Potter vs. Voldemort: The Stage is Set

As a non-reader of J.K. Rowling’s oeuvre who so enjoys the Harry Potter movies, I have to say I cannot wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – a.k.a. the final movie in the blockbuster series…which will be split in two! – to come out: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does that a great job at setting the stage for what’s to come.

Director David Yates, who took over the franchise with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is ushering the Potter Gang into young adulthood and the upcoming battle against He Who Must Not Be Named, with an expert hand.

In this sixth chapter in the saga – a darker entry, indeed – lines have been drawn and sides have been seemingly chosen. Lord Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was.

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), whom we’re reminded often is the Chosen One, suspects that dangers may lurk within the school, and that one of the students has turned to the dark side, but Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) worries more about preparing him for the final battle that he knows is coming than with looking for a traitor. The former task is more important.

Together, the two work to find the key to unlocking Voldemort’s defenses (cue in the nifty liquid memories for his origin story), and to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected Professor Horace Slughorn (Moulin Rouge!’s Jim Broadbent), whom he believes knows more about the young wizard Tom Riddle, who grew up to become you know who, than he says.

As if this weren’t bad enough, the student body at Hogwarts is still facing an even trickier adversary: adolescence.

For one, Harry finds himself more and more drawn to the increasingly essential Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), and for two, Quidditch MVP Ron (Rupert Grint) must contend with the advances of Lavender Brown, an eager fan, while Hermione (Emma Watson) must contend with her feelings and jealousy over Ron.

But hey, how about the Half-Blood Prince: Who is he? That you’ll have to watch, and watch you will, to find out.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a bridge movie leading to the end of a most-absorbing story. It’s also, quite possibly, the saddest movie in the franchise, so bring a hanky.

My Rating ***1/2

Photo: Warner Bros.