Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Early in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," young wizard-in-training and prophesied chosen one Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is magically transported to a small house by his headmaster, Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon). Dumbledore says, "Harry, I suppose you must be wondering why I've brought you here." Harry replies, "Actually, sir, after all these years I just sort of go with it." And in that brief moment, it also reflects how the audience feels: We've spent years with the creators and actors behind this series (currently in its sixth film, with only a two-film adaptation of the final book to go). And we, like Harry, trust the people taking us on this journey, because we've come to know them as worthy stewards of our interest in the past. And with "Half-Blood Prince," they continue to earn that trust with what may be the best film in the series.

Directed by David Yates (who also directed "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"), "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" isn't great family entertainment -- it's great entertainment, period, a blockbuster with true heart and real humanity alongside the high-stakes struggles and brilliant effects. One of the great pleasures of this series has been the rare chance to watch actors, characters and a franchise grow and mature with the passing of time. Gone are the playful high jinks and mild peril of the early films. Now, the world is in the balance, and so are the fates of characters we've come to care about, and it's testament to the work director Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves (whose adaptations of J.K. Rowling's novels have become more and more adept at trimming the bulk from the books without cutting the soul from the stories) that we care as much as we do.

"Half-Blood Prince," the next-to-last book in the series, has a lot of setup -- more about the past of series nemesis Lord Voldemort and the drawing of the battle lines before the final clash. But "Half-Blood Prince" never feels draggy or dreary, and while it may be two hours and 20 minutes long, it moves like a greased cat. The "Potter" series has always mixed the mighty blows and blasts of its magic alongside the everyday triumphs and tragedies of normal teen life. And the too-long hugs and sidelong glances of adolescent affection are in full play here; it's a minor miracle of a balancing act that the soap opera-style romantic material never feels bloodlessly shy or heartlessly cheap.

The film's success is in no small part thanks to the army of great actors giving small parts their all. Alan Rickman's velvet croak, with those glacial ... pauses ... is still purring threats, and this time they're delivered on. Gambon, as Dumbledore, is still the kind father Harry never had. Rupert Grint, as Harry's best friend Ron, still provides great comic relief alongside Emma Watson's heroic faithfulness as Hermione. Radcliffe even gets to swing for the fences here with an unexpected -- and unexpectedly funny -- bit in which Harry, benefiting from a "liquid luck" potion, is jazzed and jaunty in a way we've never seen him before. Radcliffe sells the scene with ace comedy timing ("I just have a really good feeling about going to Hagrid's. ...") and yet never lets us doubt we're watching Harry.

The technical accomplishments and effects are great, as ever, with amazing cinematography by Bruno Delbonnel ("Amelie") making the fantastic real and the real fantastic. It should also be noted that "Half-Blood Prince" confirms that you could watch the "Potter" series in order and not only witness the best in special effects but the best use of judgment in when and how to use them. Yes, there's a Quiddich game in "Prince" -- the broomstick-football wizard's workout sporting game of the series -- but it not only looks amazing, it's also entirely about who these characters are, what they mean to each other, and where the series is going.

And the series is going to dark places. Harry, entering adulthood, has to make choices here, between losing badly and losing very, very badly, and we watch his plight with interest and sympathy. The forces against him are mighty, and yet the allies he has are strong. This is the true wonder of the Potter series: How it expresses not simply the fantasy that in our time of need we might have magical miraculous powers but, rather, the real hope that in our time of need we might have the miracle of true friendship. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is great, rousing summertime movie adventure, and satisfies on every level even as it makes you eagerly await the finale of the series. After all these years, we just sort of go with it, gladly, and the cast and crew of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" have worked hard to make sure the going is good.

See also:

Cinemama's review: 'Half-Blood Prince' Is a Magical Ride

Gallery: 'Potter,' Then and Now

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