| |
RATING:   
I have to confess that even though I've watched every one of the last five Harry Potter movies, I've never read a single word of J K Rowling's cash cow. Which made watching the sixth instalment of the franchise, with no prior knowledge of how it's all going to turn out, all the more exciting.
Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was and Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) is more intent on preparing Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) for the final battle against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
But first, our hero and his best pals Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) must extract vital information from fresh-out-of-retirement Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) that could help the young wizard's fight.
Director David Yates has delivered a hormonally-charged teen angst love story that is funnier yet darker, sadder yet sweeter than all its predecessors.
While there were lengthy expositions that could have used a snip or two from the film's two-and-a-half hours, there were more than enough subversive innuendos, laugh-out-loud moments, and breathtaking CGI - particularly during the opening sequence of havoc in the real world and the popular Quidditch match - to send you on an un-rushed journey to a drama-fuelled, surprisingly moving ending.
Britain's acting royalty's continual appearances in the franchise continues with spot-on performances from Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter and Broadbent, hitting all the right notes as Snape, Bellatrix and Slughorn, respectively.
Particularly noticeable were also the honest and confident showings from younglings Radcliffe, Watson and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), who clearly have benefited from the pedigree company they've kept through the years.
Is Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince the best one yet? Not entirely, but it sure works perfectly as a set-up to keep you wanting and waiting in an almost desperate way for the eventual epic two-part finale. We can't wait.
- TODAY/yb
|
