I got back from seeing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince mere seconds ago, and while I really should rather be sleeping, I needed to get some of my thoughts about it off my chest.
Overall, I think the movie was very well made. There are parts of it that I absolutely loved. If it wasn't for all the bits that they changed or left out, then it would have been perfect.
In terms of aesthetics, visually, it was very interesting. The colors were beautiful and rich, and the framing of the scenes was really well done. I particularly liked the part towards the beginning of the film when Harry arrives at the Burrow and Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Mrs. Weasley all pop their heads out of various staircases and landings. However, some of the visuals seemed very off to me. My main problem with the movie, visually, is with the cave scene at the end. If the cave is supposed to be close to where the kids from the orphanage visited as children, then it wouldn't be in the middle of the ocean. Also, within the cave, the choice to have large crystal-like rocks doesn't match at all the description in the book. I must say, however, that the Inferi were remarkably well done, and that the shot from above where they are closing in on Harry and Dumbledore is fascinating.
Musically, I found it a bit disappointing. There is nothing much wrong with the music, when it is noticeable, but it seems to take a back seat to the visuals throughout most of the movie. In the past movies, especially the 5th one, the music played a very important part both emotionally and dramatically, and I was disappointed that it did not fulfill the same role here. The only time I even noticed the music was when they were basically repeating the "Fireworks" song from the 5th movie! Also, I don't remember them using Hedwig's Theme, which is fairly iconic, and I think this was a strange choice.
I also had many issues with the way they represented the plot. Some parts of it, such as the scene where Ron is under the influence of love potion from Romilda Vane and the Felix Felicis scene, are remarkably well done. I also liked the way they showed the awkwardness between Harry and Ginny, as well has Hermione and Ron. The "romance" between Ron and Lavender was well represented, but I could have done with less of it in favor of other plot points which I think are more important.
While most of the plot additions seemed fairly harmless, such as Neville being a waiter during Slughorn's Christmas party, some of them made absolutely no sense. I don't understand the scene they added in where Bellatrix and Fenrir Greyback come to the Burrow, taunt them and then burn down the house. This does not happen in the book and doesn't seem to add much to the movie that couldn't have been achieved with the plot points that already exist.
Also, I have many problems with Dumbledore's death scene. Firstly, Harry should have been underneath his invisibility cloak. Dumbledore wanted him to have it with him at all times, but you only see it on the train at the beginning of the movie. Secondly, Dumbledore was supposed to petrify Harry before he is disarmed. It doesn't make sense that Harry would do nothing as Snape killed Dumbledore just because he is told to stay hidden. In the book, it makes perfect sense that Dumbledore protects Harry by freezing him against his will, and that Harry desperately wants to save Dumbledore, but can't. His inaction in the movie, without being petrified, does not help him live up to the heroic position he is supposed to occupy at this point in the story.
After Dumbledore's death, there should be a fight scene in the castle and across the grounds where the Order of the Phoenix battles the Death Eaters, wherin Bill is savaged by Greyback and Harry's loved ones are all saved because of Felix Felicis. I don't understand them leaving this out of the movie because it is important to the plot and provides drama it seems like they were looking for by adding the attack at the Burrow.
Another important part of the plot that is missing is Dumbledore telling Harry specifically about the Horcruxes. By the end of the movie, Harry should realize the daunting task ahead, yet have a list from Dumbledore of what the possible Horcruxes are and some crucial new insight into Voldemort's past and psche. However, in the movie most of Voldemort's back story is left out, which is a shame because it was one of the most interesting parts of the book. Also, Harry still doesn't know anything about what the missing Horcruxes should be, and now that Dumbledore is dead, I'm not sure how in the next movies they'll get Harry to guess what they are.
Finally, one of the big things I was looking forward to in this movie is the part when Harry and Ginny finally act on their feelings for each other. I was really disappointed by this in the movie because they never get their real kiss, and you don't sense the passion that is present between them in the book. Also, they are supposed to have a real relationship that Harry breaks off at the end of the book in an attempt to protect Ginny, but in the movie their public relationship is only mentioned in passing at the end.
Overall, I found the movie to be a bit hit-and-miss. Parts of it were exceptional, while others fell fall short of expectations. In their attempt to shorten a 600-page book into a little over 2 hours of movie, they left out many of the crucial plot points in favor of more trivial, yet amusing, scenes. Maybe if the movie could have been longer, or in 2 parts like the 7th book will be, it would have had more success in merging its artistic and dramatic aspirations with the actual plot of the book. After all, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is supposed to be about horcruxes, not just hormones.
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