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May 18, 2024, 04:40:16 AM  | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009/United Kingdom) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer |
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Stars:
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
Michael Gambon as Professor Albus Dumbledore
Dave Legeno as Fenrir Greyback
Elarica Gallacher as Waitress
Jim Broadbent as Professor Horace Slughorn
Geraldine Somerville as Lily Potter
Plot:
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 Voldemorts defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, Harry discovers an old book marked mysteriously "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.
Extras:
- Scene Access
- Bonus Trailers
- Deleted Scenes
- Featurettes
- Interviews
- Picture-in-picture
- BD-Live
- Digital Copy
- Maximum Movie Mode
My Thoughts:
I just got this one in a DVD/Blu-ray combo this past month. Which is one of the reasons I started to watch the series this weekend. As I was looking forward to watching one on Blu-ray and knew I had to watch these in order. I can't say this one is a favorite compared to the rest of the series... but it is enjoyable. It is worth the time you put in to watch it. I would say if you are a fan of the earlier films you will want to see this one too. I can't comment on how it compares to the book as I never read any of the books.Unfortunately this is the last Harry Potter film I have in my collection. I still need to get the final two parts to complete my collection. Hopefully I will be able to do that before too long.
My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5
Out of a Possible 5
(From What Movies I Been Watching on August 4th, 2013)
Member's Reviews
Dog Soldiers, a review by Jon
Dog Soldiers
4 out of 5
Soldiers on an exercise in Scotland come up against werewolves...
This is a great debut from director Neil Marshall, working from his own superb screenplay that turns unavoidable weaknesses (namely the budget) into strengths. He knows exactly what he can get away with and brings the audience in on the joke. We're scared when we should be scared and laugh when we should too.
The story takes its lead from Predator, with soldiers banter giving way to a mad dash for safety when they're attacked by werewolves, and it becomes more akin to Night of the Living Dead once the survivors are in a deserted farmhouse, complete with suicide missions and the wounded turning into the creatures. The script balances the jokes, the gore and the scares without any awkwardness. Not long into the film there's a Predator camp-fire moment that easily qualifies for all three! A fine cast led by Sean Pertwee and Kevin McKidd find their jobs all the easier for the solid writing. The film relies on McKidd as Cooper, but most of the best lines go to Pertwee's memorable Sergeant. Everyone finds just the right tone, even for some corny jokes ("there is no spoon!").
But good writing and acting aren't enough in a horror film; we need action and gore as well! Marshall does well to disguise his men-in-suit effects, using editing and shadows to create old fashioned scares and proving that CGI is often a crutch for lazy film-makers. There's only a couple of cheap moments and they are normally supported by a well placed scare, like the unfortunate soldier who becomes a kebab or Pertwee's hilarious gut-problems! Within the farmhouse, the creatures stand a few close-ups and some of the imagery is fantastic, especially the moment in a garage.
It really only stumbles in the final act. There's an obvious twist, but in a film like this, second-guessing doesn't matter, but it unexpectedly undoes the good work of a previous scene and it leaves the film feeling laboured for a short-while. However, the final scenes are fantastic building up to a nicely done end. All-in-all, one of the best horrors of recent years and the budget probably couldn't have paid for the catering on disappointments like I Am Legend.
(From Jon's Marathon of Horror! 2009 on October 18th, 2009)
Member's TV Reviews
Tom's TV Pilots marathon, a review by Tom
 | The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia
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Plot:
Monty's Python's chief weapon is surprise. And silliness. Their two weapons are surprise and silliness. And men in drag. Their three weapons are surprise, silliness and men in drag. And bizarre animation. Their FOUR chief weapons... Oh, bloody hell.
As young men, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin showed tremendous promise as gifted comic artists. Then they created Monty Python's Flying Circus - very possibly the most tragic waste of Oxbridge education ever broadcast. If your television ever produces the sight or sound of rich drama or accomplished acting, there is most assuredly something drastically wrong with your set.
But it is clear: no programme in the history of television has brought such enlightenment to the common man. Monty Python's Flying Circus provides a veritable university education in cultural literacy - tailored, of course, to suit those not quite done with evolution.
The world will never forget Monthy Python's Flying Circus. But perhaps, someday, we'll forgive.
Monty Python's Flying Circus
1.01 Whither Canada (1969-10-05)
Writer: Graham Chapman (Writer), John Cleese (Writer), Eric Idle (Writer), Terry Jones (Writer), Michael Palin (Writer)
Director: Ian McNaughton
Cast: Graham Chapman), John Cleese), Eric Idle), Terry Jones), Michael Palin), Carol Cleveland), Terry Gilliam)
A classic. Especially great during the first two series. My favorite Python is John Cleese.
Rating:
(From Tom's TV Pilots marathon on June 9th, 2012)