Much like “The Empire Strikes Back” in the first Star Wars trilogy and “The Two Towers” in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is more of a set-up for what is to come in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I and Part II” than a self-contained story. That’s not to say that this latest installment of the Harry Potter story isn’t good. It is. However, it has an incomplete feel and the interactions between the students and the adults at Hogwarts are virtually non-existent. As the story begins, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his best friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) begin their sixth year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Dumbledore (Michael Gambone) entrusts Harry with the task of befriending Professor Horace Slughorn (Him Broadbent) and learning about one of Slughorn’s memories that may contain a way to defeat Voldemort. Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) seeks revenge against Dumbledore for the defeat of his father while Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) binds himself to helping Malfoy with an unbreakable vow.
The darkness that has become an ever-increasing element in the later Harry Potter movies since “The Prisoner of Azkaban” takes center stage and director David Yates gives us a story where the tone and look are appropriately threatening. The humor associated with raging teenage hormones, exemplified by the Ron/Hermione/Lavender triangle, provides welcomed comic relief. Nonetheless, the key narrative remains strong as Harry and his friends search for a way to defeat the Dark Lord. And Harry’s quest to find the first horcrux, an artifact that holds a piece of Voldemort’s soul, allow the FX team to demonstrate how effective they can be. Although “The Half-Blood Prince” is a stepping stone to elements that must be resolved in the final movies, fans of this excellent series won’t be disappointed and will eagerly anticipate “Part I” on Nov. 19, 2010 and “Part II” on July 15, 2011. 7/17/09
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Subject: Comment
Having just seen "Harry Potter, The Half-Blood Prince" this remarkable series just continues to explode. I believe the the HP books and movies is the most successful franchise in viewing history. These films are so well made and exciting that they deserve all the accolades they can acquire. I think its time to overhaul the Academy Award system. We need some new categories such as:
1. Best Action/Science Fiction/Fantasy Film
2 Best Animation, full length Film
3. Best Comedy/Musical Film
This should improve the overall quality of each category if there are awards at stake. As it is now, people who make these types of films know going in that they don't have much chance at major awards.
its high time that the Academy starts to honor these kinds of films, success creates its own art form and the "movie snobs" must take them seriously. I give Harry a 4 bagger (popcorn) out of a possible 5.
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