Rating of
3.5/4
Prince is King in My Book
Chris Kavan - wrote on 07/20/09
Watching the complete Potter series from Sorcerer's Stone to Order of the Phoenix recently, it really is amazing how much the actors have grown. And unlike many young stars, they've kept themselves out of trouble and proved they can mature in their art as they get older.
Half-Blood Prince is not just the next chapter in a beloved series, it's a culmination of many years of growth, working together (and the chemistry does show) and as it stands, is the best movie in the series thus far.
If Order of the Phoenix was the Potter's angst-ridden teenage saga, then Half-Blood Prince is the relationship-driven teenage saga. Especially fun is the Ron/Lavender/Hermione triangle - out of all the younger actors, Emma Watson really gave a standout performance this time around whether she was lovesick or just sick of love, though Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint hold their own.
I will also say that I think the Harry Potter series has some of the best casting, especially over such a long period. Case in point - new addition Jim Broadbent portraying the stodgy, eccentric Horace Slughorn. I loved it every time he would get Weasley's name wrong and how his relationship to Harry changes from excitement to wariness.
The rest of the cast continues to impress - some make only brief cameos, but Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon and Maggie Smith all have a pretty hefty load to bear this time around, and they all perform at the top of their games.
This Potter also has some of the darkest moments - from the opening attack on the Millennium Bridge, to the movie-only attack on the Weasley home, this has some truly disparaging moments - for a PG film, it has some scenes that push it to the limit. People who have read the book know that there is a major death and it is a powerful death at that.
Hardliners will complain about all the details that were taken out of this film (a major battle scene chief among them) and about the additions they made - I for one am not bothered by the changes. If you stick to literally to the source material, it doesn't always work out (see my review of Watchmen).
All in all, the one has everything - humor, romance, danger, death, mystery - if you're a Potter fan, you've probably already seen this (twice). If you're a fan of fantasy, you should see this. And even if you think magic is for the birds and could care less about Potter - it holds up remarkably well as just a film. If the actors continue to grow, and the casting keeps getting it right, Deathly Hallows - both parts - may be the greatest fantasy films of our generation, on par with Lord of the Rings.
