'Harry Potter' and the cinematic six-pack
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Running time: 153 minutes
MPAA rating: PG (scary images, violence, language, mild sensuality)
On the Web
No franchise attains cinematic six-pack status without a compelling yarn to spin.
Of course it doesn't hurt that the built-in audience that's grown up along with the characters of J.K. Rowling's fantasy novels flock to movie houses to see each new installment.
While the movies, like the books, re-stir the plot pot from time to time, the stories remain fresh enough to prolong the spell Rowling has cast over her enchanted followers.
The fifth "Harry Potter" sequel, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," continues to build tension for the ultimate showdown between young wizard Harry and Dark Lord Voldemort.
The final confrontation will fill movie screens in two installments beginning next year and concluding once and for all (one can hope) in 2011. Anyone who has read this sixth novel knows, however, that the "Harry Potter" pump is primed to deliver a startling showdown in this one as well.
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" has its plodding moments, though, as the title wizard is whisked away from a train station at the end of summer vacation. The mission is to help headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) attain valuable information from returning Potions Professor Horace Slughorn (Oscar winner Jim Broadbent).
Dark clouds rumble above Hogwarts. And even the Great Hall may not be safe from invading evil forces. Thankfully, returning director David Yates ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix") and screenwriter Steve Kloves, the Austin native who has written every "Potter" adventure except "Order of the Phoenix," float some welcome comic relief to the gloomy surface from time to time.
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), his best pal Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and his other best pal Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) experience some rather normal teenage emotions. Romantic urges, jealously and confusion all come into play as the key characters begin to feel the pangs of romance.
My favorite is Grint's Ron Weasley. Harry experienced his first kiss at Hogwarts last school year. This year Ron, who has always been called upon when the emotional load gets too heavy, provides much needed laughs.
Rowling's devotees have long sensed that Ron and Hermione have eyes for each other. That becomes a little more conflicted in this episode. Bold classmate Lavender Brown (newcomer Jessie Cave) catches too big a whiff of a love potion and latches onto Ron like an affectionate love leech.
All the usual elements are in place, of course. Wizards-in-training gather in the Great Hall to meet the faculty for the new year. Wizards take to their brooms for yet another aerial Quidditch match, and Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) introduces another creature out on the Hogwarts grounds.
When this sixth adventure gets down to serious business, however, Dark Lord Voldemort's followers -- the swift flying Death Eaters -- shake up both the wizards and the Muggles (regular folks). There's also an evil scheme involving one of Harry's Hogwart rivals.
Fans will be pleased to know that the kids are all right. Radcliffe, Grint and Watson now own the characters of Harry, Ron and Hermione. They continue to service them more than adequately.
The series remains technically wondrous as well. I like the little touches, such as a tiny bit of glass under Harry's shoe wiggling out to return to its chandelier home.
Broadbent brings much needed levity to his role as Professor Slughorn, and it's a hoot to see Helena Bonham Carter vamp it up again as hissing, kissing Lord Voldemort worshiper Bellatrix Lestrange.
Unfortunately, though, this sequel drags on too long at just over two and a half hours. The story never gets boring, really. Like so many so-called "event movies" these days, it just wallows in its own screen glory too long.
And while I'm on my soapbox:
I have long been an admirer of Alan Rickman's work. Not just in every "Harry Potter" adventure so far but also for his tremendous performance in "Truly, Madly, Deeply" and other films.
That said, even though his character of Professor Severus Snape has been and remains a key one, I'm extremely weary of Rickman's hammy de--lib--er--ate speech pattern as Snape.
Enough al--read--y.
Comments