Staring: Daniel Radcliffe, Michael Gambon, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Jim BroadbentDirected by: David YatesIn theaters: July 15

When I heard I’d have the opportunity to go to the ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ press screening, my first reaction was to run up to my bedroom, pull out the green hardcover book – sixth from the left – and turn to Page 1. It felt good to be back at Hogwarts.

The sixth installment of the Potter film series hits theaters Wednesday and may be the best yet. It combines the intrigue and mystery of past films with some fresh comedy and romance. Heightened special effects and tantalizing villains make the 150-minute movie scarier than the past five, while the fallen-hero ending will result in many misty-eyed audiences.

In ‘Half-Blood Prince,’ the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), along with his Death Eaters, have wrecked havoc on both the magic and non-magic worlds. Meanwhile, Harry Potter (Radcliffe) has discovered that he is the Chosen One – destined to kill Voldemort or be killed. Harry and the wise Professor Dumbledore (Gambon) try to discover the secrets behind the Dark Lord by studying memories from Voldemort’s time at Hogwarts and uncovering his relationship with Professor Slughorn (Broadbent).

With the story fresh in my mind, it was hard not to notice all the things that were missing in the movie. For Potter fans, I’m talking about no Fleur Delacour, no elves, no Rufus Scrimgeour. Or in other words, I’m talking about dropped characters, subplots and loss of charming details and scenes.

But screenwriter Steve Kloves’ adaptation of the book still manages to make 652 pages accessible, entertaining and infused with quite a bit of humor, which is ironic given the dangerous environment the film is set in.

Broadbent’s comedy is a rich and welcome addition to the Potter cast. He shines as the plump and friendly professor who likes to ‘collect’ his favorite students and brag about his favorite students. But he’s also captivating in his darker moments as the guilt-ridden old man with a dark and haunting secret.

Added to the usual mix of mystery and magic is quite a bit of romantic comedy. Cormac McLaggen (Freddie Storma) likes Hermione (Watson), who likes Ron (Grint), who likes Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave) – but not quite as much as she likes him. Harry likes Ron’s sister Ginny, and Ginny (Bonnie Wright) likes Harry, too, but she can’t seem to break things off with Dean Thomas (Alfie Enoch), who’s very into her.

It’s exhausting, but the puppy love is a cute and somewhat refreshing addition. The characters are growing up and becoming capable and knowledgeable wizards who can control their world with magic. This makes their inability to control their own hormones and the romantic preferences of those around them charming though sometimes contrived.

Still, all and all, Radcliffe, Watson and particularly Grint really show their acting chops. We’ve seen them play distressed and scared, but this time around, they impress with a more nuanced, flirty comedy. You get kind of giddy as you watch them grapple with the ‘keen sting of love,’ as Dumbledore puts it.

One love-struck criticism though – after this great romantic buildup between Ginny and Harry, the resulting smooch leaves much to be desired. I’m not asking for a Potter-porno, but a little more oomph and duration could have left us with a truer sense of sparks.

Think back to film five and the Cho Chang smooch. It was pretty G-rated, and I’d expect that back then. They were young. Cho was just a fling. But Ginny’s the real deal and should have been reeled in for a more satisfying snog.

Smooches aside, the film was scarier than those before it. I jumped and cringed more in these new unsettling times.

And since Voldemort makes no appearance in ‘Half-Blood Prince,’ it’s up to the supporting foes to foster the fear. Helena Bonham Carter returns as Bellatrix Lestrange, the cackling, wicked murderer of Harry’s uncle, Sirius, in ‘Order of the Phoenix.’ Tom Felton plays a more layered and devious Draco Malfoy, Harry’s peer nemesis.

It’s long at two and a half hours, but the ending’s a real tearjerker. (Spoiler alert!)

I went into this movie with one thing in mind: Dumbledore dies on Page 606. The great wizard’s death was so emotional for me, the pages detailing his funeral chapter are warped from tears in my copy of the book.

The movie was almost close to as heartbreaking as the book. Watching Dumbledore’s (Gambon) tired, twinkly blue eyes close on Hogwarts, Harry and the series choked up quite a few of no-nonsense audience members in the room.

With Dumbledore’s death and the end of film six, there’s also an impeding realization that the end is truly near. The final book will be split into two movies due out November 2010 and summer 2011. The final two movies have a new structure and a different feel, producers say: No Hogwarts. No Hogsmeade. No Dumbledore to explain secrets and offer philosophical adages. But the three wizards will return together having faced childhood, adolescence, love, death and uncertain futures with one big battle (and two big movies) left to go.

jmterrus@syr.edu

Published on August 12, 2009 at 12:00 pm