Review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) by Stefan G — 23 Aug 2013

I've got to say, the darker tone of this particular film is actually an improvement over the last film, but due to the over-dramatic nature of Harry and some of the other characters, I still feel that the Harry Potter film series is getting rather tired.

The story plays out just like the other Harry Potter films, slowly paced to the point of boredom. Despite how firmly established Dumbledore was, I wasn't saddened by his death, probably because it was hinted that it would happen at some point.

Besides, I at least understand the tangible impact of Dumbledore's death. The dark and gloomy atmosphere of the movie seems to seep into the film's overall style, as can seen with all the dark clouds and greyish set-pieces, and the action and special effects aren't too bad either, even if the film is loaded with special effects.

Overall, it does try to rise above its predecessors, but it's still the same Harry Potter experience, but with a sad ending.