June 25, 2009. Copyright 2009, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Teenage angst meets ancient fears in new Potter movie
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, June 25, Graphic News:   Some might say the run-up to the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been less than auspicious: fans were unhappy that the film was delayed and then panned it at an early screening, where they said it contained too much romance and too little from J.K. Rowling’s book. So, will the sixth movie in the series be able to work the magic?
 
We already know that highlights of the film, released on July 15, include a spectacular fight scene in which the Death Eaters attack London’s Millennium Bridge and the return of Quidditch (Harry is captain), interspersed with plenty of courting between love-struck teenagers. Director David Yates, who also directed the fifth film, Order of the Phoenix, has called the movie the “sex, drugs and rock and roll” of the hugely popular series.
 
According to Yates, the movie also contains more humour than usual despite the darkening clouds that are enveloping Hogwarts. We join Harry Potter and his friends as the Dark Lord, Voldemort, has tightened his grip on both the Muggle and the wizarding worlds. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) must work closely together to unravel the key to this threat in time.
 
With the help of the pensieve, in which memory can be explored, the pair examine Voldemort’s past, and we are introduced to Tom Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillance), the boy who later becomes the evil wizard. Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) is sneaking about the school, apparently up to no good and Harry tries to find out how he may be helping Voldemort. Ominously, Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) is finally appointed teacher of Defence against the Dark Arts.
 
This time, the most crucial relationship is that between Dumbledore and his maturing apprentice Harry, but other pairs come under the spotlight, too: Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) has a girlfriend, Lavender Brown (Jessie Cave), whom not everyone likes. Harry falls for Ron’s sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright) even though she is dating someone else.
 
Harry must fight his way through the swirl and confusion of teenage emotions to prepare for a final showdown with the evil Voldemort who, it turns out, also counts on the support of Severus Snape. The film ends with a climatic battle in the astronomy tower and a tragic death that spells the end of Hogwarts as we know it.
 
Since the fate of Hogwarts hangs in the balance, it may be a wise move by Warner Brothers to invite Yates back into the director’s chair. Expect few surprises in the way the film is made but more than enough on screen.
/ENDS

Release dates
July 6: Japan (Tokyo, premiere)
July 7: United Kingdom (London, premiere)
July 8: United States (New York, premiere)
July 15: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, UK, U.S. 
July 16: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Ukraine
July 17: Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Norway, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, Venezuela 	
July 23: Croatia, Hungary, Lebanon 	
July 24: Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Romania 	
August 27: Greece