Before reading this discussion post, check out our review of the film.

Warning: Spoilers ahead. Avoid if you haven’t watched and don’t want to get spoiled!

SPOILER ALERT!!!

So what did I like and not like about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?

I LIKED:

• The visuals. I can’t get enough of them!

• The opening montage. It served as a quick reminder of what happend in the last film, and showed how things have changed.

• The humor. It was actually funny! Helped keep the long running time in check - I can’t stand to re-watch the entire Order of the Phoenix, but I daresay I’ll be able to re-watch this one.

• The amazing Quidditch scenes! Instead of showing just some random flying and Harry catching the Snitch, the filmmakers were able to add little stuff like plays being run by the teams, and how the Keeper actually saves goals. It helps that Rupert Grint aces Ron Weasley!

• Weasleys Wizard Wheezes! Fred and George’s joke shop just came to life, and was much more amazing than I had ever imagined it in my head.

• The inferi/island scene was also great - it wasn’t as laborious as I thought it would be (that part was just messy in the books, imo. I want to skip through that whever I re-read).

The film excellently portrays Harry and Draco's parallel journeys as the "Chosen Ones" for their respective factions.

• Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, and all of Draco’s scenes. Felton nailed his role. And I liked how they showed the gradual progression of Draco, and the way the stress built up. Makes you feel for him a lot more.

• All the new scenes not in the book. Especially the Death Eater attack on The Burrow! Although, they didn’t really resolve what happened after that one.

• The dynamic between Ron and Hermione. Much more obvious, but also much better. Ron is just plain dense haha!

• Ginny Weasley (played by Bonnie Wright) wasn’t actually too bad in the film. I like that she was given more screen time, especially on the attack on the Burrow, and how her romance with Harry was built up throughout the film.

• Tonks! She was rocking a new ‘do, and it lacked color, but heck, she’s my favorite supporting character!

Tonks in the middle, flanked by Harry and Lupin.

• BELLATRIX LESTRANGE. I loved how she was jumping happily around after setting fire to Hagrid’s hut! And she messed up the Great Hall bad.

• No Battle of Hogwarts when Harry and Dumbledore return from the cave. Dumbledore’s “stay below” line was kind of lame, but Snape appearing with a finger to his lips at Harry was just priceless. Just in time, eh?

• Emma Watson.

I DISLIKED:

• How little time they actually devoted to discussing The Half-Blood Prince. Because he’s like, oh, I don’t know, IN THE TITLE OF THE FILM. I know that he basically serves as a distraction, but c’mon, I didn’t feel Harry being affected too much by Snape’s revelation at the end.

• Not enough exposure for Luna Lovegood. She replaced the role Tonks played in rescuing Harry at the beginning, but then, SHE REPLACED TONKS. That shouldn’t count as extra exposure.

• Not enough time to discuss Voldemort’s past. I would have wanted to see the Gaunts and Riddles, but oh well. Overall, they were still able to paint a decent picture of the Dark Lord’s past.

• No green glow during the cave/island scene. Although that’s just really very minor too.

• Lacking a key line: Dumbledore’s line in the book, “But I am with you, Harry” was one of the best he delivered. I didn’t notice it in the film though.

• No Battle of Hogwarts when Harry and Dumbledore return from the cave. But only because I like seeing shiny explosions. Truth be told, lacking the battle wasn’t that bad. Just wish they could have shown the other kids fighting alongside the teachers, cause that would have been cool, and give us a glimpse at how they are growing. No scarred Bill either - does this mean he and Fleur aren’t showing up for the last chapters?

• No “Dumbledore’s funeral” scene. But this is really the most minor of my gripes - personally, I thought that scene was too drawn out in the book, I’m sorry. I know a lot loved that scene and complained why it wasn’t here, but that wand tribute at the end meets my expectations. Besides, maybe they were saving it for the next film, eh? Just hope that Yates will indulge those fans who wanted that scene.

• Not enough Emma Watson!
  I keed, I keed.
  

  Emma Watson!

Also check out io9’s review of Half-Blood Prince, and some sympathy to those who aren’t satisfied with the ending.

When you’re done with that, take some time to check out A Very Potter Musical. Their videos are up on YouTube, and those are some really, really great stuff. TOTALLY AWESOME!