Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is another bridge movie. However, I liked this one a little more than Order of the Phoenix for a couple of reasons. For one, the A-story is more prominent and much more interesting than that of the last movie. We finally learn more about Voldemort instead of just getting glimpses of him so he can show up for a quick skirmish. The plot of this one has much more depth and much more going on that it draws you in as you wonder how things are going to play out. We learn that most of the main characters are playing bigger roles behind the scenes of Hogwarts. Also, actual progress is being made in terms of the plot rather than just hinting or slowly moving up the ministry of magic bureaucracy.

Highlights from the movie include a great opening scene of destruction on muggle property, a ‘magical-shootout’ in the bathroom, and a magical stand-off in a thicket. Some of the humor is quite effective, but there is nothing in here that would make me burst out lauging as loud as the inebriated fellow next to me was doing. Michael Gambon steals the show this time getting in some great lines and showing off how much of a badass he really is. There is a point in this movie where he pretty says ‘screw the rules, I’m Albus F-ing Dumbledore’.

However, my biggest gripe about this movie is the B-story. I’ve nothing against adding some romance into a movie like this, but it drags on for too long. It’s clear as day that Ron and Hermione are not going to end up with their adoring stalkers as Ron’s is too smothering and Hermione’s is a total douche bag. Yet, the movie plays out this shtick until it become tiresome and just peters out never reaching any satisfying conclusion. Also, it doesn’t mesh well with the A-story as well it did with Order of the Phoenix. In that movie, Professor Umbridge actually presented a real threat that would conflict with Harry’s fears about being prepared for Voldemort’s return. In Half-Blood Prince, rarely does anything from the B-story cross over or conflict with the A-story. And that scene where Harry and Ron are talking about girls’ skin is like something straight out of bad teen drama. If that was really what J.K. Rowling wrote in the book, she’s not that great a writer.

Overall, a slightly better bridge movie with more plot development, more action, and a much darker ending. These last two movies better be fantastic considering they’ve spent two movies building up to it.

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