Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

This review will be different. Everyone who knows me knows that I am extremely anti-spoilers. I hate them and I do my best not to be the source of them. That said, I can't really do this review without spoiling this movie. I won't be telling you what happens, but in order to accurately voice my frustration, I have to tell you something that doesn't. So the entirety of this review will be behind the Rawr!, click if you like. But bare in mind that you will learn what you WON'T be seeing in this movie.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth entry in the franchise and may just be the most anticipated film of the summer, if not the year. The film is finally here after a nine month delay. Was it worth the wait?

Well, Kind of.

The story revolves around Dumbledore tracking down elusive memories about the origins of Tom Riddle, the boy who would grow up to be Lord Voldemort. That, however, takes a backseat to the seemingly endless longing stares and snogging sessions between characters.

HP6 is more about the budding love lives of the characters than anything else.

Let me cover the positive before I get to the negative.

The film looks beautiful. It's a gorgeously shot film from beginning to end. It's visually stunning in every way you can think of. I know a lot of people were worried about David Yates handling of this series and he has done a stellar job so far.

The cast is marvelous as well. The kids just get better with each role, especially Emma Watson who has really grown as an actress from each film to the next. Rupert Grint is at his charming best but, as usual, there is not near enough of him. He seems to be delegated to the background, even when he is being prominantly featured. He is one of the best things about this franchise and it just seems like the producers don't know how to properly utilize him or his character. Odd, considering it's all right there in front of them in the books.

Other characters like Luna Lovegood, who is one of my favorites, and Neville Longbottom, are barely more than extras and completely wasted.

Another underused highlight is Helena Bonham Carter's Bellatrix Lestrange. She is delightfully evil in this part and she is barely used.

That seems to be the theme of the film really. Underusing some great characters and delivering a woefully underwhelming movie.

What we have is a beautifully shot, wonderfully acted film that is stunning to look at but in the end goes absolutely nowhere.

It's a slow boil to zero payoff. It felt like the movie was written only as a way to get to the big event of the movie (most of you know what that event is, however, I won't reveal it here). Nothing else happens. Not a thing worth mentioning. You get the feeling that what we are watching is going to lead up to something. People who read the book certainly know that something major is going to happen but it never does.

This movie has absolutely no climax.

This is the spoiler part I was referring to so skip ahead if you want.

In the book, we are witness to a major attack on Hogwarts. An epic battle where everyone is thrust into the war. Students and teachers alike are fighting to save the school. This gives so many people their shining moments. This shows that Dumbldore's Army is capable of fighting the Death Eaters and that Harry has tought them well. This is a HUGE moment in the book. It leads up to the major event.

This battle does NOT happen in the movie. There is no battle for Hogwarts. In fact, there is no battle whatsoever. The school is invaded by Death Eaters but they do nothing except break some glasses and witness said major event. There is absolutely NO point in them even being there.

The problem is this takes away a huge chunk of the emotional impact of the events that follow. Granted, the aftermath of this event is very emotional and touching, but it's just not as powerful as it should be.

That is the major flaw of this film. It lacks the power of the book. It's enjoyable enough but overall it just feels like a step towards the next film instead of a launching pad. We should be jumping out of our chairs with excitement for the next films. Instead, I just feel like shrugging my shoulders and I feel like it's only because this movie has not a shred of real excitement to it.

It has laughs and it has some tears. There are glimpses of greatness but it is nowhere near the film it should have been. In fact it is barely a glimmer what it could have been.

I really can't believe that J.K. Rowling approved the script this way and don't understand how Warner Bros. thought it was okay to release a movie with such a weak ending.

There is absolutely no pay off whatsoever and it's rather frustrating. Half-Blood Prince is a giant missed opportunity. What could have been the best film of the franchise, one that ends with an amazing sequence of events, the kind of jump out of your seat thrills, instead goes out with a whimper and leaves us kind of indifferent as to wanting more.

Should you see this movie? Absolutely. See it because you love the characters and the story (even though it's barely advanced in this film). It's not a bad film it's just a bit of a let down. Especially in terms of what they chose to omit.

This might go down for me as the biggest disappointment of the year.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is in theaters officially tomorrow, but, there are some showings starting tonight.