Episode #92: New Half Blood Prince Trailer
It was a shock to everyone when the newest international Teaser Trailer for Half Blood Prince leaked online this morning. Now that we have gotten over the initial shock of the unexpected gift, we have had sometime to look at and analyze the trailer. In this week’s episode Greg and I discussed our initial thoughts and impressions about this newest trailer. We don’t see eye to eye on everything- especially Michael Gambon as Dumbledore. However, there is a lot that we do agree on about this trailer. We look forward to hearing your impressions of both the trailer and our analysis of it.
As we discussed on the show, please check out our friend Amber’s Young Adult Literature Podcast at: http://yalitreview.libsyn.com/ also make sure to check out our favorite web show: Jake and Amir.
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Tags: Analysis of Half Blood Prince Trailer, Draco Malfoy, dumbledore, Half Blood Prince, Half Blood Prince Movie, Half Blood Prince Trailer, Harry Potter, hpprogs, movie, snape, trailer
October 27th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Excellent show so far Penny and Greg!! I just got to where you discuss Michael (not Dumbledore) Gambon. I for one, strongly agree with Penny on this topic. Gambon is abysmal in the Harry Potter films. He is not Dumbledore, he has none of Dumbledores characteristics. He doesn’t look like DD he doesn’t talk like DD. All i can gather from his pathetic performance, is that he believes DD to be a brooding buffoon. As for Richard Harris, I agree he was a little frail looking, but for me, he had the voice, the mannerisms, the charisma, power, charm, whatever you want to call it. Personally i thought he did well with the “look” that DD has, that which makes Harry feel as though hes being x-rayed. Anyway, I hope HBP is better than the other feeble attempts Warner Bros has made to create a Harry Potter movie.
October 27th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Half-Blood Prince is my favorite book, and this discussion made me so excited for the movie. Penny mentioned that we would not get all the memories in the pensieve. Back when the movie was SUPPOSED to be coming out, there was a story in Entertainment Weekly. David Yates said that they had to distill the memories to three–one of Riddle as a boy and two as a student. Of course, we know the orphanage scene is one of those shown. One of the student memories has to be Slughorn’s. It wasn’t really clear if the flashbacks would be as they were or if additional info would be put into the three flashbacks they chose. “Distilled” implies that they put all the essential info into the flashbacks they show, but I don’t know that I really should put that much stock into their specific word choice. Anyway, here’s the link to the story. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20218889_2,00.html
October 27th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Good show, Greg & Penny. I am in total agreement with Penny on the Gambon issue.
On the one hand, I’m eager to see the movie. On the other hand, I still feel much trepidation about it. Oh well, won’t matter till July 2009, will it?
October 27th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
So, I haven’t finished it all yet (I’m typing as I’m listening)
BUT YES! THE OFFICE + HARRY POTTER = UTLIMATE WIN.
Hahaha, that was kinda cool to hear you guys like that show
October 28th, 2008 at 3:46 am
some quick thoughts
You were quite right. Hermione very literally takes a “page” out of Snape’s “book”.
I didn’t figure out who the ?HBP was either. The truth is though that it really isn’t all that important.
As readers we like Harry Know that this time Draco is really up to something. This is b/c we were privy to the scene at Spinner’s End.
The lesson the we have to learn therefore is to TRUST Dumbledore and ignore it despite our inside knowledge.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Your new snowglobe mic sounds awesome! What a great tool for group podcasting. Wow!
….
Now I kinda want one…even though I don’t really need one.
Greg – please sing Johnny Cash in each episode. Or that lovely Elevator diddy I was privy to.
October 28th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Shimon said, “As readers we like Harry Know that this time Draco is really up to something. This is b/c we were privy to the scene at Spinner’s End.
The lesson the we have to learn therefore is to TRUST Dumbledore and ignore it despite our inside knowledge.”
Good points. There really is no moral ambiguity in this book, as far as I can tell. We know that Draco is up to something. But thanks to Jo’s narrative misdirection in the past books, we fall so easily into believing that Harry is wrong! Just like he’s been in the previous books. So, we are swerved once again by Jo!
October 28th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Great episode! Although, I’m not sure I would compare Dumbldore to Fiona Apple, hahaha. I also completely agree with Penny on the whole Gambon issue, but they could have picked worse, i.e. Steven Segal, Keanu Reeves, etc.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
The Fiona Apple comment was a very, very obscure reference to something else. I’d be very impressed if anyone was able to get it.
I’ll give you a clue (OK, actually, I’ll just tell you). Look for Basted in Blood on YouTube.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
that last comment was actually greg but I highly reccomend finding that video on YouTube. Hysterical. I kid you not.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Is it possible to request “Ghost Riders in the Sky” for the next episode?
October 28th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Oh no, now you are encouraging him revgeorge
BTW- Jennifer- thanks for that info.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Ok, really thought I might explode when I saw this, I was so excited.
Am a Gambon “hater” and yes, I agree, for a second I did think I was watching The Fellowhip of the Ring in this trailer.
Have heard some say he was better in this one, but I’m reserving my judgement.
I didn’t get the Half Blood Prince identity either until the end of the book and again was like H-E-L-L-O.
Am so excited to see this and yes, I can’t believe how much we haven’t seen.
Thought the last bit was funny with the whole “chosen one” comment, but too much. Sorry.
Didn’t realize Hermione had a “sense of humor” in the movies and really hoping Emma Watson can slow her rapid breathing in this movie unlike Phoenix where she looked like she was hyperventilating in every scene.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hey, guys,
Thanks for the episode. I think the trailer looks good – (still in the I wish it was being shown on Nov 21st.)
I never cared for Gambon (loony in 3; violent in 4, in 5 – better; but weirdly distant and grouchy). I am hopeful that he will improve – I know he won’t have all that Richard Harris had, but if he can at least hit a few ‘true’ moments it will be better.)
I am ok with the new Burrow scenes (so far, anyway). I liked the funny end – although I hated it when Snape did it – there it was completely out of character.
As far as future podcasts, the fandom and interviews seem to be good choices.
October 31st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
hey greg and penny,
I love this trailer. I thought that it showed a lot of different aspects about the movie but i still dont understand why they had to include a new scene about the Burrow catching on fire?? I mean there are about a TRILLION other things that are going on in this book and just to add a completely and new scene I think is going to throw everyone off.
I also completely agree with you Penny about the Dumbledore issue. When I read the books I always saw him as a funny, old, grandfather life figure who was not serious about anything that he didnt need to be. I always saw with as someone with a glint in his eye and always with a smile on his face. I do not like the new Dumbledore actor, whatever his name is. I think that the old one was a lot better and embodied the character a lot more and he to me is the true Dumbledore. He has been through so many different and drastic mood changes through out the movies that i feel that we have lost the true Dumbledore.
And does the director not remember that Dumbledore is gay and that he should be acting a little more caring and not be a rigid. I am just saying…..
Great episodes guys…I am trying to talk my mom into letting me come to Alcatraz!!!!
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I really have mixed feelings about the movie now. The whole put it off until it can make more money along with the splitting of the final movie for the same reason? If it was to better portray the story that is one thing but it comes down to money. After all the money made thus far isn’t there a time when Warner Bros should think of the fans just a little?
Nah I will probably just wait until I can see it elsewhere in a way that doesn’t reward their greed. Haven’t been to see any Warner Bro movies since that annoucement.
Other than that soap box moment the trailer did stir some new questions in my mind. Looking at Dumbledores blackened hand. The incurable curse that was terminal made me think about the Elder wand and how Harry used it to repair his unrepairable wand. Evidently there were limits to it’s power. How else would Dumbledore have won it in a duel when it was supposively unbeatable? It must not have been able to reverse the black hand curse.
Of course there is the possibility that Dumbledore did not want the curse cured. Surely a Wizard of his experience was knowledgeable about many ways to prolong life. The Philosiphers Stone, Unicorn blood, horecruxes extc. Makes me think that he had decided to move on regardless.
Still wonder about how powerful he was with said wand and what transpired in the duel with Grindlewold.
November 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 pm
i really love your podcasat although this is the first time i respond to any episode. i really wanted to tell you guys that unfortunately im the only one of my family and friends that have read all seven books and i did have to explain to the ones that watched the movies the details of the marauders map and so many other things so they really arent doing a very good job with the movies
ps i had to write this quick so please forgive the errors
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Aaron said, “Looking at Dumbledores blackened hand. The incurable curse that was terminal made me think about the Elder wand and how Harry used it to repair his unrepairable wand. Evidently there were limits to it’s power. How else would Dumbledore have won it in a duel when it was supposively unbeatable? It must not have been able to reverse the black hand curse.”
Aaron, I’ve thought about that, too, or at least the fact that the wand’s supposed to be unbeatable but its owners seem to be beaten all the time. I think the thing about the Elder Wand is its reputation. It apparently was & is an immensely powerful wand and that led to the legend of it being unbeatable although anybody should’ve known by its history that that wasn’t the case.