Potternama

Dear Mr. David Yates,

Having watched the earlier Potter movies and my general distaste for movies based on books (Angels and Demons, Da Vinci Code – you know the type) it was with a sense of great trepidation that I entered the cinema hall to watch the Half Blood Prince. But then, when the request to see the movie comes from your 9 year old brother, you really don’t have a choice, do you?

The 1^st 10 minutes – immobile pictures in the Daily Prophet (!!), Dumbeldore arriving unannounced on the platform, Harry seeming just a wee bit reluctant to go along with Dumbeldore – reconfirmed my fears. There it goes again, I thought. Why cant the makers just stick to the book!! But, moving on, I was in for a pleasant surprise. The book has been followed more or less (elaborated below), some parts edited out do not add much to the narrative, new characters played their parts well and the movie was sufficiently dark to act as a good prelude to the grand finale. The narrative was good enough to be followed by those who haven’t read the book yet. Why, even my brother exclaimed that he finally understood Draco’s mission was to kill Dumbeldore after pestering me through out the movie to spill the big secret (and no…I didn’t give him a single clue!). So kudos for that.

Let us now come to the ‘more or less’ bit mentioned above.

1. Harry taken to Slughorn’s place to convince him to take up the teaching job at Hogwarts. Unlike the book, here, Slughorn didn’t need any convincing from Harry at all and readily agreed just as Dumbeldore started to leave. So apart from seeing Slughorn emerge out after masquerading as an arm chair, there wasn’t any thing else in that scene.

2. Molly (along with Ginny, Ron, Hermione) being completely clueless that Harry was coming over to the Burrow. Dumdeldore had gone to the Privet Drive precisely for that reason – escort Potter to the Burrow safely for his remaining holidays (of course with a detour to Slughorn’s place)!

3. Draco entering Bogin & Burkes with the trio (Harry, Ron & Hermione) following them. At one point, they climbed over a roof to see what Malfoy was up to. Climbing??? They are wizards for chrissake! And whatever happened to the Extendable Ears invented by Fred and George especially when their shop at Diagon Alley was showcased in full glory 2 scenes before!

4. Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback attacking the Burrow with Harry, Ginny, Lupin, Tonks and Mr. Weasley rushing outside. After that, the Burrow was set ablaze. The Burrow along with the Privet Drive was placed under the strongest possible protection by the members of the Order. So, this scene was nothing but pure fabrication. Did we really run out of scenes that you had to resort to this kind of ‘creativity’ L

5. Ginny taking Harry to the Room of Requirement (RoR) to hide the Half Blood Prince’s Potions book. The RoR was discovered by Harry and utilized time and again before this (DA classes being just one example). Pls give Ginny and Potter more credit than that! Her fiery temper, quick wit, quidditch talent have been completely discounted.

6. Towards the end, Harry waiting silently while he sees Dumdeldore being surrounded by Draco and other Death Eaters. In walks Snape, gestures Harry to be quiet, moves up and finally kills Dumbeldore. Atrocious! Harry would rather die than follow any instruction from Snape especially when Dumbeldore is sick, unarmed and surrounded. In the book, he had been immobilized by Dumbeldore by a freezing charm (a non verbal spell) and hence was unable to move – unlike what has been shown in the movie. And I am not even mentioning the complete absence of the DA members in the last fight…!

Modify these and you have an amazing movie adapted from a book…still, not discounting that this movie is a good one.

No hint of romance between Lupin & Tonks and Bill & Fleur is enough for me to pre-empt which parts are definitely going to be chopped / not shot at all in the Deathly Hallows. Nonetheless, here’s hoping for the grandest and the best of all for the finale – the Deathly Hallows..!

Regards,

A Potter Fan