Cinema Style: Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince

We went to an opening day showing of the latest installment of the Harry Potter film series yesterday and it definitely did not disappoint when it comes to the visuals. The photography and imagery is gorgeous...

...perhaps even the "prettiest" Potter yet. (although we still love #3 the best - go Prisoner of Azkaban!)

This film feels somehow "fashion forward" or at least "on trend" - the colors that jumped out at us were quiet metallics mixed with darks - lots of pewters, greys, blacks and golds and warmly glowing, glittering and shiny surfaces that felt lush and luxe in the same way that a high-end designer room circa 2009 might.

Some images that are sticking with us the next day:

Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy heading down a narrow brick alley in couture-style witch attire.

The decorating style of Professor Slughorn for his get-togethers - we loved the huge round table (and even huge-er desserts) at the dinner party and the groupings of red silk lanterns at his Christmas party were gorgeous.

Everything about the cavern scene with Harry and Dumbledore is memorable. The color and surface quality of the giant quartz-like rock formations, the design of the boat and the leaf "cup" were all beautiful.

We thoroughly enjoyed it (and especially loved Luna). Anyone else have a chance to see it yet? What was your favorite scene?

Images: Warner Brothers

Hogwarts looks incredible, as usual. Lots more views of arches and stairways this time.

posted by SherryBinNH on July 16th 2009 at 10:48am
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I loved the floating red lanterns at the slug club party too. I want some for my patio, although something tells me they wouldnt look as nice floating in my boxy balcony as they did in the gothic arches of hogwarts.

We also particularly liked the rooftops of Knockturn Alley when the trio followed Draco and his mother to see what they were up to. Diagon alley is always a treat too although all we saw in this movie was the twins new joke shop.

posted by adamwa on July 16th 2009 at 11:37am
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I even like the restrooms at Hogwarts! Rows of tall, porcelain urinals, towering windows and triple sinks.

Very retro-modern.

posted by harikuyo on July 16th 2009 at 11:55am
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Did anyone else notice the double chesterfield sofas in Slughorn's quarters? I remember there were two facing chesterfields in the Slytherin common room in the second movie also. I love chesterfields...

posted by Michael W. on July 16th 2009 at 12:49pm
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The HP sets are amazing and as you mentioned this film did not disappoint.

I love the colors and textures that are used in each film - the worn books on bookshelves (did you not love the graphics on the potions book?!?!) The smooth glass of all the potions bottles, the rich tapestries hanging on the rough stone walls.

The visual appeal of these films makes me giddy. They are one of the few films I'll stay awake for to see at the midnight release. We even had a small party in line to celebrate the evening. You can see some pics on my blog.

posted by ddbaker on July 16th 2009 at 12:55pm
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It was a truy beautiful movie to look at!
I left really, really sad because I guess we won't see much of Hogwarts--my ultimate fantasy residence--anymore. :(

posted by Mavesse on July 16th 2009 at 1:15pm
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The sets have always been amazing in the Potter movies, I love the wall of rules in the last one! The colors and textures are always so rich it really adds so much to them.

posted by sugarm0mma on July 16th 2009 at 1:29pm
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and don't forget the amazing typography on the daily prophet! all the little 'magical' details were just incredible in this one.

one of my favorite scenes was when harry arrived at the borough and the view is from the bottom of the stairs with everyone popping out of their rooms to see if it's harry.

and all that over-to-top color at fred and george's shop!

posted by jhayne on July 16th 2009 at 1:47pm
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Hey hey now, let's not forget Umbridge's wall of commemorative kitten plates. :)

posted by akay on July 16th 2009 at 1:48pm
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Loved the Slug Club party- the lanterns, the curtains and silky screens. Very nice.

Also the poignant silence after Dumbledore's death (spoiler alert, oh wait...) with the blown out candles and broken glass. That was lovely and sad, wasn't it?

posted by maybeamezzo on July 16th 2009 at 1:55pm
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The Weasley's House!! I love their decor, all that clutter and pictures and those wonderful stairs....

posted by Charlotte on July 16th 2009 at 7:56pm
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The beautiful cabinet with the vials of memories. Like a cabinet of beautiful perfume bottles, elegant and sparkly.

posted by ChristyG77 on July 16th 2009 at 10:48pm
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the scene where Harry and Ginny were running through the field outside the Weasley's and Bellatrix was running around being nuts. I thought it was breathtaking they way they did the lighting and coloring! Glad to see I'm not the only Harry Potter nerd here!

posted by whitlin on July 17th 2009 at 12:15am
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was the cup in the shape of a leaf? i thought it was a shell.

oh man, my favorite was professor slughorn's dinner party!

posted by clancyslover on July 17th 2009 at 3:01am
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