music reviews, with the occasional book and film reviews

Well, before I start my review on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I have to say Evanna Lynch and Tom Felton are total hawtness. They are the two characters I really like in the books, apart from the Golden Trio of course. Though, don’t you think these two characters have much more draw to them? (:

Right, spoilers ahead. So read this only after you finished the movie. XD

Blaise Zabini appeared in the show. I was expecting a more … Italian feel to the Slytherin boy. You know, long, dark hair which covered one eye … haha.

I believe the girl beside Blaise on the train, was Pansy Parkinson? Correct me if I’m wrong. Well, if so, I thought Genevieve Gaunt was more of a Pansy than this girl now.

If Lavender irks you in the book, this Lavender played by Jessie Cave will give you that EXACT same feeling. She irritates me, so I think I should give her a thumbs-up for her performance.

Luna Lovegood will have a slightly bigger role in the Deathly Hallows, although she had been given more exposure this time, considering she ‘saved’ Harry during the scene in the Hogwarts Express. (You can read all about the differences between the book and the film here on Wikipedia.) I thought her part was slightly downplayed. Well, I certainly hope they don’t take away the part where she, Dean and Seamus conjured their Patrous charm in Deathly Hallows. That’s a very important part.

Tom Felton made Draco Malfoy a little more humane than the book, I supposed. You know Draco doesn’t want to kill, when he sobs in the toilet before Harry starts hexing him. And the time when he faltered, when his eyes showed hesitation, and he ended up not killing the Headmaster … well, it certainly made the scene in the Astronomy Tower more life-like than the book for one. It made Draco Malfoy looked defeated and well, human; that he wasn’t able to kill, that he’s still got a heart. After all, I’ve always thought of Draco Malfoy as a misunderstood child and a child who was brought up with the wrong beliefs.

The brother-sister feeling when Hermione Granger and Harry Potter comforted one another after the poor girl witnessed Lavender kissed Ronald Weasley was warm and fuzzy, as of all the other brother-sister affection they shared throughout the entire film.

The look in Julie Walters (the actress who portrayed Molly Weasley)’ eyes when the Burrow was destroyed by Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback was heartwrenching. I thought that she did a great job though she only had a considerable small role this time, but the close-up shot of her face when her home was wrecked took my breath away.

Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy was enchanting. Hm, how should I put it? She’s pretty in her own way, but I had expected her hair to be down, combed straight. But they showed her in a scene where she was worried for her son, so I guess the cool demeanour she should have shouldn’t be there too. I first saw her as a photo, pictured with Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter doing the UnBreakable Vow. I thought she was pretty.

Of course, when we speak of Death Eaters, how can we forget the right-hand man (or woman, in this case) of Voldemort? When Helena Bonham Carter first portrayed Bellatrix Lestrange in the Order of the Phoenix, all we saw was a crazy Death Eater screaming behind bars. Quite a short scene. Well, she’s definitely as crazy as the book’s Bellatrix should be. I thought she was sinister and gorgeous. There’s something about her being evil and it’s sexy. (and before anyone goes crazy, I’m a girl. XD)

The nephew of Ralph Fiennes (the person who played Voldemort), Hero Fiennes-Tiffin played a very dark, young child. Minus away the likeness, I thought this kid was awesome when I saw the photos before the trailer. When I heard the way he spoke in the trailer, I thought, "Definitely a Voldemort in years to come". XD The kid has this aura surrounding him which screamed ‘Dark Wizard’.

Tom Riddle was a charming young man. That was pretty much established from the Chamber of Secrets. I thought the 16-year old Tom Riddle acted by 20-year old Frank Dillane was attractive and charming, definitely very slick with his words.

Obviously I saved the best for the last. My favourite character out of the entire film this time was Ron Weasley.

I thought Rupert Grint did a very good job. And should anyone notice, the funny parts are usually Ron’s parts. Rupert Grint was very ‘lovestruck’ and that puppy look on his face is precious. XD You have to watch for yourself if you want to really understand what I mean, and basically because I cannot put into words how utterly funny the boy is.

I guess, that is all of my review. I’m looking really forward to the Deathly Hallows and is very glad they’re cutting up into two parts because it is too good a book to leave out anything; which simply means I hope less things are cut and more things are left untouched.

Overall, it’s a 4-star film for me (though secretly, I would give it a 5 myself). The effects are gorgeous and cool, especially the destruction of the Muggle bridge (although I thought it was a little over-hyped after watching it myself). Top 3 characters who left me impressions in this film are 1) Ron Weasley, 2) Bellatrix Lestrange and 3) Draco Malfoy. And yes, in this particular order.

If there’s a chance, I would like to watch it one more time before watching Deathly Hallows. It’s going to be a long year. XD