guys think of the plans to split DH in half, with the first part being released in November 2010 and the second instalment in May 2011?

I'm a bit meh about it, from both an artistic and commercial POV. The HP fans are delighted, but the more seasoned Tolkienistas among them keep on muttering about the Matrix sequels syndrome!

[Rebecca]

Yay, a HBP thread!

Teaser trailer looks good. Creepy young Tom Riddle!

Did you see that the actor is Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort)'s nephew? I think that's a neat touch, and I agree, he does look quite creepy as a young Voldemort.

By the way, what do you guys think of the plans to split DH in half, with the first part being released in November 2010 and the second instalment in May 2011?

I'm a bit meh about it, from both an artistic and commercial POV. The HP fans are delighted, but the more seasoned Tolkienistas among them keep on muttering about the Matrix sequels syndrome!

I'm not real thrilled about it, either. I'd rather have one good movie than two ok ones. Supposedly there's already an added scene in HBP, and I'd think that they'd have to make up scenes for DH if they're going to split it. And I saw discussion in the OotP thread here about where to split Deathly Hallows; it does seem difficult to find a good ending for part 1 that's in the middle of the book. A lot does happen in book 7 that's pretty integral to the plot, IMO, so I hope they can pull it off.

[WampusCat]

Yikes! That is a seriously creepy Tom Riddle!

And Dumbledore looked positively Gandalfish (to coin a word best left uncoined).

[Pearly Di]

Yikes! That is a seriously creepy Tom Riddle!

Isn't he just? I felt very sorry for the child Riddle, actually.

Yes, Rebecca, I caught the Fiennes connection. I think it's cool!

That was, I think, one of the best teasers I've ever seen for any film. It told a whole mini-story in itself and was really eerie and riveting.

And Dumbledore looked positively Gandalfish (to coin a word best left uncoined).

Yes, he did. Just as well, because there's not much else that is Gandalfian about Albus. (For one thing, his battle strategies suck! - too much left to blind chance and I find his ethics re: Harry and Snape very questionable.) I'm so relieved I can say things like that here. I'd get beaten up if I voiced my uncensored opinion on the Harry Potter boards.

I really like Gambon's Dumbledore though. He makes the character palatable to me.

Richard Harris's Dumbledore was lovely but too benevolent.

[halplm]

one of the most interesting aspects of dumbledore is that he is so very flawed.

For a character that has been presented as so all-knowing... he made a massive amount of mistakes.

ultimately, that is what makes the whole set of books interesting.

[WampusCat]

one of the most interesting aspects of dumbledore is that he is so very flawed.

For a character that has been presented as so all-knowing... he made a massive amount of mistakes.

ultimately, that is what makes the whole set of books interesting.

I agree. And as much as I loved Richard Harris' whimsical Dumbledore, I wonder if he could have pulled off the later development of the character.

[Rebecca]

I really like Gambon as Dumbledore, too. So many Harry Potter fans dislike him, though.

[halplm]

The concept of the "purist" comes into play here.

So many think of "purists" as those that want the book to appear on film with no deviations. Some do... and I'm not sure there is an appropriate label for that group. I can see how those would dislike Gambon. But then, I imagine many of them disliked how Dumbledore turned out in the books anyway

These are the ones that dislike PoA because it cut so much out of arguably the best book.

However, what I would define as a "purist" is one that wants to see the "essence" of the book portrayed on film, without losing anything the book gave us. While I feel PJ failed miserably at this for LOTR, I have found the HP films to do a remarkably good job at capturing the books on film (I could probably write a book about why this is). PoA is the best example, but the rest do a reasonably good job.

I don't have high expectations for the final 2-3 films, as I don't know how they'll capture the general feel of the last two books... but I do look forward to them still.

[Primula Baggins]

It's a matter of luck, I think, Hal, as people don't all have the same idea of the "general feel" of a given book. PJ didn't capture "your" LotR, but he often came close to capturing "mine." The same thing is likely to happen with the HP films.

[Pearly Di]

one of the most interesting aspects of dumbledore is that he is so very flawed.

For a character that has been presented as so all-knowing... he made a massive amount of mistakes.

ultimately, that is what makes the whole set of books interesting.

I believe that is part of the secret of Rowling's success. Her characters can be either lovable or grotesque but they are all fascinatingly flawed.

However, what I would define as a "purist" is one that wants to see the "essence" of the book portrayed on film, without losing anything the book gave us.

I think that would define a so-called 'revisionist' just as well, actually.

While I feel PJ failed miserably at this for LOTR, I have found the HP films to do a remarkably good job at capturing the books on film (I could probably write a book about why this is). PoA is the best example, but the rest do a reasonably good job.

I know quite a lot of fellow Tolkienistas who have a high opinion of the HP films. The HP fans, however, are more ambiguous in their reactions -- which is why it's always interesting, and salutary, to observe another fandom other than your own.

Actually, I would classify myself as a HP fan, having become mildly obsessed with Potterverse ever since last summer. I've written a fair amount of HP fanfiction since then, and I have a great affection for the HP books and find them hugely enjoyable. I am a little more critical, though, than the kind of HP fan who claims the series to be the best fantasy saga ever written.

I don't have high expectations for the final 2-3 films, as I don't know how they'll capture the general feel of the last two books... but I do look forward to them still.

I think the films have caught the general feel of the books pretty well, on the whole.

I am not sure that DH will be able to beat The Hobbit, box office wise!

But, like you, I am certainly looking forward to the last two stories in the franchise.

[ToshoftheWuffingas]

Is a Gandalfish something you pop in your ear to understand Quenya and Sindarin?

[Pearly Di]

Is a Gandalfish something you pop in your ear to understand Quenya and Sindarin?

That would be one heck of a cool device, actually.