EARLY ACCESS: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Movie Reaction | First Time Watch
Added 2023-12-22 20:00:05 +0000 UTCWho is the Half-Blood Prince? What is Draco's dark mission? Join us as Mrs. Movies watches Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009). Here's her reaction to her first time watching.
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Hero Fiennes Tiffin who plays Tom Riddle at age 11 is Ralph Fiennes' nephew. Christian Coulson, who played Tom Riddle in Chamber of Secrets, expressed an interest in returning for this film, but director David Yates recognized that he was too old for the role, being nearly 30. Dame Maggie Smith finished filming this while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Talk about badass. Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy) was originally cast as Bellatrix but had to drop out due to her pregnancy. She was subsequently cast as Bellatrix's sister and Draco's mother in this film. She died of breast cancer on April 16th 2021, aged 52. She was married to fellow actor Damian Lewis at the time of her death. Robert Knox, who played Marcus Belby (the kid from the Slug Club who ate a lot) was tragically stabbed to death when he intervened in a fight to protect his younger brother on May 24th 2008, just a few days after filming wrapped. His murderer was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 20 years before being considered for parole. The original script included all of Dumbledore's memories about Voldemort. For example, there was a flashback to Tom Riddle's mother and grandfather that would have introduced the black ring that he wears in his memory with Professor Slughorn. Tom's mother Merope Gaunt (a witch) met his father Tom Riddle Sr. (a muggle) and seduced him with a love potion. J.K. Rowling has said it’s important that Voldemort was conceived as a result of force rather than real love, as it explains why he cannot feel love. Merope eventually stopped using the potion hoping Tom actually loved her, but he abandoned her and their unborn son. This explains Voldemort’s hatred of muggles, as well as half-bloods, as he himself is one. Tom eventually tracked down his maternal uncle Morfin Gaunt, stole his black family ring and murdered the Riddle family. In the flashback scene in which Dumbledore visits young Tom in the orphanage, a photograph on the wall of Tom's room depicts the seaside cliff to which Dumbledore and Harry travel later, in search of the third Horcrux. In the book, the cliff is a place where a young Tom once used magic to terrorize his fellow orphans while on a field trip. There are also seven rocks on the windowsill, which is the same number of Horcruxes that he created. Young Tom is shown two valuable trinkets from two of the Hogwarts founders, which would later become important to the plot. As an adult, Tom returns to Hogwarts to ask Dumbledore for a job as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but is denied. This is why the position is cursed and why the same teacher cannot be for more than a year. Instead the film adds a (in my opinion) pointless and out-of-nowhere scene of the Weasleys' house getting burned to the ground. The filmmakers said they wanted to add more action but trying to solve any mystery involving wizardry is just as compelling as any action scene. In the film, after Snape reveals himself as the Half Blood Prince, there is no further explanation. But in the book it is explained that Snape was half-blood and his mother's maiden name was Prince, hence where he got the name. Hermione actually figures this out. In the book there is a long fight sequence between The Order of the Phoenix members and students vs. Death Eaters. Ron's oldest brother Bill Weasley's face becomes disfigured after he is bitten by Fenrir Greyback (who bit Lupin), but thankfully it isn't a full moon so Bill doesn't become a werewolf. He and Fleur Delacour (from Beauxbatons who competed in the Triwizard Tournament) are engaged at this point. Another difference from the book is the Harry and Ginny relationship, which is honestly very poorly executed in the films. There is also NO chemistry between the actors whatsoever. Ginny's had a crush on Harry since forever but Harry has never shown any interest in her. While in the books, Harry has a huge crush on Ginny, which culminates in a passionate, surprising kiss after that year's Quidditch final, in front of everyone. They are in relationship throughout much of the book, but Harry breaks up with her for her safety. Dumbledore's funeral was cut from the film (which I initially was mad about, but the scene where everyone raises their wands is so beautiful) as well as all scenes with the Dursleys. During Professor Slughorn's Christmas party, Draco says "Take your hands off me, you filthy squibb" while being dragged into the room by Mr. Filch. A squib is a person born to magical parents but lacks any magical abilities themselves. Not mentioned in the films is that Harry gave the twins the 1000 galleons he earned from winning the Triwizard Tournament and that's how they paid for their shop. Harry also inherited Grimmauld Place and Kreacher after Sirius' death. This is Daniel Radcliffe's least favorite performance of his in the franchise, stating that he was not very good in it (in his opinion). He also revealed that he was struggling with alcohol at the time of filming and can tell in certain scenes that he was intoxicated (like in the scenes after Harry takes Felix Felicis).
Heida
2023-12-29 20:56:37 +0000 UTCSo many people miss this, Voldemort himself is half-blood as revealed in the second film and this film follows Harry and Dumbledore trying to find out the secret behind his immortality. So it's not like the title is completely irrelevant, it was just a misdirect and it ended up being Snape instead, but thematically the title still had some meaning. Also, it's a more low-key plot and less action (no dumbledore army training and big final battle, and no fourth film giant wizard tournament) but they found out Voldemort's secret so something did happen, again, just more lowkey than the previous two films which were more action packed.
Veya
2023-12-23 05:31:13 +0000 UTCLuna is a Ravenclaw but one of the great things about her is that she doesn't care what house her friends are in. She wore the lion to support her friends playing in the Quidditch game.
Melissa Young
2023-12-23 03:20:56 +0000 UTC
