Six movies in and the popular franchise does not feel like it is losing any steam. It sort of makes me wonder what will happen once the final movie has played. I cannot believe the studio would let the lucrative franchise languish following such a great run. You know how studios think, milk it until it is dry. Will we see continuing adventures as adults? Perhaps a spin-off featuring minor characters? Maybe in this remake/prequel driven market we will see the adventures of Harry's parents or the series restarted with a younger cast and a darker/edgier take on the material? Then again, perhaps not. Until something like that happens, I will choose to just enjoy the movies as they come. The Half-Blood Prince proves to be a good follow-up to Order of the Phoenix, although not quite its equal.

I sat there enjoying the story as it played out in front of me: the spells and potions flashing; angsty, emotion-filled youth struggling with the weight of reality and the onset of young adulthood, while the adults pondered weighty issues and that will have an effect on all of them. All things considered, it is rather melodramatic, but it plays well as a compelling and well-rounded story that adds much texture to the bigger picture of the film series at large.

However, as much as is packed into these stories, I wonder just how much more is in the book. This thought is buoyed by the faces of disappointed Potter-heads I witnessed on my way out of the theater. They were complaining about all the stuff that was in the book that failed to make it to the movie. You would think that with six movies down, they would realize by now that the movies are going to be different than the books. They will generally be accurate, but changes are inevitable. People really need to stop comparing the two mediums so strictly, different things work in different places and you will never see a complete, word for word adaptation of anything.

With that out of my system, let's take a look at the movie.

It begins with an attack by the Death Eaters on the muggle world. They take out a bridge filled with people on their out of town, which also features the kidnapping of, who I presume to be, a shop owner. It was the shop in that magic alley where Harry got his first wand in the The Sorceror's Stone. The scene then shifts to the London Underground where Harry is in a cafe reading a newspaper. His reading is interrupted by a little flirting with the cute waitress. Unfortunately, this fun is not to last or turn into anything more as Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) appears across the way on the train platform. Duty calls.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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