This was the first “Potter” movie I saw where I had the entire book read before I saw the movie.  That makes my enjoyment of the Harry Potter world much more enjoyable but it does make it harder to watch the movies from a critical view.  I really will attempt to review this movie as JUST A MOVIE and not based off of my captivation of the books.  The director of this one (the last one, and the last two also) is David Yates.  I was not a fan of his, but anyone who comes after accomplished director of the 3rd one, Alfonso Cuaron, must understand that it’s not easy to improve on his work.  However, he does a wonderful job of directing this one.  It gives me hope for the last two (the last book is split into two movies).  He has really made a worthy effort to keep the angles and shots in this movie complex and dazzling, while also matching the colors and editing with the bleak story and maturity of the characters.  Speaking of the characters, the entire cast returns for this one with the addition of Jim Broadbent, who is brilliant as Prof. Slughorne, and Jessie Cave as the lovestruck, Lavender Brown.  They blend right in with the rest of the cast as if they’ve been there all along, but both easily steal the show with their brand of humor, which there was plenty of!  This might be the first “Potter” film that made me laugh out loud at genuinely funny performances.  But I wonder if trying to put too much of that into the movie made them take their eye off the ball by focusing on more of the character-driven adolescent nuances than the mystery and adventure surrounding the ending of the film.  That’s my only complaint with this movie.  They took out, what I consider to be, key scenes that explain Harry and Dumbledore’s quest.  Those scenes would have kept the movie darker and mysterious, while satisfying fans’ thirst for glimpses into Voldemort’s past.  Damnit!  I couldn’t do it.  I tried not to, but I’m reviewing it as a movie from a book instead of JUST A MOVIE.  Ignorance might be bliss when seeing these because if you don’t know a scene exists, you’ll never miss it when it’s taken out.  As a fan of JUST THE MOVIE, it is the best in what is arguably shaping up to be one of the greatest movie series of all time.  As a fan of the movies based on books that I love, it’s a wonderful and heartbreaking setup to what I hope will be the climax ending we all hope it should be…it just could’ve had a little more.
Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince (Rated PG)
Gavin Grade: A