Last night, Warner Brothers treated us to a screening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the IMAX Theater at SM Mall of Asia. Many thanks, Warner Brothers!

This review won’t be like most reviews I write. I won’t be tackling the story— I don’t want to spoil it for people, and people who’ve read the book don’t need my take on the story. And I won’t be going into details about the technicals and effects—I must say, though, that the effects are GOOD. I won’t even be dwelling on the acting or direction, either. You can read that on other blogs. This review will focus on the cinema experience.

(But before anything else, let me give my rating for the movie. I give it… 3.5 out of 5.)

On watching it if you’ve read the book
Yes, do. You know how it’s usually said that “Oh, this isn’t how I envisioned that… The book’s WAY better.” Okay, let me say this: the parts of the film that tried to do it like how it was written in the book were EXACTLY how I envisioned them to be. But, of course, like nearly all other book-to-movie adaptations, don’t expect everything to be on there.

I must mention, though, that it’s been four years since I read the book, so I may have already forgotten some details I could have nitpicked.

On watching if you haven’t read the book
Even better. Don’t rush to read the book now. Read it after watching the film, if you want. But you MUST WATCH THE EARLIER FILMS (or read the earlier books). Or at least get someone to explain the background first. Else, you’ll be very confused.

On watching it in cinemas
Okay, I don’t think this is a must-see on the big screen, but I think it’s 100 times better to watch in cinemas than on DVD. Unless you have your own home theater.

On watching it on IMAX 3D
“Harry Potter movie’s opening sequence, approximately 12 minutes, has been transformed into IMAX 3D for a truly magical beginning,” says on the official website. That’s the only time it’s gonna be 3D. That’s too bad, I think, because there were a LOT of scenes that deserved 3D treatment. Like Quidditch. And that scene ocean in the trailer. That would’ve been awezum!

But, yes, the first twelve minutes were wow.

If you’re a casual fan: Don’t bother. Go to regular cinemas. Oh, wait. On second thought, go to a digital cinema to get clearer picture. Or…Okay, IMAX 2D. I’m not sure if IMAX 3D is more expensive than IMAX 2D, but if it is, I think you’ll live with just watching it on 2D.

But if you’re a fan: You’ll probably think it’s well worth it, so go ahead and watch it on IMAX 3D.

If you have other questions about the movie experience, do leave me a message.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens today, July 16, in theaters nationwide. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Other bloggers with me: (will post review links when available)
Azrael Coladilla – movie review | event coverage
Lace Llanora
Jonel Uy – Harry Potter and the Half-Baked Ending
Loraine Gallevo – ReviewReview Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Cathie Copaway
Joriben Zaballa – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Movie Review
Ria Tirazona
Enrico Dee
Katherine Eustaquio
Christopher Aquino
Ronald Guanzon
Frances Ivy
Mark Cerbo