History Film / HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince

After ''Goblet of Fire'' and ''Order of the Phoenix'' began cutting plots and characters left and right to fit as movies, this film has an air of just going with it, and happily continues in the direction set by the films so far, cuts and all. Perhaps most notable is the major factor that the final book had been released by this film's premiere, allowing this film to begin some heavier foreshadowing of the next films since the ending of the story was finally known.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

-->'''Dumbledore''': Harry, I assume right now you must be wondering why I brought you here. Am I right?\\

-->'''[=McGonagall=]''': Why is it, when something happens, it is ''always'' you three?\\

-->'''Dumbledore''': Ah, Harry! You need a shave, my friend. You know, at times I forget how much you've grown. At times I still see the small boy from the cupboard. Forgive my mawkishness, Harry - I'm an old man.\\
-->'''Harry''': [[Creator/RichardHarris You still]] [[Creator/MichaelGambon look the same]] [[TheOtherDarrin to me, sir.]]

* NasalTrauma: As with the book, Harry is caught spying on Malfoy and gets his nose kicked in for his trouble. However, the film adds an extra layer of this when Luna Lovegood has to pop his nose back into place with magic, resulting in a loud cracking sound and a yelp of pain from Harry - bit of a change from the original novel in which Tonks' Episkey spell was completely painless.

** Subplots involving Ron's insecurity and Cormac [=MacLaggen=]'s bossiness were cut for time, leaving Ron without much of a character arc and Cormac as a mere DesignatedVillain.[[invoked]]

* CaptainObvious:
-->'''Ron:''' It's just... you can't break an Unbreakable Vow!\\
'''Harry:''' I worked that part out myself, funnily enough.

* IntoxicationEnsues

-->'''[=McGonagall=]''': Why is it, when something happens, it is ''always'' you three?
-->'''Ron''': Believe me, Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years.

-->'''Dumbledore''': Harry, I assume right now you must be wondering why I brought you here. Am I right?
-->'''Harry''': Actually, sir, after all these years I just sort of go with it.

-->'''[=McGonagall=]''': Why is it, when something happens, it is ''always'' you three?
-->'''Ron''': Believe me, Professor, I've been asking myself the same question for six years.

* TheReveal: Snape is furious at Harry (for a different reason than usual) when he makes it:
-->'''Snape''': You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? Yes... [[spoiler:''I'm'' the Half-Blood Prince.]]

-->'''Ginny''': That can stay hidden up here too if you like.
-->''[Harry smiles and opens his eyes, but she's gone]''

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[TagLine "Once again, I must ask too much of you, Harry."]]'']]

But while those events linger over the plot, the action stays fully grounded at Hogwarts. Harry learns more about Voldemort's BackStory, becomes increasingly suspicious of Snape's loyalty and discovers an old potions textbook annotated with powerful spells and useful notes from its previous owner who identifies himself only as "[[TitleDrop The Half-Blood Prince]]". Draco Malfoy is tasked with something by Voldemort himself; [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and wacky romantic hijinks ensue for everyone]].

After ''Goblet of Fire'' and ''Order of the Phoenix'' began cutting plots and characters left and right to fit as movies, this film has an air of just going with it, and happily continues in the direction set by the films so far, cuts and all. Perhaps most notable is the major factor that the final book had been released by this film's premiere, allowing this film to begin some heavier foreshadowing of the next films since the writer finally knew how the story would end.

* WhyDidntIThinkOfThat: Both Harry and Hermione are annoyed that they can't go to Slughorn's party with their respective love interests, who are in other relationships. Hermione tips off that she's slummed to asking the infatuated Cormac [=McLaggen=]; Harry points out it would've made more sense for he and Hermione to just go together instead, prompting the trope response from Hermione.

* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Cormac is set up as the fitter, more sophisticated, and more Quidditch-savvy counterpart to Ron, going after his aspiration to make goalie and showing off much smoother moves during practice; he's also sure to let Ron know he plans to woo Hermione. To his credit, Cormac may well be all those things, [[SubvertedTrope for all the good it does him]]: Hermione finds him "vile" and even sabotages him during practice in favour of Ron, and Ron himself kills it during the actual match after [[spoiler:giving himself]] a major confidence boost.

** Inverted with Bellatrix. She wasn't among the Death Eaters that came to Hogwarts in the climax, but is in the film.

** Tonks and Lupin only appear in one scene - mainly to establish that they have become a couple since ''Order of the Phoenix.''

* CagedBirdMetaphor: Draco is shown framed through the spherical cage of the songbirds he is using to test the vanishing cabinet, mirroring his duress at the task he has been ordered to complete. The final bird he is left with matches his unusual hair color.

* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Some scenes in the movie, such as Harry having Dumbledore drink the liquid in order to get the horcrux, are so desaturated that they have very little color in them.

-->'''Ginny''': I can stay hidden up here too if you'd like.

-->''[Harry smiles and opens his eyes, but she's gone]]''

* WhyDidntIThinkOfThat: Both Harry and Hermione are annoyed that they can't go to Slughorn's party with their respective love interests, who are in other relationships. Hermione tips off that she's slummed to asking the infatuated Cormac McLaggen; Harry points out it would've made more sense for he and Hermione to just go together instead, prompting the trope response from Hermione.

* DetectEvil: Since the film cuts out most of the {{PensieveFlashback}}s and dialogues that allow Harry and Dumbledore to determine what Voldemort's horcruxes are and where he hid them, Dumbledore simply says that dark magic leaves detectable traces, which Harry himself senses.

* ThousandYardStare: Harry has this look in the opening scene, courtesy of the tragic outcome of the last installment's battle.

** When the trio sit down at the Three Broomsticks, Hermione orders three butterbeers [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar "And put a little ginger in mine".]]

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** In an early scene with [=McGonagall=], she calls out to an offscreen Roger Davies "that is the ''girls''' lavatory". She has a very disapproving look on her face too.
** After their kiss in the Room of Requirement, Ron asks "did you and Ginny do it?", prompting a startled reaction from Harry. By 'it', Ron meant hiding the book.