Cast & Crew + First Screening

Below you will read from a member of our team that got to go to and view the upcoming, Half-Blood Prince movie with the cast and crew. I hope you enjoy his report as much as I did, and we're attaching some photos here along as well.

‘Nitwit Blubber Odment and Tweak’

Greetings Wizards, Witches and Muggles!!!

Finally, the wait is almost over for ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ which is releasing all over on July 15^th 2009. But a few lucky people have already seen it and can’t have enough of it. That would include me!! It was the ‘Cast and Crew Premiere’ at Leicester Square in London on the magical morning of July 4^th. You could feel the magic in the air as you lined up to enter the Odeon…. It was absolutely pleasurable to see the likes of Ginny Weasely (Bonnie Wright), Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), and rather more importantly Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). A lot more from the secondary cast of the movie turned up as well like Katie Bell (Georgina Leonidas), Romilda Vane (Anna Shaffer), Pansy Parkinson (Scarlett Byrne), Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) and many more. And then the magic came to life with the screening…

All that I can tell you about the Movie:

The film starts on a note of despair and destruction, mind you, one of the best beginnings of any HP flick by far, but this time it’s darker and if you ask me, all the more better! The Death-eaters look stunning and all-glorified. It’s no more just a kid’s film. It proves to be a classic this time. Brilliant roles played by Tom Felton who shines through in this one in his portrayal of Draco Malfoy, Harry’s all-time adversary; and Michael Gambon as Dumbledore who mentors Harry to reveal the dark secrets. Dark secrets are indeed revealed, but most of the action is taken care by Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). While Hermione (Emma) and Ron (Rupert) have disappointingly small roles, we kept longing that they could have done a bit more. The emotional quotient is taken to a whole new level in this movie as Harry and Ron are shown as finally starting to notice ‘girls’. In particular their romantic entanglements are with Ginny and Lavender respectively. The portrayal of Lavender Brown is by Jessie Cave, who does absolute justice to her role as Ron’s girlfriend, only to make him realize his ‘true love’ in the end!

Among others, Helena Bonham Carter is effortless in playing Bellatrix Lestrange, and proves to be quite crucial throughout the story. Severus Snape is played by Alan Rickman who slides perfectly under his character’s skin yet again, and is the key character in the plot to look out for. A surprise package and a delight to potter fans is the young Tom M. Riddle a.k.a Young Voldemort played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, nephew of Ralph Fiennes who plays Voldemort himself. Hero does brilliantly and is exactly as could be imagined. The 16 year old Voldemort is played by Frank Dillane. (If you ask me, I would have preferred Christian Coulson for the role, the same actor from the Chamber of Secrets.)

As far as the story is concerned, it does skip out on a lot of the parts from the book- some crucial, some anecdotal, though not totally disappointing. True Potterheads will know what I speak of as they watch the film. I won’t let out more than that!

It was after the screening that all the ecstatic stars came out in the square and were rather more approachable than I would have imagined on any other occasions. Tom Felton was being hugely complimented on his brilliant performance, to which he was generously showing gratitude. All the cast members and the crew looked proud and happy, rightfully (I must say!) on how great the film has turned out to be.

“But as again, I must ask too much of you, as it is for you to judge, fellow potterheads, on how you all face the dark hour that lies ahead…”

On a happier note, July 15^th is already a few minutes closer as you read this piece now, ain’t it!

Pip pip!

-Nim

Pics HERE.