Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009)

As the Harry Potter series continues to provide gripping entertainment it also starts to show its maturity; whilst combining a mixture of humour with elements of dark magic. The film's style is more unique and visually pleasing than in the previous entries and the use of lighting during flashback sequences makes the overall effect more tasteful and distinguished. David Yates steps up his game and directs a more outstanding feature than The Order of the Phoenix. His focus rests evenly between the increasing darkness of Voldemort's sinister plans and a deeper insight into each of the characters. As Death-Eaters run rampant, showing their new sense of power, Yates tries to focus the attention away from the more sinister side by making some scenes more humorous. He does, however, also show the darker and scarier effects of the Dark Lord's past and future plans. This mixture of light and dark material gives the film a perfect combination of two different atmospheres; never losing sight of the fact that the characters are still young and have their own lives away from the horrors of the wizard world. With potions teacher Horace Slughorn returning to his post at Hogwarts, new details about Voldemort's past are brought into the open. These details provide a deeper insight into his crazed attempts to preserve his own soul forever. While new characters are brought into the story there is still a focus on old favourites. Harry and Dumbledore's relationship grows as they work together to unlock more pieces of the puzzle. Quidditch also comes back to the screen, but the focus seems to be more on Ron than Harry. Seeing the old favourites and even more recent characters such as Luna Lovegood and Bellatrix Lestrange creates a nostalgic feeling, making the story much more enjoyable. The obvious connection between Ron and Hermione is something Yates cleverly tampers with during the film. Unable to resist Ron's subtle charm, Hermione becomes increasingly jealous of his somewhat fiery relationship with Lavender Brown. Even Hermione's academic skills are put to the test when Harry manages to beat her in a potion making contest. It seems many factors lead to the frown that rests on Hermione's head at many points during the film. Ron is, as usual, confused and worried for most of the school year. Harry also contributes to this worry when he kisses Ron's sister Ginny. All three of the main characters have now developed their own problems but, as in the previous films, they help and support each other in times of need. Dumbledore, with his usual calm expression, guides Harry into a world much darker than he has seen before. Harry's clear dedication still fights with the idea he could use his magic for good or for evil. The penultimate sequence and the ending left me breathless. The Half Blood Prince has the best ending in the series so far. In terms of complexity, it is easy to follow but does require some previous knowledge of the books or films. While mixing many elements together, there is an overall sense of emotional depth and desire to continue with the series.