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The Daily OrangeStill spellbinding: 'Half-Blood Prince' delights despite some flaws
By Julia Terruso
Posted: 7/10/09, 12:00 AM EST Section: Feature
Added to the usual mix of mystery and magic is quite a bit of romantic comedy. Cormac McLaggen (Freddie Storma) likes Hermione (Watson), who likes Ron (Grint), who likes Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) - but not quite as much as she likes him. Harry likes Ron's sister Ginny, and Ginny (Bonnie Wright) likes Harry, too, but she can't seem to break things off with Dean Thomas (Alfie Enoch), who's very into her.
It's exhausting, but the puppy love is a cute and somewhat refreshing addition. The characters are growing up and becoming capable and knowledgeable wizards who can control their world with magic. This makes their inability to control their own hormones and the romantic preferences of those around them charming though sometimes contrived.
Still, all and all, Radcliffe, Watson and particularly Grint really show their acting chops. We've seen them play distressed and scared, but this time around, they impress with a more nuanced, flirty comedy. You get kind of giddy as you watch them grapple with the "keen sting of love," as Dumbledore puts it.
One love-struck criticism though - after this great romantic buildup between Ginny and Harry, the resulting smooch leaves much to be desired. I'm not asking for a Potter-porno, but a little more oomph and duration could have left us with a truer sense of sparks.
Think back to film five and the Cho Chang smooch. It was pretty G-rated, and I'd expect that back then. They were young. Cho was just a fling. But Ginny's the real deal and should have been reeled in for a more satisfying snog.
Smooches aside, the film was scarier than those before it. I jumped and cringed more in these new unsettling times.
And since Voldemort makes no appearance in "Half-Blood Prince," it's up to the supporting foes to foster the fear. Helena Bonham Carter returns as Bellatrix Lestrange, the cackling, wicked murderer of Harry's uncle, Sirius, in "Order of the Phoenix." Tom Felton plays a more layered and devious Draco Malfoy, Harry's peer nemesis.
It's exhausting, but the puppy love is a cute and somewhat refreshing addition. The characters are growing up and becoming capable and knowledgeable wizards who can control their world with magic. This makes their inability to control their own hormones and the romantic preferences of those around them charming though sometimes contrived.
Still, all and all, Radcliffe, Watson and particularly Grint really show their acting chops. We've seen them play distressed and scared, but this time around, they impress with a more nuanced, flirty comedy. You get kind of giddy as you watch them grapple with the "keen sting of love," as Dumbledore puts it.
One love-struck criticism though - after this great romantic buildup between Ginny and Harry, the resulting smooch leaves much to be desired. I'm not asking for a Potter-porno, but a little more oomph and duration could have left us with a truer sense of sparks.
Think back to film five and the Cho Chang smooch. It was pretty G-rated, and I'd expect that back then. They were young. Cho was just a fling. But Ginny's the real deal and should have been reeled in for a more satisfying snog.
Smooches aside, the film was scarier than those before it. I jumped and cringed more in these new unsettling times.
And since Voldemort makes no appearance in "Half-Blood Prince," it's up to the supporting foes to foster the fear. Helena Bonham Carter returns as Bellatrix Lestrange, the cackling, wicked murderer of Harry's uncle, Sirius, in "Order of the Phoenix." Tom Felton plays a more layered and devious Draco Malfoy, Harry's peer nemesis.
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