Though all of the “Harry Potter” movies have been entertaining, “Prisoner of Azkaban” stood out above the rest as a critical favorite. Enter David Yates’ masterful adaptation of “Half-Blood Prince,” which with its strong character development and eye-popping visuals has quickly become the best “Potter” film yet.
In the sixth and penultimate installment in the series, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) has three mysteries to face. First, after Voldemort’s return at the end of the fifth film, the magical world is on the brink of war. With Voldemort’s death eaters attacking wizards and muggles alike, there is a feeling of impending destruction.
Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) tasks Harry with looking into Voldemort’s past to piece together the tools to destroy him. Part of this exploration includes retrieving a memory from potions professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) that may be the key to Voldemort’s defeat. Harry also suspects that Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is somehow involved in Voldemort’s plans.
Second, Harry obtains a potions book with the mysterious inscription “property of the Half-Blood Prince.” Filled with notes scribbled in the margins, the Prince’s advice steers Harry to the top of the class. But some of the book’s notes are more than just helpful homework hints, and Harry has no idea about the Prince’s true identity.
Finally Harry and his friends deal with the mysteries of the opposite sex. Now 16 years old, Harry finds himself growing closer to Ginny (Bonnie Wright), who suddenly seems like more than just Ron’s (Rupert Grint) little sister. Meanwhile, Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to terms with her feelings for Ron, but may face competition from the outgoing Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave).
“Half-Blood Prince” serves mainly as a bridge between Voldemort’s return and the final battle. This story is more driven by the characters than action, but Yates still manages to keep things interesting. He creates a dark atmosphere that emphasizes the urgency of impending war but balances it out with some light-hearted romantic humor.
For the most part, the film’s romantic subplot works well. It emphasizes the fact that Harry and his friends are still adolescents and have to continue growing up even with a war coming. Ron and Hermione’s relationship plays a key role in the seventh book and is established well here, though Lavender’s over-the-top romantic gestures prove a bit overwhelming.
This film is by far the most visually stunning of the series with its top-notch special effects and cinematography. The quidditch scenes and the film’s climax are particularly impressive, and a dark look is maintained throughout the film even in its lighter moments.
The performances are also better than they’ve ever been. Radcliffe, Grint and Watson are all very comfortable in their roles now. They have all matured as actors, especially Radcliffe, who shines in both comedic and dramatic ways in this film.
Gambon, whose portrayal of Dumbledore has been divisive in this past, is spot-on here. At times he is warm while other times he is devastating. Felton also gives a particularly nuanced performance. While he was only a bully and a coward in previous films, here he is determined yet genuinely fearful of the task Voldemort has given him.
The film leaves out some parts of the book and adds others, which will likely disappoint some fans, but Yates still creates a cohesive story. What makes a great book doesn’t necessarily make a great film. This is a great film, and fans who want it to be 100 percent faithful to the book should just read the book.
Yates has a clear understanding of the world J.K. Rowling created, and he has made a beautiful film with “Half-Blood Prince.” If this movie is any indication, his “Deathly Hallows” will be the truly epic conclusion this series deserves. A-
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