Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Single-Disc Full Screen Edition)
by David Yates
List Price:
Our Price: $3.77
You Save: $11.21 (75%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.94 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Daniel Radcliffe, Elarica Gallacher, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent, Rupert GrintDirector: David Yates
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Bruno Delbonnel
Producer: David Barron
Producer: David Heyman
Producer: Lionel Wigram
Producer: Tim Lewis
Writer: J.K. Rowling
Writer: Steve Kloves
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 153 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-12-08
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Single-Disc Full Screen Edition)
DVD Review: Better after a second viewing.
Summary: 4 Stars
I've reserved my review of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince until now for several reasons. I learned my lesson after first hating the Prisoner of Azkaban and then realizing it was the best of the Potter movie series after seeing it the second time. After three viewings of HFP, I still have some major issues with the altering of the plot but have discovered that it isn't as bad as I first thought when coming out of the movie theater.
Like most Potter fans who have read all the books, I sorely miss the subplots involving Fleur, Bill and Charlie, Tonks and Lupin. I hate that Tonks wasn't the one to rescue Harry from the train. I balked at the horrible destruction of the burrows. I really wanted to see more Alan Rickman--you can never get enough of Alan Rickman. I wished for more of Maggie Smith, but after realizing her battle with cancer during the filming, I give her props for her courage in going ahead. Ms. Smith is a giant among actresses with a wonderful list of great films to her credit, but she will always be the one and only Professor McGonagall in my mind and no replacement would be possible.
My greatest beef was the anticlimactic ending--in the book, the fight going on with the death eaters and the Army of Dumbledore, along with death of Dumbledore was much more exciting and emotionally moving. I sorely missed the grandeur of Dumbledore's funeral--which truly illustrated Dumbledore's greatness and how much he was loved by all creatures. This was the biggest problem of all, along with the poor musical score (a sad rehashing of the last movie bits along with some forgettable fillers). Please, oh please, pay John Williams anything he wants--beg him if you have to--to write the score for final two movies!
However, after my third time viewing the movie, I have to admit that the acting was better than ever, the dialogue was great, the chemistry between the actors has matured and solidified delightfully, the actor for Professor Slughorn was superior even to the character in the book, and Michael Gambon has finally filled the great shoes of Richard Harris. The actors were the best part of the movie--perfect casting!
I give this movie three out of four stars after giving it a real chance and trying to overcome my personal objections to the huge changes from the book (which was simply amazing). I'm sure in time many Potter fans who were disappointed with this chapter in the series will forgive these mistakes and accept it as it is--a valuable part of the Harry Potter series.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Description of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Single-Disc Full Screen Edition)
Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort?s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Even as the decisive showdown looms, romance blossoms for Harry, Ron, Hermione and their classmates. Love is in the air, but danger lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same.The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series begins right where The Order of the Phoenix left off. The wizarding world is rocked by the news that "He Who Must Not Be Named" has truly returned, and the audience finally knows that Harry is "the Chosen One"--the only wizard who can defeat Lord Voldemort in the end. Dark forces loom around every corner, and now regularly attempt to penetrate the protected walls of Hogwarts School. This is no longer the fun and fascinating world of magic from the first few books?it's dark, dangerous, and scary.
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) suspects Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to be a new Death Eater recruit on a special mission for the Dark Lord. In the meantime, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) seems to have finally removed the shroud of secrecy from Harry about the dark path that lies ahead, and instead provides private lessons to get him prepared. It's in these intriguing scenes that the dark past of Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Voldemort) is finally revealed. The actors cast as the different young versions of Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillane) do an eerily fantastic job of portraying the villain as a child. While the previous movies' many new characters could be slightly overwhelming, only one new key character is introduced this time: Professor Horace Slughorn (with a spot-on performance by Jim Broadbent). Within his mind he holds a key secret in the battle to defeat the Dark Lord, and Harry is tasked by Dumbledore to uncover a memory about Voldemort's darkest weapon--the Horcrux. Despite the long list of distractions, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) still try to focus on being teenagers, and audiences will enjoy the budding awkward romances. All of the actors have developed nicely, giving their most convincing performances to date.
More dramatic and significant things go down in this movie than any of its predecessors, and the stakes are higher than ever. The creators have been tasked with a practically impossible challenge, as fans of the beloved J.K. Rowling book series desperately want the movies to capture the magic of the books as closely as possible. Alas, the point at which one accepts that these two mediums are very different is the point at which one can truly enjoy these brilliant adaptations. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is no exception: it may be the best film yet. For those who have not read the book, nail-biting entertainment is guaranteed. For those who have, the movie does it justice. The key dramatic scenes, including the cave and the shocking twist in the final chapter, are executed very well. It does a perfect job of setting up the two-part grand finale that is to follow. --Jordan Thompson
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Two-Disc Widescreen Theatrical Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2004-05-25; DVD
Best price: $2.80
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Three-Disc Ultimate Edition)Harry Potter; Release date: 2011-06-14; DVD
Best price: $22.00
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter Years 1-5 Limited Edition Gift SetWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-12-11; DVD
Best price: $23.81
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-12-11; DVD
Best price: $4.88
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-12-11; DVD
Best price: $4.14
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)Harry Potter; Release date: 2007-12-11; DVD
Best price: $4.20
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Single-Disc Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-03-07; DVD
Best price: $3.94
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Widescreen Edition)Harry Potter; Release date: 2007-12-11; DVD
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1Harry Potter; Release date: 2011-04-15; DVD
Best price: $5.09
Price in other shops:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (+ UltraViolet Digital Copy)Warner; Release date: 2011-11-11; DVD
Best price: $9.02
Price in other shops: