Michael Gambon as Professor Dumbledore & Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter. Watch the trailer: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/27063/video/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/19948761001
For some unknown reason, I never got into the Harry Potter books although my wife bought all of them. I do love fantasy books and films but why this franchise eludes me is something I still don't understand. I listened to the Audio Book of the first one and have seen all the film versions. If you ask me to explain the plot of each one, they all are blurred together in my mind. Perhaps I'm not the best judge in comparing the books to the movies so I rely on the Mrs and my cousin since they have devoured every written word and accompanied me to the theaters where I get their thoughts when leaving the theater.
As movies each one gets better with the special effects and we meet new guest actors among the regulars. As long as you know the basic threads that connect each story, it doesn't matter if you read the books since subplots are dropped or simplified. Each movie is pretty much self-contained and not hard to follow. This is the sixth Potter film with two remaining to conclude the cycle.
As a movie I pretty much enjoyed even if it seemed a bit longish at 159 minutes. Potter fans won't complain since there's everything they expect in these movies. Potter and the rest of the young cast have aged and the story doesn't hide it as they face the challenges of puberty and puppy love. The Hogwarts Academy staff performs their usual roles with the welcome addition of Jim Broadbent, one of England's finest character actors who I wrote about in When Was The Last Time You Saw Your Father? He's still a bit of a rascal here and pivotal to the plot.
Alan Rickman commands every scene with his imposing vocal delivery and Michael Gambon has more to do with every film since he took over the role of head wizard from Richard Harris who died after the completing the second film. I really think Gambon is better although I'm a diehard Harris fan. Harris admitted turning down the role until his granddaughter, a rabid book fan, chastised him for it.
This film is making oodles of $$$ because it gives the fans what they want and never panders to them. Readers of the books should be happy too. Those unfamiliar with the books or movies should enjoy it as a big budgeted fantasy populated with the best of Britain's actor's. You'll learn at the film's conclusion who is the Half Blood Prince.,
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