Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Wright, Jim Broadbent, Maggie Smith, Helena Bonam-Carter, Tom Felton, Julie Walters, Evanna Lynch, David Thewlis, Natalia Tena

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Rated: PG

reviewed by Charity Bishop

I have looked forward to this film since the day I put down the fifth book for the first time and wiped away my tears. Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince is the darkest installment of the franchise this far... and one of the greatest.

The return of Lord Voldemort to the wizarding world has created unrest among the magical community and spilled over into Muggle affairs as his supporters wreck havoc on London streets, collapsing bridges and smashing storefronts in Diagon Alley in broad daylight. Albus Dumbledore (Gambon), Headmaster of Hogwarts and the "greatest wizard of all time," has come to the suburbs to take young Harry Potter (Radcliffe) with him on a recruiting mission. He hopes to convince the eccentric Professor Slughorn (Broadbent) to return to his former teaching position at Hogwarts. Intrigued with Potter's presence and interested in adding him to his "collection" of "interesting people," Slughorn agrees, but the students are shocked to learn he has taken up the position of Potions Master, leaving Severus Snape (Rickman) to teach the subject which has so long eluded him: Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Romance is budding among the sixth-years at the school. Hermione (Watson) is tentative about revealing her feelings for Ron (Grint), who is being chased around by a bubbly blonde. Harry is also becoming rather fond of Ron's younger sister Ginny (Wright), but fears asking her out may cause a rift with Ron. The only student not bitten by the proverbial love bug is Draco Malfoy (Felton), who has been entrusted with a "terrible task" by Voldemort and lies under Snape's protection. Harry also comes across a mysterious potions book with "property of the Half-Blood Prince" scribbled in it. Using it to get good grades in potions class, he desires to know more about the student behind the inscription, but must also attempt to obtain from Slughorn a memory that will reveal the source of the Dark Lord's powers.

Many things about this film are truly magnificent. David Yates is my favorite director in the series and this movie is exquisite to look at, with wonderful cinematography and stunning visuals. It's beautiful and haunting, from an overhead shot of Snape kneeling over a fallen student in a pool of blood to the Dark Mark hovering ominously over the towers of Hogwarts. There is a grand emphasis on quieter moments between the characters: Harry comforting a crying Hermione in the corridor, his affection for Ginny, and even instances when the camera lingers on a pained expression. Unfortunately, there is one aspect in which Yates fails miserably and that is the handling of death. This is the second of his films in which we have lost an important character and once again, it fails to make as much of an emotional impact on the audience as it should. The moment passes too quickly when it should linger and resonate, and then leave a mighty impression.

Broadbent gives a stupendous performance as a guilt-ridden man who "collects" people like trophies. Many have criticized Michael Gambon's Dumbledore but this installment has forever imprinted him as the "perfect" choice for Headmaster. Daniel, Emma, Rupert, and the other young cast members have grown up and this is reflected in their acting, which is much more natural than it used to be. But it is Alan Rickman's exquisite depiction of Snape that for the first time allows the audience to see a different side to the most misunderstood character in the franchise. I returned from the film hours ago and still cannot put into words how much he impacted me.

Puritans of the book may be disappointed that the script has left out so many details, minor subplots, and events, as well as changed around certain elements and even added action sequences. Tonks and Lupin have been all but eliminated, although we do see them in one scene and their relationship is hinted at in an adorable way. Ginny is injected into one scene in order to give it a romantic edge. Motivations behind certain actions, the children learning to vanish and reappear, and an entire sequence of memories has been left out. I have mostly praise but one major complaint: in shortening the story, much of the devastation at Hogwarts is lost. The Death Eaters in the book intend to take control of the school and when they find more resistance than anticipated, try and kill as many as possible while on their way out. Here, they seem to have no such intention and apart from smashing a few windows and putting out the candles in the Great Hall, their presence is meaningless and undermines much of the central plot. Why is it so important to get them into the school if they accomplish nothing? Another scene, an attack on the Weasley family home, is similarly anti-climatic without any real payoff.

Woven throughout is an ominous theme broken by moments of levity -- one of my favorite scenes is a frustrated Hermione attempting to brew a proper potion, her hair on end from her having been pulling it. Touches like that keep it lighthearted to offset the darkness of Voldemort's childhood. The special effects are very good and changes have been made to the castle that make it seem even more magical but comfortable at the same time. The film obtained a lighter rating than the previous installment but does contain some frightening elements. Zombies rise from a lake and attempt to drag a boy into the depths; he almost drowns. Wizards fire violent spells at one another; the result of one is that someone nearly bleeds to death; another person is brutally killed with an instant death spell. One boy stomps on another's face, breaking his nose (unseen). A Quidditch game becomes brutal. Discussions revolve around "very dark magic" and killing people. There are some mild innuendos and a few kisses between various students. The term "bloody" is used a half dozen times.

Having just reread this book, it is easy to say that while they have not captured the exact structure of events of Rowling's story, they have captured its heart. Some of the changes seem needless but are no worse than any made to previous installments. It is possibly even the best single film in the series, because of its artful direction, the "adult" approach to the script, and the fact that it has an open ending that leaves audiences wanting more. Its greatest attribute is that we are not always with Harry but also are allowed to see moments with Draco, Snape, and Dumbledore that more fully flesh out the plot and give it an aura of continuing mystery. I liked "seeing" more of their motivations. The ending also has less closure and as such, makes you want to go home and read the next book. I have no doubt that those who own a copy will crack it open immediately, and those who don't will drive to the nearest bookstore and pick it up. In fact, if you will excuse me, I have some reading to do.