Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Teen desire and romance hits Hogwarts in the sixth Harry Potter film, and goes a long way to providing contrast to the skullduggery being perpetrated by Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, and three Death Eaters that swirl around the story like exterminating angels. The actors have all aged well into their familiar roles, with Daniel Radcliffe showing evermore confidence in playing the "Chosen One" with a reserve of humor and restrained emotion. Hermione's amorous preoccupation with Ron gets lift during a couple of very well executed Quidditch sequences that lend harmless excitement to some of the film's otherwise darker set pieces. The ever-perfect Michael Gambon is a delight as Dumbledore, whose objective of undermining the evil Lord Voldemort with Harry's prodigious help sets the film's tempo. David Yates returns after directing the last Potter film with a determinedly Gothic vision that allows emotional and visual color to emanate from JK Rowling's collection of lively protagonists. Jim Broadbent adds particular energy as Professor Horace Slughorn, who Dumbledore convinces to return to teaching magic potions at Hogwarts. Slughorn's repressed memories of a student named Tom Riddle--later to become Lord Voldemort--provide essential insight into the nature of the beast that Harry must face in the next installment. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is the most balanced Harry Potter film to come along, perhaps because the right combination of screenwriter (Steve Kloves) and director has been established, along with the appropriate team of special effects wizards and talented production crew. Of course it's the actors that make the magic happen and every one, from Alan Rickman and Robbie Coltrane to Emma Watson and Bonnie Wright, cast a memorable spell.
(Warner Brothers) Rated PG. 153 mins. (B+) (Four Stars)