Magic and loss

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
steers the franchise even further into
melancholy territory

DEATH, DARKNESS AND DATING:
Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson

by MARK SLUTSKY

Noting that little Harry Potter is all grown up has become such a feature of reviews of the recent films in the franchise that it’s practically cliché. And yet, there’s still something startling about the opening of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which shows our not-so-little-anymore wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) picking up a hot waitress in a coffee shop. I mean, good for Harry. But it’s weird.

The sixth (or, uh, seventh? It’s hard to keep track) installment in the series continues in its gradual arc towards darkness and adult themes. Death and dating are the movie’s main pre-occupations as Harry and his pals Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) return to Hogwarts, now more of an enchanted fortress than a school, as Voldemort’s gang of Death Eaters get their evil on in the outside world.

Meanwhile, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) works to unravel the baddies’ master plan, enlisting Harry to help unearth the secrets of returning Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), who taught Voldemort as a child. Contrasting with the sinister plots and plans are plenty of light romantic-comedy antics as the kids’ hormones start to kick in. It is a bit of a strange balancing act to pull it off and it isn’t entirely successful.

As the series ramps up to its big finale, Half-Blood Prince necessarily feels a little anti-climactic. It doesn’t end with as big a bang as most of the other Potter films; the movie could probably do with a couple more set pieces. And it shares a flaw common to all these movies, where despite a two-and-a-half-hour running time, important plot details seem left out or skimmed over (the mysterious identity of the Prince of the title, key to the story, is revealed in a hasty “oh by the way” aside).

That said, this is a very easy and even lovely movie to watch. Director David Yates and cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel (Amélie) create some gorgeous visuals and the special effects are impressive and seamless. And despite whatever flaws this movie has, the world of Harry Potter is still a comfortable one to inhabit for a few hours, even as it veers into darkness.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD
PRINCE IS NOW IN THEATRES