Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

As this film is no ordinary film, this is no ordinary review. If you've read the book, you can guess how Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince goes. What you can't guess is how brilliantly writer Steven Kloves and director David Yates focuses the main storyline from the book, executes the key points and subtly layers the development of supporting characters--often times without saying a word.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a fine adaptation of the book thanks to each element being on par with the next. Let's break it down:

• Casting ~ Obviously phenomenal, I think in part to the trio of friends aging before our eyes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione (Radcliffe, Grint, Watson) share such affection with one another. It's authentic. Progressing into the gangly teen years, the trio discovers these odd feeling of attraction that threatens to complicate matters. Director Yates handles it perfectly with the right touch of humor.
• Screenplay ~ Kloves has a phenomenal book to draw from. In a perfect world, we'd see, feel, and hear it all. Alas, that's what the book if for. Kloves exercises tough love by developing essential moments, but underscores what we, the viewer really needs.
• Direction ~ David Yates delivers. Kloves gave him the tool to execute; Yates murdered it. What's perhaps most fascinating is while he maintains focus on Harry and Tom Riddle, he doesn't neglect the supporting cast. Rather he counts on the viewer's memories to develop the subtle hints surrounding Harry.
• Atmosphere/Design ~ The film is eerie and foreboding. Much like Harry, we know what's coming and Yates plays to that. Without the small moments of humor or Slughorn's perplexed facial expressions, there would be no release for anyone. Equally dark, the production is cast in tones of grey. All the joy at Hogwarts is tempered by the knowledge of the Death Eaters ever-increasing presence. Even Quidditch can provide a small level of comfort. The cinematography is perfectly executed providing an air of underlying suspicion and danger.
• Score ~ It is unassuming, but a beautiful compliment.

With that out of the way, allow me to disclose my personal high {and low} points. The greatest delight for me was the execution of characters. Jim Broadbent as Prof. Horace Slughorn is brilliant. Equal parts oddball and haunted, Slughorn is top-notch. Rupert Grint continues to flaunt impeccable comedic timing. Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) has never been more relevant. Serverus Snape. Perfectly. Succinct. Luna! Also of note: the pensieve/memory sequences were perfect. The CGI and direction through each sequence was riveting. Kudos to Yates for picking the story up precisely. It was nice to see Neville, Hagrid, Seamus and the like hanging around.

My disappointments lie mainly with events that I deem crucial being footnotes or left out. What of Bill Weasley? Fleur? Tonks? Draco Malfoy was sorely lacking. His lurking about Hogwarts is an insult to the character. I really needed/wanted the conversation between Snape and Harry to take place. Though it was more of a visual, I needed that conversation. There is more to Tom Riddle to have been explored. The Slug Club?! C'mon!!

As I see it, only purists will take issue with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. To fully enjoy the film, it is essential to view all the movies as an entity separate from the books. Do that and I guarantee a good time.