After a controversial release delay last year, the latest installment of the Harry Potter film franchise has finally arrived. After eight years, seven books, and five preceding films, have the filmmakers found a perfect middle ground between die-hard fans and casual moviegoers?
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the story that sets the tone for the grand finale. Voldemort is making moves throughout both the wizarding and Muggle worlds in preparation for a full-scale takeover. Meanwhile, Professor Dumbledore has recruited an old friend, Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), to take a teaching position at the school, but not without a greater purpose. At the film’s core, however, is Dumbledore’s intent to prepare Harry for the final battle.
It goes without saying, certain elements of the book had to be sacrificed for a fluid film narrative. Half-Blood Prince is not without its fair share of ’B-plot’ cuts, but it more than makes up for them with some of the best characterization of any of the films thus far. While it would have been easy for the ’hormonal’ element to overshadow the greater plot, it is a necessary exploration of Harry, Ron and Hermione’s growth into young adults that leads to the final bow in Deathly Hallows.
The trio of Radcliffe, Grint and Watson once again give natural performances that have matured alongside their characters. Gambon also delivers a wonderful turn as Dumbledore, having far more screen time than in any previous installment. However, it is newcomer Broadbent who turns in the Oscar-worthy supporting role of Slughorn. He brings to the character a warm, sympathetic demeanor befitting his importance.
Technical elements of the film are also noteworthy. The visual effects are above and beyond any realism seen in the series and the musical score by Nicholas Hooper is significantly more dramatic and in tune with the tone of the series than his work in Phoenix. The gorgeous aesthetics, however, are what make this film stand apart from the rest. French cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel (Am’lie, Across the Universe) has given Prince a marvelously rich feel that settles us into the beloved world while impressing upon us the growing darkness of the story.
My one major complaint regarded the cut made to the climactic turning point, but my fears have been assuaged by the rumor that several scenes are being transplanted into the first part of Deathly Hallows. For those who found Goblet of Fire and Prisoner of Azkaban to be the closest in spirit to the books, Half-Blood Prince just might challenge them for the new favorite entry of the franchise.
