My Review of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

[Jen Reese]

Montavilla47:
> But in the film, there's practically no tension at all in the scene-> - although there's a bit of tension between Draco and Dumbledore.  > I didn't get the sense that Snape was making a difficult decision,
> or any kind of a decision at all.  
> 
> I didn't feel that Dumbledore *needed* help at that point, either. 
> So, if he didn't want Snape to kill him, he'd have snapped his 
> fingers or called Fawkes or something.  He didn't seem weak, as he 
> had in the book, and which made Snape's action seem all the more 
> terrible.

Jen: I left the movie puzzled by the death scene because it felt off.  Dumbledore not appearing sick or frail was a big negative fo the dramatic tension.  Snape's lack of anguish/hatred right before the AK was also a letdown for the final moment.  Then DD said his please like 'pass the salt, Severus' - no begging, no possibility of doubt in Snape.  

One minor niggling point was also Dumbledore using the term 'assasain' rather than 'killer' when he addressed Draco.  It was such a small thing yet it took away from the moment for me.  I started thinking James Bond or hired hit men rather than a young boy/man making the most pivotal decision of his life.  

Anyway, I liked big chunks of the movie, particular Felton's acting and Broadbent's portrayl of Slughorn as a little more anguished and a little less bon vivant than in the book.  What was missing was feeling totally entranced by the movie as I've felt during the other ones.  Maybe it's because I know the ending now?  Not sure.  

I'll still see it again!

Jen