A fashion writer reviews ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’

A word of advice: if you are a fair-weathered Harry Potter fan like me, do a scan of the past five movies.

I say this because as soon as I saw the opening scene and heard that catchy music box theme, I was a bit confused. I totally forgot what happened in The Order of the Phoenix. Luckily, I caught on – but it took me a while. And luckily the plot doesn’t require you to know rocket science.

But I do strongly suggest you review the past Potter films. It’ll probably work in your favor. And it’s always fun to see Daniel Radcliffe pre-Equus

In any matter, the film, directed by David Yates (who also did Phoenix), has Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) joining Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) on the continuing quest to find a way to destroy Voldemort (gasp! I spoke his name) – but first, they must bring Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) back to Hogwart’s to teach. Apparently, he has some vital information that could possibly destroy Voldemort (gasp! I spoke it again).

In any matter, it’s Harry’s 6th year at Hogwart’s and things aren’t as happy-go-lucky as they used to be. It’s darker and somber – almost emo. Security is tight and they ain’t havin’ as much fun as they used to. Harry also suspects that Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is turning to the dark side Darth Vader style.

It may seem a little bit darker up in the big H, but there is plenty of hormonal angst all over the place. Harry (who apparently is this big mack daddy now) starts to have feelings for Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright – she is treated to more screen time in this one); her brother and Harry’s BFF, Ron (Rupert Grint), hooks up with the clingy and psycho-romantic Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) and Hermione (Emma Watson – who is looking sweet and gamine these days) looks at him with restrained jealousy while the pompous, Abercrombie & Fitch-y Cormac McLaggen (Freddie Stroma) does his best peacock dance to win her over.

Think of it as a romantic teen comedy with magic wands and English accents. And what is with that name Lavender Brown? That is a straight-up stripper name.

Ron+Hermione+Harry = BF4E!

Throughout all that mess, Harry finds a book in his potions class once owned by the Half-Blood Prince (hence the movie title). The book contains altered recipes for potions and spells that cause him to be a star student and, become a little bit obsessive. On top of that, he’s dealing with his feelings for Ginny, hunting down Voldemort and trying to bust Draco. No wonder why he’s so angsty.

The movie was unexpected and very subdued. It’s like it wanted to explode with extravagant wizardry, but it had to hold itself back – which makes me think we are in for some hardcore wizardry throwdowns in the next installments. But there is one scene where Dumbledore wards off tons of busted-looking waify creatures (I think they were runway models) with a firestorm. It was hot. Literally.

This is the first time I have watched a Potter film and realized that all of these characters are grown up. They actually have a conscious realization of their feelings – which explains the huge spotlight on the “he likes her who likes him” mess.

It’s nice that we have been with them from the very beginning. They have grown up right before our very eyes. But within all those years, why haven’t they changed their wardrobe? Do they all have an endless expense account at H&M? It’s a teenybopper array of hoodies, T shirts and jeans. I think it might be time for an upgrade.

As for the bad guys – now those are some people who know how to dress. Draco has this sort of Alexander McQueen washed-out look with his pale skin, platinum hair and the dapper slim black-on-black suit. Professor Snape (played by the always brilliant Alan Rickman) hasn’t changed since the first film, but his severely-cut/flowy Matrix-like banded collar suit is priest-chic. Then there’s Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), who is doing her hottest impression of Stevie Nicks-gone-meth addict.

But I digress.

Nothing in this movie was groundbreaking. Nothing impressed me. Nothing had me screaming “Expecto Patronum!” as I walked out of the theater. I didn’t even want to play a round of Quidditch after. And all that isn’t necessarily bad. We already been through all that. Now, the focus is more story less flash – which seems to be the evolution of the Potter films. The story intrigued me enough. Sure, there was a little bit more room for satisfaction, but I wasn’t complaining.

Ultimately, this was just a set-up (on the borderline of long-winded) for the final two-part hurrah of The Deathly Hallows. Hopefully, this set-up will be worth it.