Stunned!!

It may not deserve all the superlative praise am gonna shower on it, but since I went expecting a movie as pathetic as parts 3, 4 and 5; Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince swept me off my feet; I was floored! Non book readers loved it and I dont think any fan of the book would critisize it. Mike Newell has made ammends for the pathetic potrayal of Goblet of Fire and not-so-good yet not-so-bad potrayal of Order of the Phoenix. Most importantly, Michael Gambon who has been least impressive so far, showed those who dont read the book who Dumbledore is. People would have really understood why he is tagged to be the greatest wizard and what Dumbledore means to Harry. The Dumbledore we book readers know surfaced in the cave scene. The weakened Dumbledore begging for mercy to Harry and the all powerful, greatest wizard of all time battling hundreds and hundreds of inferi all by himself gave me goosebumps and surely, I was crying! I am sorry for all that I have told about you Michael Gambon!! Alan Rickman, cant imagine anyone else playing Snape at all. What an actor, what a character. Love you Severus! Wonder how one can manage to act just as Rowling would have wanted him to, bloody brilliant. My only complaint would be giving so little screen time for beloved Hagrid. There was an unnecessary scene of burning down The Burrow which wasted considerable amount of time which could have been utilised for Hagrid in some other way. Slughorn was brilliant, Bellatrix was superb and Draco was stupendous. The words "Severus..... Please..." that had such an effect on the readers did not change one bit. I thought, since I already knew Dumbledore was gonna say that, I wouldn't feel a thing, but I felt the exact same feeling that I felt when I read the book. I gasped along with the entire auditorium when Snape uttered "Avada Kedavra" and Dumbledore fell off the tower. Mike Newell can really be proud that he got the reaction he wanted for that scene. I was watching Harry chase Snape with that same numb feeling that I had while reading the book. Watching Harry cry next to Dumbledore and watching Ginny comfort him was heart wrenching. There were audible sobs when everyone raised their wands and the Dark Mark disappeared; and thats Albus Dumbledore - the only one he ever feared! And of course, needless to say; Dan, Rupert and Emma were brilliant too. I particularly liked the scene where Harry consoles a distraught Hermione. Right from the first book I somehow liked the friendship between Harry and Hermione, it always seemed very innocent and loyal.

All said and done, others might have not felt the same about this movie, but I loved it so much. It ranks just after Philosopher's Stone for me. Eagery waiting for Deathly Hallows Part 1! Rock on Mike Newell!!