TV & Film Review

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Feature Film | David Yates
By Eric Schneider

A moody and intriguing installment that sets up the two-part series finale.

Half-Blood who? It could have been more aptly titled Harry Potter and the End Is Near, since this sixth cinematic chapter in the massively successful fantasy series features very little of anyone or anything princely; instead, it revels in an effectively foreboding mood. With his second round at helming a Potter film, British director David Yates amps up the atmosphere, creating the most visually stunning installment since Spanish auteur Alfonso Cuaron's macabre take on Prisoner of Azkaban and expertly establishing a cool, looming backdrop for his maturing actors to inhabit. Though some of author J.K. Rowling's beloved characters appear only briefly, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint) all make the most of their screen time, portraying the awkwardness and anxiety of being teens, particularly ones with magical powers and epic responsibilities. Though saddled with inevitable grand-finale plot set-up, the movie moves as gracefully as possible within its narrative constraints, making it top-shelf wizard cinema.

TAGS: based on a novel, coming of age, dark, Fantasy, Good vs. evil, Harry Potter, magic, moody, sequel, wizards, young love,

FACTS: Released: July 15, 2009 (Warner Bros.); MPAA: PG; Runtime: 153 minutes; Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent; Screenwriter: Steve Kloves; Author: J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Trailer