The Wait is Over for Arguably the Best ‘Potter’ Film Ever – Movie Review

The wait is finally over, all you Potter-philes out there. I used to be a big Harry Potter fan, up until The Goblet of Fire. I grew up, as the rest of my generation of fans did. Moved on to liking movies of better quality than films about a boy wizard who fights evil. So prior to seeing Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book-turned-movie by J.K Rowling, without watching Order of the Phoenix (although I did read all of the books), I was mildly confused. Prince opens with a pack of Death-Eaters (evil wizards and witches who follow the dark Lord Voldemort),among them Bellatrix Lestrange, attempting to convince Severus Snape (former Death-Eater and Hogwarts teacher) to form an "Unbreakable Vow" (a vow which if you go back on your word, death ensues) with Draco Malfoy's mother Narcissa to look after Malfoy and be sure that he finishes the "task" (which I won't reveal, since it plays such a major role in the film) that Voldemort has graced him with. But even not being a Potter fanatic, catching even the smallest glimpse of the screen will have you drooling. The cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel (I know, whenever we hear that name we now think of Sacha Baron Cohen's mockumentary) s breathtaking, Oscar-worthy, even, respectively. Which comes as no surprise since he was nominated twice before by the Academy.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is once again about Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe) fight with the evil Voldemort, however this time around he receives a mysterious journal that reads inside "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince". Harry also learns more of Voldemort's (then Tom Riddle) past along with Dumbledore (Michael Gambon, brilliant) in hopes of defeating the evil Lord once and for all. Although that's only half the story. The big issue on everyone in America's minds is the stars' ages. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are all pretty much in their twenties, starting off the series while they were all close to eleven, whilst the characters they portray are far younger. That might've been why the movie felt a bit rushed, to finish the films before the kids have officially "grown-up". Nevertheless, Half-Blood Prince is a masterpiece. Compared Twilight has nothing on Potter, the series being in an entire league of its own, and knowing that it is so. In addition to Harry's dilemma, Hermione Granger (the gorgeous and talented Emma Watson, a perfect example of the kids' "growing up") has feelings for Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) that only continue to grow. So when Ron begins to be noticed by girls after he (semi-spoiler alert) helps to win a Quidditch match, it's no wonder that she becomes jealous.

Also introduced in the movie is Horace Slughorn (played to perfection by Bridget Jones's Diary's Jim Broadbent), the new potions professor at the magic school. He originally joined the school around the same time as headmaster Albus Dumbledore did, as potions master, but later resigned in 1981. During his time there, he met Tom Riddle (Voldemort, remember?) who asked him odd questions about magic that are later revealed in the movie. Embarrassed at the memory he had gathered of the incident, he fixed it to make it right. So now when Harry tries to enter those particular memories years later, he can't seem to see Slughorn's answers to Riddle's questions.

If you're unfamiliar with Harry Potter, then yeah, you will be extremely confused at this sixth installment. Am I a major? No, yet after seeing Half-Blood Prince I am once again. David Yates (Order of the Phoenix) and screenwriter Steve Kloves' (who adapted every Potter film except for Phoenix) will renew your faith in the great old movie series that you at one time loved. The humor, romance, sadness and all-around dark vibe make the wait worthwhile for arguably the best Potter film ever. This is the arrangement's Raiders of the Lost Ark, its Return of the King. And just before the final two parts of the franchise, Half-Blood Prince will pull you back into a group that you may have long lost touch with.

4.5/5 stars.