My review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[Carol]

Jamieson wrote:
> 
<snip>
> And the performances in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were incredible. Watson, Radcliffe and Grint are developing into incredible actors with great comedic and dramatic timing. Most notable, however, are Michael Gambon as Dumbledore and Alan Rickamn as Snape.
> 
> Both actors are downplaying their characters this time around, giving us more subtle, quiet performances that are incredibly powerful because of their quietness. Rickman as Serverus Snape is not as angry this time around but no less evil. Dumbledore is far more grim and serious and we can see the weight of the world on his shoulders. <snip>

Carol responds:

You say that you've read the books. If that doesn't include DH, please don't read on. (I disagree that HBP is clunky, but I'm sure it's a matter of taste.)

Anyway . . . .

Snape "evil"? Have you forgotten that both book and movie Snape saved Harry from Quirrell in SS/PS and that movie Snape protected HRH from the transformed Lupin (Book Snape conjured stretchers to get them off the grounds) in PoA?

Now, granted, *Harry* thinks that Snape is evil, especially after overhearing his conversation with Draco (who is also supposed to think that Snape is in league with the Death Eaters), but Snape (in the books and in the films I've seen so far, 1-5) is depicted as sinister and sarcastic but at the same time ambiguous and mysterious. And, of course, filmgoers who haven't read the books are supposed to *think* he's evil (even to putting him in the starring role in posters of the bad guys), but unless the film fails entirely as a precursor to DH Part 2, there must be some hints that he's not what he seems to be and that both Harry and Draco (not to mention Narcissa and Voldemort) are mistaken as to where his loyalties lie.

Aside from saving Draco and (apparently) removing the curse from the opal necklace, are there any hints that Dumbledore might be right in trusting Snape?

Carol, assuming that many film viewers have not read DH and will need some sort of hint to prepare them for the revelations in "The Prince's Tale" portion of DH2