Finally! A Harry Potter movie comes to theaters after months of gentlemanly letting others (read: Twilight) screen first (or was it the other way around?). Which begs the question... Was it, or was it not worth the wait?In my opinion, the best thing about the 6th Harry Potter installment is the cinematography and special effects, so much so that minutes into the movie (up until the bridge scene), I actually felt like I already got my money's worth. It is also my favorite among the dark HP movies (i. e., 2-6) and I can't help but be a little pleased that the overall darkness and disturbia factor was a few notches lower than the spooky, spooky trailers. It is still dark and disturbing on several counts, but I am most relieved that the young Tom Riddle seemed more like a disturbed boy than the devil incarnate.
The characters have also upped their game, most notable of all, Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), who is the ray of light in an otherwise dark film. (him and the snogging and rom-com aspects of the film, LOL). I liked the cocky, Felix felicis-filled Harry too, and Helena Bonham Carter as the lukaret-and-pure-evil Bellatrix Lestrange is eerily fascinating and commendable (oookay, why does she fascinate me? Hmmm...). Of course, the brightest acting gem is Alan Rickman as Severus Snape (a. k. a. The Ultimate Popopo-Poker Face), and if the cards are played right, he just might reduce me to tears in HP7 (LOL).
Of course, the movie is not perfect. The much-publicized Harry-Ginny kiss fell short (waaay short), that I feel there is more emphasis on the Ron-Hermione love story than the Harry-Ginny one (and may be rightfully so for most). I also wished the finale was more grandstanded, but then that might be a consequence of my high expectations of the death and funeral scene that stemmed from waaay back when I first read the book. While the Avada Kedavra still got a gasp of surprise from me (okay, more like a teeny-tiny squeak), I still expected a more dramatic, more torturous scene, and a more grandiose tribute to the Greatest Wizard of His Time. And while HP6, true to form, is of epic length, it still felt too concise, so much so that in order to appreciate and understand the movie, I think one might have to have read the book.
For all its shortcomings, HP6 is still a must-watch. But then again, even if the reviews were bad, I'm sure people will still flock to watch this movie. After all, it is a Harry Potter movie, and one that is a long time coming for fans.
Now please don't make us wait forever for the two-part last installment. :D
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