Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is back to battle Lord Voldemort in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.

There have been so many “Harry Potter” films that I have lost count. More than anything, this may explain why I would be considered an “agnostic” when it comes to this venerable franchise, based on the widely popular J.K. Rowling novels. After all, a true believer could recite, without skipping a beat, the full titles in precise chronological order.

By all means, I vaguely recall something about a “Goblet of Fire,” or maybe it was “Chariots of Fire.” It probably tells you more about me than the movie that I can name every James Bond movie starring Sean Connery, but stumble at the thought of recalling a full “Harry Potter” title.

After doing some minimal homework, I can now report that “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is the sixth installment. For bonus points, let me just mention that director David Yates is currently helming “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the two-part film adaptation of the final book in the best-selling series.

In an ideal world, the film critics reviewing the latest “Harry Potter” film would have read all the J.K. Rowling novels. But on planet Earth, this is asking too much. Movie reviewers spend an inordinate amount of time in darkened theaters, munching on popcorn or the occasional specialty pretzel, and thus have little time for intellectually stimulating enterprises, such as reading the entire library of “Harry Potter” books. Anyone claiming to the contrary should be viewed with suspicion.

My simple-minded belief is that critics and audiences alike should be able to enjoy a film without having to extensively read the source material. A good movie should be a complete stand-alone experience, one that could be enjoyed and understood by the uninitiated.

Unfortunately, this is not so evidently the simple case with “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” More than passing knowledge of the back story and the primary characters is a necessity. Ominous things happen and mysterious people are not fully materialized. Even the well-informed may be excused on occasion from being puzzled at some of the dramatic events transpiring. If the spirit of the evil Lord Voldemort is so ever present, why does he not turn up in visible form, but only through surrogates?

At the film’s opening, the Death Eaters are laying waste to London as well as the wizard world, and Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), about to return for another year at the Hogwarts School, suspects new dangers lurk within the campus castle.

Headmaster Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) interrupts Harry’s auspicious date with a pretty waitress to whisk “The Chosen One,” as he is described in the Daily Prophet, on a mission to recruit a teacher out of retirement.

Apparently, the absent-minded Potions Professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) may hold a vital key to unlocking Voldemort’s defenses. Years in the past, Slughorn took a young Tom Riddle under his wing, and Dumbledore believes the eccentric teacher may have some memories that prove useful because Riddle grew up to become the infamous Dark Lord.

Returning to Hogwarts, Harry teams up once again with his best pals, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). Young love is in the air, as Ron becomes the object of overzealous affection from an admiring Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave), much to the consternation of Hermione, whose feelings for Ron are far from platonic.

Meanwhile, Harry, who seems a bit slow in the romantic department, is finally taking more notice of Ron’s younger sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright). When you are the Chosen One, shouldering so many responsibilities to fight evil, it’s a little difficult to have time for a social life. There’s even an occasion, after Harry has endured another fight, when someone asks why Harry is always covered in blood.

Hogwarts, which appears more like a traditional British boarding school than a training ground for wizards, nevertheless has a darker, ominous look, more so than in previous films. Maybe that has something to do with the menacing Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) who appears to be ambiguous about his loyalties and should never be trusted.

Meanwhile, Harry’s arch rival at the school, smug, arrogant Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), who has always looked like a ringleader for Hitler Youth, is envious of the Chosen One, and is looking to redeem his family name while proving to Lord Voldemort that he’s ready to take on an incredibly dangerous task.

As mentioned earlier, a movie should stand on its own, but “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” at least to this untrained eye, comes off as a work-in-progress that may not be fully realized until the final chapter.

For the better part of the film’s two and one-half hours, the pace is slow and sometimes meandering, and in turn these proceedings prove to be slightly tedious when the primary action is reserved for the last act. No doubt, followers of the franchise will disagree strenuously, and I would guess the hardcore fans will flock to this installment in massive force.

To be sure, there are plenty of good things on display in “The Half-Blood Prince.” Harry and his pals, coming into their own, are more fascinating as maturing students. The wise Dumbledore takes center stage as the defender of the good wizards and becomes the focal point for the film’s most dramatic moments. The slithering Professor Snape, with his dry delivery, has the greatest dialogue.

It’s also refreshing that some of the esteemed supporting characters are back again, such as Maggie Smith’s Professor McGonagall and Robbie Coltrane as the gigantic Hagrid.

Though I may not have found this “Harry Potter” to be riveting, I acknowledge that it will deservedly appeal to the legions of fans, and in the end, that’s all that truly matters.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Becoming devoted to a serialized TV show is a challenge when a weekly viewing appointment is necessary. Well, thankfully the DVD release of an entire season solves a major problem, and right now I am in the middle of watching the release of “Mad Men: Season Two.”

This is really one of the best dramas ever on TV, focusing on the glamorous and ego-driven “Golden Age” of advertising, where everyone is selling something and nothing is ever what it seems.

This series is so riveting that I stayed up late the other night trying to view as many episodes as possible.

Every episode peels back the layers of deception and lies that permeate the cutthroat advertising business at the firm of Sterling Cooper.

The DVD includes some special features that deal with fashion and historical events of the early 1960s.

You may want to catch up on the second season of “Mad Men” now because the third season starts on AMC on Aug. 16.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) with his class, including Hermione (Emma Watson). Slughorn had taken a young Tom Riddle, before he was Voldemort, under his wing. Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed