Overall I really liked it. I didn't like the bit they added at the Weasley's house. There's so much they left out, why add something that's not in the books? I didn't mind the changes in the cave or at the end though. The books are better, but the movie did a good job.

I agree that Broadbent was excellent as Slughorn.

I can't wait for the conclusion/s now!

John wrote: "And yes, two movies for book seven. I think I heard that the first one is due out in November 2010 and then July 2011 for the second, but who knows whether they'll be able to stick to that schedule."

Info for those interested -

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Harry_...(film)

I saw and loved the movie! I'm agreed with a number of the comments here regarding the fact that you can only get so much into a movie - 9 out of 10 times the book will better than the movie because there is so much freedom on the page. Films are very limited in scope and time as compared to books. Considering how much had to be cut from the latter HP books, I think they have done a very good job capturing the essence of storyline.

I consider a film like HP and the Half Blood Prince to be a companion work to the book. I don’t think you can fully enjoy the films if you haven’t read the books - same with LOTR. Once you’ve read the books your understanding and enjoyment of the films is exponentially increased as well as your emotional involvement.

I did appreciate how some of the scenes – in particular the cave scene and Dumbledore scene – were softened. I think it makes the film available to a larger audience. Often scenes can go from intense to downright graphic in the transition from book to film.

I loved Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn and thought he brought a lot to the role. I found myself having much more empathy for Slughorn in the film than I did in the book. Also, Malfoy’s inner conflict was very powerful on film. Finally, I found the scene between Dumbledore, Snape and Potter to be extremely well done and moving. The setting, while altered from the book, was very appropriate and worked well visually.

I'm surprised, Jon. I loved the books. Have you tried the audio books? Jim Dale did a wonderful job with them.

I also saw this yesterday with my daughter (who has read all the books). I have not read the books and my daughter, being her normal contrary self, refuses to answer my questions. Her "no comment" to my question is "read the books" yet I've tried. I can't stand Rowling's prose.

This was an "okay" movie but reminded me of the funk a second book of a trilogy sometimes leaves me in; similar to "Empire Strikes Back" if you get my drift. I know it's the sixth book of seven, but it definitely felt like the darkest hour before the dawn with little or no hope for the dawn. Depressing.

I did "cave in" to my daughter's demands to "read the books" by reserving the first three as audio books at my local library. Perhaps I can survive "reading" them if someone else reads Rowling's prose to me.

I saw it yesterday with my sister, and we both agree that this installment is better than Order of the Phoenix. Considering how much of the book had to be left out, I think the screenwriter(s) did a decent job of it.

I do wish there'd been time to do the scenes with Tom Riddle's mother and grandfather. I found those especially harrowing in the book. Also, I agree with a previous post about the cave scene being far less traumatic in the movie. I disagree with that decision, as pulling that punch took a lot of the emotional impact out of the scene and did not serve the movie well.

All in all, a good effort.

John,
My mother shares your view of book-to-movie transfers. She believes the collected works of Dumas are particularly ripe for the Hollywood treatment.

Unlike the previous Harry Potter books, I felt like this one did not work very well s a movie. I saw it yesterday, and it had been awhile since I read the book.

My problem with this as an individual movie is that it had no specific conflict - and hence, no real resolution. I just felt like it was a bunch of slightly connected scenes from Harry's life.

I was a little bored in parts. And I was wondering - if this movie was my first exposure to the world of Harry Potter, what would I think?

I did enjoy the movie, probably because of my prior emotional investment in the story and the characters.
It just made me yearn for the good old days of the miniseries - like the Thornbirds, North and South, V, etc. I think a longer story with more nuance is better shown in that format.

I heard an author say once that a screenplay is roughly a 120-page novel. Any movie adaptation is going to leave a lot out. It's fairly amazing that any movie made from a book is ever any good--unless the author was overly verbose in the first place!

On balance, I was film was pretty well done--but I'll take the book any day.

And yes, two movies for book seven. I think I heard that the first one is due out in November 2010 and then July 2011 for the second, but who knows whether they'll be able to stick to that schedule.

I saw it and I thought it was really good over all. Of course it's missing more than half of the storyline from the book. For example, No mention of the Order or any of the activities that they are doing behind the scenes. There's all of ten seconds where they elude to the fact that some of the other students don't agree that Harry is the chosen one. No talk at all about how the wizarding community is split between belief that Voldemort is back, etc. But the parts that they did include they did well! I guess they are saving the rest of the plot for the last movie, or movies?? (Are they making 2 movies for book seven?)

Sarah Pi wrote: "The tragedy was definitely softened, as was the the personal horror of the cave scene, which had less human suffering, more monsters. I thought the book was far more compelling in both of those instances."

I haven't seen it yet, but I agree with you. :)

The tragedy was definitely softened, as was the the personal horror of the cave scene, which had less human suffering, more monsters. I thought the book was far more compelling in both of those instances.

Thomas wrote: "A friend tells me that the movie improved upon some incidents contained in the book. Supposedly the tragedy is well-tempered. "

Well-tempered? As in softened? Because that's what I've heard. I don't think that improves anything contained in the book.

Did your friend give you specifics about what they thought was improved?

A friend tells me that the movie improved upon some incidents contained in the book. Supposedly the tragedy is well-tempered.

Sigh, I'll have to await the DVD.

Catherine wrote: "I promised a friend I'd go with her to celebrate my birthday on Saturday, but now I want to sneak out and watch it tonight. Oy, what to do?"

Watch it twice. ;)

I promised a friend I'd go with her to celebrate my birthday on Saturday, but now I want to sneak out and watch it tonight. Oy, what to do?

Going tomorrow with my kids...and probably a couple of times over the weekend.

Lady Ellen
Author
The Persephane Pendrake Chronicles

Going in a few minutes

Ed Patterson

GOing tonight - can't wait!

Anybody else see it yet?