JBFabrications.com

The latest installment in the world of Hogwarts and the adventures of Harry Potter is a much more successful and enjoyable film than that of David Yates’ previous attempt with The Order of the Phoenix.  When I first saw The Order of the Phoenix in theaters, I was originally unimpressed with where the franchise was going.  I felt that David Yates was a very competent story teller, but the first time through, The Order of the Phoenix just felt boring to me, despite having some very visually spectacular and exciting scenes.  Upon a second viewing, I began to appreciate the film more and more for it’s sociopolitical commentaries, and success in conveying the very deep and isolated feelings that Harry was experiencing.  Unfortunately, upon a third viewing, I was back to square one with the novelty and appreciation for making something more out of the Harry Potter franchise, completely wearing off.  Which leads me to The Half Blood Prince.

I had hoped for more from Yates in his second time around with the characters and this world, and thankfully, he did not disappoint.  Right from the start, one of the things I appreciated most about The Half Blood Prince, was how it starts off by calling back to one of the ending scenes from The Order of the Phoenix and really establishing a continuation of tone by allowing this connective tissue between the films to exist.  The earlier films all feel very separate from one another, with only slight references to the previous films through the sparse use of certain items that Harry has acquired along the way.  Thankfully, The Half Blood Prince takes those items, and really brings them back to the forefront to remind the audience of just where Harry has been and all the things that he has gone through in the past years.

One of the best things from the film surprisingly, was the performances.  Yates pulls out some really terrific moments from his actors which at times adds a surprising amount of realism and depth to the characters that is often overshadowed in the previous films by the need to make things dark.  It’s one thing to allow a character to seem angry on screen, but that’s often the extent of it.  This film however, lets the characters really struggle with the choices they are making, and it’s exciting to actually see how these actors and characters have matured into sometimes very complex individuals.  On the other hand, some scenes fell very flat and the emotional responses to the situations just felt way too rushed and not given nearly the credit they deserve… but that has been a norm throughout the entire franchise.  If you want incredibly deep and nuanced characters who respond to each situation and circumstance perfectly and with sincere depth, go watch There Will Be Blood.  This is Harry Potter.  This is a world of spectacle and wonder and we should be fortunate to have moments that take the filmmaking above the typical level of the genre.

Now that only one book and two films remain, I’m very glad to know that David Yates will be finishing the series.  He has certainly paved the way for some great adventure and excitement as the series comes to a close, and I can’t wait to find out the fate of Harry Potter.

Rating: