The following post is my answer to the second question of this series: “What is your favorite Harry Potter film?”
2. What is your favorite film? Why?
This question makes me want to re-watch all of the movies for the millionth time to “research” my answer. (In fact, I did end up watching the last three the other day… they are so good.) It’s very difficult to choose a favorite, it would be like asking someone to choose their favorite piece in a jigsaw puzzle – they all have their own distinctions and fit together to form the story. But since I must choose, I am going with the film that might be overlooked: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”.
For some reason, the plot line of this book seems to escape me at times. I sort of have each book filed in my head by who the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is each year, and then I can remember the events of the story from there.
- Sorcerer’s Stone: Quirrell. Voldemort is a parasite on Quirrell’s head trying to steal the stone.
- Chamber of Secrets: Lockhart. He goes crazy from a backfiring memory charm in the chamber of secrets, Harry destroys Riddle’s diary, Ginny was possessed by Voldemort.
- Prisoner of Azkaban: Lupin. The marauders are introduced, Sirius escapes from prison, everyone thinks he’s after Harry.
- Goblet of Fire: Barty Crouch Jr. impersonates Moody. He puts Harry’s name in the goblet, Harry has to compete in the Triwizard Tournament.
- Order of the Phoenix: Umbridge. She is pure evil, she blocks all communications in and out of Hogwarts, Harry has visions that Sirius is being tortured but can’t communicate with him to check on him, he and his friends try to save him in the department of mysteries, Sirius dies.
- Deathly Hallows: Carrow. Harry is not at Hogwarts.
But when I try to think of who it is in book six I draw a blank for a second before remembering it is Snape! Then the story comes flooding back to me: “Oh, right! Slughorn comes in as the Potions professor, Harry finds the half-blood prince’s old Potions book and saves Ron from being poisoned, Draco is the one who put the poison there because he’s trying to kill Dumbledore… and Snape kills Dumbledore.” (I told you there would be spoilers!)
Once I remember what this book was about, I remember that I loved the movie! I particularly love Professor Slughorn (played by Jim Broadbent). Some people may not like Slughorn because he can be a bit of a name dropper and people might be put off by his lavish lifestyle and his obsession with networking with successful witches and wizards. This ambition is what makes him a Slytherin! He is an example that shows not all Slytherins are evil. Even though he is the one who told Tom Riddle information about the dark magic involving Horcruxes, I don’t believe he did it with evil intentions. I just think Slughorn can be a bit naive, and Voldemort was well-known for being persuasive.
“Of course,” he muttered, “this is all hypothetical, what we’re discussing, isn’t it? All academic…”
“Yes, sir, of course,” said Riddle quickly. – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, chapter 23
My favorite scene in the movie is when Harry drinks the Felix Felicis in order to get Slughorn to give him the untampered memory and find out what information Slughorn gave Tom Riddle all those years ago. It makes me laugh out loud! The way Harry speaks while “under the influence” of the liquid luck potion is so confident and sassy that it lightens a moment where the stakes are fairly high. The “Harry!” “Sir!” part makes me laugh so hard! Watch it here if you don’t know what I’m talking about. I also love the part about the pincers; the whole scene is just great.
What I appreciate most is that this movie provides several moments of comedy within a heavily depressing story line. This story follows the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, so security at the school has been increased. But when the tall, wrought-iron gates close and Professor Flitwick casts the protective enchantments, you can see a fly run into the invisible shield and dissolve. Another example of this balance is what Ron says after he’s been drugged by a strong love potion and then a minute later saved after drinking poisoned mead,
“These girls. They’re gonna kill me.” – Ron Weasley, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
The comedic timing is perfect throughout this movie, which makes it stand out to me. I admit that I enjoy watching the final four movies better than the first four, but I truly love them all!
Which of the Harry Potter films is your favorite? Leave a comment!
Thanks for reading!
-Rebecca
I adapted this questionnaire from Over the Moony.
1. What is your favorite book? Why?
2. What is your favorite film? Why?
3. What is your least favorite book? Why?
4. What is your least favorite film? Why?
5. Who is your favorite character? Why?
6. Who is your least favorite character? Why?
7. What would your patronus be?
8. Which of the Deathly Hallows would you choose?
9. Which house would you be in?
10. If you could meet any member of the cast, who would it be?
11. If you were on the Quidditch team, which position would you play?
12. Were you happy with the ending?
13. How much does Harry Potter mean to you?
Flourish & Blogs 