July 2009 | blackfilm.com | HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

Having not been a true fan of the film franchise or the books, I can say that watching the sixth film in the Harry Potter series, 'Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince,' may inspire me to read the final book. This film is filled with more intensity and suspense than any of the previous movies.

To understand 'Prince,' moviegoers need to have seen the previous films to know where the films starts off. No sense in rehashing the past if you are a faithful follower. As with most of the Potter films, there's always something brewing at Hogwarts, and Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his most trusted friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine (Emma Watson), are at the center of it all. With Death Eaters employing Harry's nemesis, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), to do their bidding for Lord Voldemort, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) counters the evil minions by having Harry work alongside an unsupecting retired teacher named Slughorn (Jim Broadbent). With some cunning maneuvers, Harry gets Slughorn to reveal some his memories of Voldemort's past when he was a student at the school.

Harry must find out where the trouble began with Voldemort before death comes ringing at the door.In addition to battling "he who shall not be named," the young friends are also undergoing puberty and juggling sometime uncontrollable emotions.

There are more characters involved in this production, and each of them shines. Standing out is Felton's Malfoy. Always around as the kid who loves to torture Potter and his friends, Felton is multilayered this time, as his character is conflicted about doing the right thing. If you have seen all of the other movies, you will be happy to know that many of the other characters get more to do and say this time around.

At 153 minutes, the film is a bit long to sit through, but author J.K. Rowling is a stickler for wanting most of the book in the film adaptation. Overall, this film is more emotional, more complex and certainly more intriguing. Radcliffe doesn't disappoint as a more mature Harry finally accepting his fate as the "Chosen One.'"