'HARRY POTTER': IS THE SPARK GONE?

Category: Chronicle Archives Published on Monday, 27 July 2009 20:00 Written by Michigan Chronicle

By Erinn Williams

Recently, “Harry Potter” fans packed theaters in high anticipation of the film interpretation of the sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” There was great enthusiasm, especially with the debut of the film being pushed back eight months.

Though the highly-anticipated movie was three hours and less action-packed than the last five, this film seemed to also lose its sense of wizardry. With barely any epic wand or spell battles, the movie became a battle between human emotions of guilt and love. It is as though the wizards became muggle for the duration of the film.

The trio of Ron, Harry and Hermione, aside from their good looks, have become humdrum. The actors have lost the spark for playing these characters; the trio has become stagnant, while experts like Alan Rickman continue to send chills down the spine.

The film centers on adolescent love, and in spite of the non-action, the development of the relationships between the characters is interesting to watch. Ron and Hermione’s relationship remains the same, mingling on the borderline of hate and love. Harry and love interest Ginny share complications because of Harry’s battle against evil, but they are able to share a bit of affection in the midst of impending doom.

Harry being Harry, always inquisitive and brave, goes on a similar adventure of finding all the clues to figure out the great plot of Voldemort and coming closer to unlocking his own vague history. The movie follows the same schemes as usual, with constant bickering with sharp-tongued Snape, and a fatherly relationship with Dumbledore, who, as book fans know, comes to his demise.

David Yates, the director, keeps the film from being boring with comical shenanigans and a taste of action. However, the movie inexplicably
lacks excitement, but it still held the audience’s attention for three hours. The most interesting character of the entire film is Draco Malfoy, whose emotions or cowardice creep to the forefront, making for a dynamic character change.

The film’s cutting-edge cinematography and special effects make the movie oddly fast-paced, in a particularly drawn out, fluffed up film.

Even though the bombshell film may have dropped a dud, Potter supporters still flocked in millions to see the new film. It raked in $22.2 million in its midnight opening, and a combined $159.7 million in its five-day run, still coming in behind “Transformers: Rise of the Fallen.” The anti-climatic film brought upon a feeling of emptiness and confusion. Even the death of Dumbledore raised no hairs or brought no tears down the faces of the Potter enthusiasts. This is more of a romantic comedy compared to the wand-swinging, spell-casting exhilaration of the previous five.

Chalk up “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” as another one of the summer 2009 movies that misses the mark, such as “Wolverine,” “Transformers” and “Bruno.”