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The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” is now showing at major theaters.  Locally, it’s at the West Acres Marcus theater.  I saw it on the Ultra screen, and would recommend seeing it on such a screen.  I don’t notice a huge difference in the visual part of the movie, but the sound is out of this world.
I haven’t seen all of the Harry Potter movies, but I’ve seen enough so that most of the movie made sense to me.  I wouldn’t advise seeing it without having seen some of its predecessors.  The three main characters are supposedly British teenagers by now, Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliff, Ron Weasley, played by Rupert Grint, and Hermoine Graanger, played by Emma Watson.  It has been fun to watch tweenagers grow into young adults and grow in to accomplished actors.  There should be one more movie in the series, as thee is one more book in the 7 book series by J. K. Rowling  I don’t think she intends to write amy more books in this series, so the next movie should be the last.  But recall that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tried to kill off Sherlock Holmes several times, without success.  I do believe the movie series will end, at least im its present form, with the next one, since Rupert Grint is already an accomplished actor with a movie acting career in full swing while Daniel Radcliff is booked alost solid with stage appearances.
The movie itself left me with the feeling that is was just a filler until
the final episode.  There’s the usual good versus evil tone to it, and the questions of who serves the dark lord and who does not.  I couldn’t help but notice certain parallels with Star Wars and other series.  So much for the early concern about the Harry Potter films sending the wrong spiritual message.
The movie plods along with the same-old same-old, in my opinion, which will no doubt appeal to true blue Harry Potter fans.  There is a little play on the question of what happens when teen hormones gets mixed up with magic.
I’ve always been fascinated by Hogwarts Castle, where the principals are going to school.  There isn’t as much quiddich in this one.
All in all, I enjoyed myself and particularly enjoyed the acting, especially by the three students mentioned above.  Also, Tom Felton’s portrayl of Draco Malfoy( another student, but not exactly firiends with the three main characters) was impressive.
This movie will be enjoyed most by Harry Potter fans, but those somewhat familiar with the Harry Potter genre should enjoy it as well.  If you know not much about Harry Potter, you probably won’t get much out of this.
Story:  B-
Acting:  A
Special Effects:  B+
Necessity to suspend disbelief:  total