Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Directed by: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe

Genre: Science Fiction/ Fantasy

Run Time: 153 min.

Release Date: July 2009

On The Web: Official Site

Teaser: Movie Trailer

Reviewed by Byron Merritt

I constantly and consistently hear complaints from Harry Potter book fanatics about the film adaptations. Oh they left this out! Oh they left that out! It’s the same sorry grumbling time after time. And I wish it would stop. The mediums (literary and theatrical) are not 100% compatible. Period. It will never, ever happen. This movie alone was 153 minutes long, right in line with the rest of the series in terms of length. But this one stands out quite a bit compared to the others for a couple of reasons...

The first is that this is a mature story. As Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE), Hermoine (Emma Watson, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN) and Ron (Rupert Grint, DRIVING LESSONS) continue their natural physical growth, so does the story. With age comes interest in the opposite sex, increasing responsibilities, and increased danger. It is this last one that stands out for the film, too. Dangerous and dark, this story is the most muted in terms of fun that any of us have seen so far. Director David Yates (THE GIRL IN THE CAFÉ) pulls off a stunningly stark and surreal landscape that has altered Hogswart from a place of fun and learning, to one of deception and dread.

The second reason this one stands out is that it never spoonfeeds the viewer. If you don’t know what something means, or where you’re at, or why someone is interested in someone else, well, you’re outta luck. But the connections within the film, if you pay attention, will give you all the answers. I applaud screenwriter Steve Kloves for stepping up and giving us an adult fantasy story that, at times, can make you squirm in your seat or jump out of it. I was actually surprised that the film retained a cool PG rating instead of PG-13.

The third reason this film works is that it touches on relationships in a hard way. Fomenting strong bonds with each other, and sticking to them, is not something that is normal in society, and we see the fraying of friendships as they mutate, and watch how death can affect even the sturdiest of hearts.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE outstrips all the other Harry Potter films for these very important reasons. And as for the ending? No complaints on that from me, either. I can’t wait to see what Harry and his friends do next.

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Image from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

DVD cost: $32.98

Purchase: Tower.com (Blu-Ray)

Film Review Stew Favorite? No.

Stew Poo-Poo? No.

Newsworthy: The night scenes were filmed in the quaint village of Lacock and the cloisters at Lacock Abbey for three nights, 25-28 October 2007. Filming took place from 5 PM-5 AM, and residents of the street were asked to black out their windows with dark blinds.

Movie Quote: "This is perhaps the most important memory I've collected. It is also a lie. This memory has been tampered with by the same person whose memory it is, our old friend, Professor Slughorn."

Other Actors/Actresses from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Images from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince