Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Movie Review

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, is a nostalgic romp into the world of Harry Potter. I use the word nostalgic because readers of the Half Blood Prince will enjoy this film. In many ways, it takes people into an adventure of self-discovery. I found myself remembering my first love as the movie progressed and the developing relationships between the main characters has grown much like the actors who play them.

This movie is a visual delight to the eyes, through special effects. However, the use of color in this film leaves much to be desired; I prefer my films in vivid colors and not the muted tones that are predominate in this film. Even the exciting scenes of Quidditch were diminished by the director's choice of filming technique.

The movie offers little in the development of main storyline and readers of the book can tell you that much of the secondary character development, which was the most charming part of the book, was left on the cutting room floor.

If I have one criticism of this film it would be that, the majority of secondary characters needed a bit more fleshing out and more background story. It is almost as if the director expects viewers to have read the book.

For example, in one scene, viewers are shown wizard's gag shop with little explanation of why or how it came to be, readers of the book understand it significance, but for anyone else it is just a shop. This happen throughout the film and it includes the character of Draco Malfoy, who should have had more lines and less angst.

Still for the purpose of entertainment, it was a good afternoon film. People who have enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series will enjoy it a lot more than people who have not read the books.

Younger children however maybe board since most of the action in this film is verbal and not visual. In addition, there is a lot of teen kissing in this movie and I heard "Yuck" a few times from the younger boys in the theater. My own child was squirming by the middle of this film and wanted to leave, so parents with children, under the age of six, may want to see this film during a matinee.