Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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Genres: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel
Running Time: 2 hr. 33 min.
Release Date (Hyderabad): July 17th, 2009

Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Michael Gambon (Professor Albus Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Professor Severus Snape)

Teenage hormones blossoming romance across the ramparts of Hogwarts and beyond in the midst of Voldemort's rampant charge gripping both the Muggle (non-magical world) and Wizarding worlds, this sequel of Harry Potter is built on interesting premises, promising interesting insights into the series with its twists and pace.

Director David Yates from the previous sequel continues to direct this episode too. Heard he is also directing the last book of this series and also heard is being split into two movies, a brilliant commerical idea. Warner Brothers would definitely not want to kill the golden goose, but would look at all possibly ways of stretching the goose beyond its life term.

Enter a new character, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, Dumbledore's old friend and colleague, who is recruited back into Hogwarts. He seem to hold crucial information on Voldemort (the menacing, sharp and intelligent antagonist, though only get to see him in this episode as a kid). This episode also markes the tragical end of a prominent character (for those who read the book, would not be a surprise or suspenseful).

Amongst scenes that takes one back to past through bottled memory/thoughts (one of the many gimmicks from the magical world, which can also be compromised or deviated), we get to see how smartly Voldemort has strategized his defenses (de-centralized soul). Also on display is a fair dose of Dark Art and very less of Quidditch (no more a novelty, gets repititive and uninteresting, a popular ball game played by wizards and witches on flying broomsticks).

All said, this episode is worth watching and is darker, inspite of the good doses of teenage romance spread across the length of the movie.

Rating: 3.5/5

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