Bursted bubble - HP and HBP

I have been wanting to write my review of HBP for a long time, its been more than couple of weeks since the movie released in India. I withheld for so long because my instant reaction to the movie was so negative that I was not able to write composed and objective review. Now, I guess, I have come to terms and can probably write an ‘emotionally detached’ review.

My love affair with HP started much late. Last October, I read the entire series and then re-read it and re-read it. HP & HBP was the first movie I saw after having read the books. Of course, my expectations were high and I felt they were justified too. And even by applying most objective standards, I felt the movie falls short on every parameter.

The screenplay is very very poor. The romance seems to be the prime theme in the movie. Actually this book brings forth Voldemort’s character live for us. Also the whole thing about Horcrux. But the movie barely touches upon any of this. The editing throughout is so poor that the movie looks disjoint as if one scene has no relation with the next one. The movie leaves out very important things from the book which has correlation with the last book or which are very important to create an impact. For eg. Dumbledore’s death is the highlight of this book. The movie big-time tampers with original story and make a complete mockery of that scene. (As per the original plot Harry was under the invisibility cloak and was magically stunned by Dumbledore; that’s why no matter how desparately he wished, he could not do anything to save D’dore. In the movie Harry was hiding below the staircase to avoid being seen by any death eaters, this is so so so contradictory to Harry’s character). The battle that entire Hogwarts puts against death eaters is completely omitted. I wonder if one can alter/tamper the original plot so much. Some important characters like Luna, Genie, Longbottom are portrayed like ‘extras’. On the acting front, except Draco and Horace Slughorn (to some extent) everyone is disappointing. Hermoine looks pretty but Ron looks disproportionately grown-up (though nothing can be done about it, I agree) Daniel Radcliff acts average, nothing great. Rather in one scene where he drinks Felix Felicis (Luck potion) director has made him act like an excited clown (I think, I am being over-critical here) which is completely unnecessary.

Now to be fair, there are some good points too which deserve to be mentioned. The beginning of the movie is thrilling. The muggle attacks by death eaters are shown very well. The scene where D’dore and Harry land on the rock to find the horucrux is great. That place is pretty close to how I had imagined. Young Voldemort is pretty impressive, he actually looks stonefaced. Draco Molfoy had an important role in this plot, both the director and Tom Felton (the actor) has done the complete justice.

Overall, the movie is a big washout. As my dear B-I-L ‘K’ puts it , the director has not got the spirit of the book. I second that. I think he has treated this movie like a fantasy movie with lot of action and thrills (and he does a good job at showing action ). What he hasn’t got is the context of the book. The movie is not about magic but its about the people. Each of them have a strong and unique character (JKR has done a splendid job there) which never comes out in the movie. They all appear to be like puppets hanging from nowhere.

Once again the age-old hypothesis is proven – “The pen is mightier than the camera”.