"Well worth the wait? Absolutely - a must... the true coming-of-age film of the series that is necessary viewing for the next dangerous chapter."

Harry is back - on screen, at least - for all those craving their summer dosage of the Boy Wizard, now the books are all but finished. Admittedly, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince feels like an autumn/winter film release, rather than one out mid-July when the sun is shining [or not - sic]. So, how does Episode 6 in the sun fare? Well, the magic still lives on for fans as we get more of a character insight into the leads, Harry, Hermione and Ron, because the film-makers concentrate on developing the relationships that will define them in the next chapter. As they have grown up, so, too, has the humour - and there is a lot more of it, dripping with sarcasm. This is one of the positives of No.6 because adults can better relate and get more enjoyment out of a Potter film. But let's not kid ourselves that this film is any better than, say, Prisoner of Azkaban because the book only really gets interesting, 'visually', towards the end. 0------

Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint seem to be taking their characters, Harry and Ron, in their confident stride now, as they have defined them since their own youth, having more fun with each one's traits and neuroses. Even Emma Watson relaxes her clipped and wooden performance as Hermione, as we realise the 'ice princess' can melt with the right man in tow. There are also the welcome, snatched moments with loopy Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), and a greater slice of the run-time devoted to Harry's true love, Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) who matures before our very eyes into a saucy teen vixen. Jessie Cave as Ron's 'stalking' ex, Lavender Brown, compliments Grint's comedy performance, too. Sadly, Tom Felton as Draco spends most of his time skulking around a dusty trunk, until the end stand-off between good and evil. Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange has playing crazy down to a fine art, and is just as deranged and fun to watch this time around, as before. -------

The film-makers really capture the darkening despair that creeps over Hogwarts with the loss of its great charismatic leader, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), complete with gloomy set design, striking lighting and special effects, and heavenly birds-eye-view shots. These eerie and unsettling times at the end translate exceptionally well onto the big screen, and actually produce a lump in the throat. But, rest assured, as the sun rises, there is the glimmer of hope in the final scene that 'Team Harry' will be right there beside the Boy Wizard - whatever the cost. -------

Fans beware: there are some troubling adaptations to the book, such as the Burrows burning down; Weasley big bro Billy and partner Fleur being strangely absent; and the riddle of how Tom Riddle Jr became, rather than him just appearing as a difficult and slightly odd kid in an orphanage 'cell'. But some concession has to be given to the film-makers with the amount of story matter to cover, and special care has been taken with the crux of the novel - the Dumbledore-Potter relationship, where Dumbledore indirectly passes the baton in the fight against the dark wizards to Harry, and they go on their little cave 'bonding' adventure, that are magnificently recreated - even if it appears that the duo are entering Superman's Fortress of Solitude, rather than a cave. ---------

With more screen-time emphasis on relationships that are portrayed as less frivolous and innocent than in the previous films, it can feel, in parts, like the film is dragging a tad. Thankfully, though, the majority of these lulls are punctuated by the funniest moments belonging to Grint as Ron, fought over by two girls for the first time in his existence. As with every Potter film, there is the welcome introduction of a new veteran actor, and Jim Broadbent steps in as the pompous Professor Horace Slughorn in a delightfully witty portrayal, particularly in his sloshed scene with Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). -------------

Well worth the wait? Absolutely - a must, just to see Harry leave behind his Boy Wizard image and learn his true fate. It is the true coming-of-age film of the series that is necessary viewing for the next dangerous chapter, even if it lags in parts and omits sections and characters from the book - BUT it doesn't need to be any longer! -----------

Synopsis -------

Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And then there's Hermione, simmering with jealousy but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again. -----

Film Facts ------

Official site: http://www.harrypotter.co.uk/

UK Release Date: 15th July 2009

Director: David Yates

Writers: Steve Kloves, J.K. Rowling (novel)

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe ('Harry Potter'), Emma Watson ('Hermione Granger'), Rupert Grint ('Ron Weasley'), Michael Gambon ('Professor Albus Dumbledore'), Jim Broadbent ('Professor Horace Slughorn'), Bonnie Wright ('Ginny Weasley'), Tom Felton ('Draco Malfoy'), Helena Bonham Carter ('Bellatrix Lestrange'), Jessie Cave ('Lavender Brown'), David Bradley ('Argus Filch'), Robbie Coltrane ('Rubeus Hagrid'), Evanna Lynch ('Luna Lovegood'), Warwick Davis ('Professor Flitwick'), Alan Rickman ('Severus Snape'), Maggie Smith ('Minerva McGonagall')

Distributor: Warner Bros UK

Certificate: 12A

Run-time: 153 mins

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