In fact, Warner Bros. has announced that J.K. Rowling’s mammoth seventh and final novel in the series will be made into two more movies, not merely one— due out in 2010 and 2011. It has been fun to watch the character development of both the young and older actors in this serial over these years, and I must say that I find this sixth movie the most satisfying thus far, as a movie. We could debate the merits of the novels vs. the movie, and how good the adaptation is of the novels, but I think it is fair to say that the movies stick pretty close to the fabric and spirit of the novels, and this movie does an especially good job of that. It seems almost hilarious now to think back about the near hysteria these novels and movies caused in some conservative Christian circles years back because there were fears they would lead impressionable children over to the dark side of the force (to mix movie metaphors for a moment).
What makes this movie the best of the bunch thus far? Firstly the plot line is neat and clean. Among other things we are set on a journey to try and discover who the heck the half blood prince is in this movie, and why he is called that. Well at least the movie helps us with half of the answer. Along the way we have the usual tales of Harry and Hermione and Ron and the ups and downs of raging teen hormones, mixed in with their on going education in white magic and the usual fun bits such as the game of quidditch. The special effects are truly special in this movie, and like all good movies there is often so rich a texture to some of the scenes that you feel you must see the movie again to catch all the nuances. There is plenty of humour in this movie, as a sort of comic relief from the unrelenting darkness which hovers around and breaks through in the plot from time to time. Thank goodness. Especially hilarious is the portrayal of how young infatuation makes fools of its victims.
In the imaginary world of J.K. Rowling’s very fertile mind (and you might want to catch the special on her tonight on the television) there is indeed such a thing as real evil and real good in the world, and so all these Potter tales are at the end of the day morality plays in which children are being taught the differences. The problem of course is, and Rowling does not sugar coat it, that human beings are capable of either grand good or woeful wickness, and there are many things in the world to tempt one in either direction. None of this nonsense of “we are all basically good and well intended” in Rowling’s world, and I am glad for that. It strikes such a contrast with some earlier fiction in the English-speaking world where one might have gotten the impression that evil is just accidental harm, or something good that unintentionally had a bad effect. No indeed. In the world of Harry Potter evil is evil, and it must be fought, resisted, thwarted or else the good cannot succeed or prevail. This is a world more akin to Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, than say Dicken’s Christmas Carol.
Here is the synopsis provide by Warner Bros. of this particular movie:
“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, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor
Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile,
the students are under attack from a very different adversary as
teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and
more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has
decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda
Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simpering with jealously
but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one
student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark
one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never
be the same again.” –© Warner Bros
The new character in this film that the splendid Dumbledore (who increasingly resembles Gandalf in the Lord of Rings in both character and form) invites to return to teach at Hogwarts, is one Professor Slughorn. Now Slughorn is a teacher of potions, including love potions, and so indeed things can quickly go awry when those things get in the wrong teenage hands. But Slughorn also had early contact with and was the teacher of Tom Riddle (aka Voldemort). And he does indeed have vital information Harry needs to complete his tasks as the Chosen One. I will not spoil the story by revealing too much but I would especially encourage the attentive viewer to pay especial attention to the development in the character of both the young Mr. Malfoi (which of course means bad faith) and Severus Snape as well. There are some surprises along the way.
And what we learn is that in Rowling’s moral world, great evil can only be countered by great sacrifice on the part of the good. It involves both blood and death, not merely half-blood and venom. And therein lies the difference between evil and good— one takes lives and extracts blood to enact its ends, the other gives life and sheds its own blood to do so. As the Bible says, “the life is in the blood” but whose life, and what blood, and to what ends? It is not enough to be born a half-blood prince, for really princely behavior involves what you do with the life blood that you have. Stay tuned for a grand conclusion.
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